The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-02
THE FIRST DIRT is THROWN.
Work on the r. &c S. Begun at
this End of the Line.
President Trout, Col. Z. II. Jones and MIR.
l.. T.. Stewart Do the First Actual Work
Yesterday From $50 to 200 hands will
be Put to Work This Week.

There will DO no more delay in the
work Of the Roanoke and Southern rail
road.
y number OF the prominent citizens
of Roanoke, and Il squad of laborers,
gathered on Il hillside cast of Mr.. Luz
clan II. Cookies residences, and near the
base ball grounds, yesterday morning.
The bright sunshine, the bracing au-
tnmn air, and tho object of the gather
ing wore inspiring, and when double
track from hero to Winston is crowded
with loaded freight trains, and fast pas
senger trains, those who were present
will not forget the scene.
Precisely at o'clock Hon. III. $.
Trout, tho stalwart president of the
road, pulled off his coat, and carefully
selected good pick from tho lot that
had been brought out for the laborers.
lie advanced few steps, and leaning
on the handle Of tho tool, announced that
tho actual work on the Roanoke and
Southern railroad was about to begin,
and that it was to be pushed forward
rapidly.
This is not unfamiliar work to me-"
said tho president, laughing in his usual
good-natured way, as he plunged the
pick into the dirt up to the handle.
After striking several ticks, during
which he demonstrated the truth Of his
preliminary remark, the president stood
aside, and Colonel f. IL. Fries, prcsi-
dent of the Virginia and North Caro-
lima Construction Company, and vice
president Of the road, then advanced
with a shining new shovel III hand, and
removed the first shovel of dirt, Mr.. l..
III. Stewart, a director of the road, who
has done much to bring about the event
OF yesterday, then came forward in Il
pair Of high top boots. and removed tho
remainder Of the dirt looscncd by the
president.
The implements were then turned
over to the dozen labOrcrs on the
grounds. who continued the work
Among those present were Mcssrs. G. NJ.
Thomas. >. a. Turner, j. ii. Earman, Il.
Il. Kindred, representatives of the city
papers, Major IL. w. Newly, engineer OF
construction, and Mr.. +. 5. Norman. of
Iynchburg. Of the firm Of Norman Il
eight miles Of the road.
President Trout and Col. Fries were
presented with the implements with
which they begun the work, and will
keep them as mcmcntoS Of the occasion.
y least l5O or 200 hands will be at
work by the end of next week, and the
entire line will be covered in two
weeks.
Mr.. Norman told THE TIMES reporter
that the entire plant of his firm VIII be
rcmovc cd here in Il few weeks from West
Virginia, where tho firm has just com
plcted Il contract of twenty miles on the
Ohio extension Of the Norfolk and
Western. lie said he expects To com
plctc his contract within ninety days.
Trac> laying will follow up the grad
ing. and Il construction train will be put
on as soon as the masonry for the bridge
at the river is complctcd
! he contract for the next three miles
of the road has been let to Elysian
Brothers, Of Washington. and work ON
this part Will be commenced at an carly
day. Only fourteen miles of the road
remain to be put under contract.
The outlook for the early completion
of The road is bright, and Roanoke re-
loiccs.
Acted in Seir-Dercmsc.
Noil Garland, Il young white man, Of
Ran'lin City, Va, and William Jones,
coloIed, had difficulty on Second
street s. W., Friday night, which ended
in the serious stabbing of the negro in
tho heart.
JoI es started for police headquarters
but fell at the Commerce street crossing
from loss of blood. He was found and
taken to his home, and his wound,
which is not q serious one, dressed.
Garland was arrested and locked up for
the night. He was given a hearing be-
fore Judge Williams yesterday morning
and dismissed, Inc evidence being that
he acted in sclf-defense.
Mayors Court