The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-13
CLAIMING TOO MUCH.
The Salem Times Register GETS u
WrOng idea From Col. Fries Letter.

The Salem Times Register GETS u
wrong Idea From Col. Fries Letter.
The Salem Times Register, of yes
terday, contains the following article:
The very fair report made by a
representative Of THE TINES OF the
meeting at Roanoke on Tuesday, by
which tlat city was made the first
northerI terminus of the Roanoke
and Southern railroad, says of the
contract touching this matter:
"Divested Of its verbiage and legal
Technology and placed III a nutshell,
it contracts that within thirty days
from the delivery of the right of way
into Roanoke city by the Roanoke
Development and Guarantee Com
pany, the Virginia ind North Caro-
lima Construction Company
SHALL BEGIN AT ROANOKE,
at given point. and, working south
ward, construct the line of the Roam
oke and Southern railroad as rapidly
as possible; that it shall locate its car
shops at Roanoke, and that Roanoke
shall be its northern terminus; that
until the line is completed and in full
operation it shall make connection
WITH NO OTHER RAILROAD
at this end of its line save within the
boundaries of Roanoke city. The
contract is Of the most binding ma
ture, and is fully understood on both
Sides
Nobody at all conversant with the
situation ever entertained for a
moment any other idea than that
Roanoke would be one of two
branches, by which the road would
reach its objective points, viz, a CON
nection with the Norfolk and West
ern, the Baltimore and Ohio, and the
Shenandoah Valley roads. Our peo-
pie, however, were somewhat sur
prised that the Roanoke Development
and Guarantee Company, by its in
sstence upon having the road come
to Roanoke alone, should seemingly
seek TO exclude her sister town of
Salem. If this was the object-and
that is apparent to the most cas-
ual reader-they have overreached
themselves, as q careful reading
Of the above extract will show.
The representative of the TIMES, FROM
whose report it is taken, says that he
saw the contract and witnessed the
signatures. 1t will be seen, there
fore, that there is nothing in the con-
tract that will prevent the company
entering Salem five minutes after it
does Roanoke, nor is there anything
to prevent the grading ard laying of
the rails at the same tire in this direc-
ton Touching this subject. we pre-
sent the following eXt.ac from a let
ter received by Col. A. NJ. Bowman, of
this city, from Col. f. II. Fries, presi-
dent of the Construction Company
which is TO all intents and purposes
the railroad ompany-written on the
day and after the contract was made.
l. is as follows:
II write to say hurriedly that the
contract arranged today with the
Railway and Construction company
to build to Roanoke does not affect
cur coming to your place, us contem
plated in the proposition, which was
fully discussed, and am empowered
TO take the matter up with you. Can
you come TO Salem n c., and confer
with me at onceyn
This ought to settle the question to
every rejecting mind. The matter
of the shops which are to go to Roa-
noke under contract, is not at all
specific as to either character orex-
tent, and a simple repair shop would
fill the bill as easily and as fully as
would extensive locomotive works.
Salem never sought in her negotia-
tions with this company to deprive
Roanoke of q connection with the
Roanoke and Southern. Her only pur-
pose has been to secure one for her
self, and it will be seen from what
has been written, as well as from
the letter Of Colonel Fries, that her
way is as clear in this matter as it
ever was. 1t now remains to press
the negotiation to a finality. We
venture the prediction, based upon
knowledge, that Salem will have the
Roanoke and Southern about as soon
rs Roanoke city.