The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-12
R. & S. HISTORY.
HE INCEPTION OF A GREAT
UNDERTAKING.
MO0MAE'S FORESIGHT.
half of the RaiIroad-Ehe Original
IncorpOra:ors-The Sor,h Carolina
End-A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
the LEADERS.

The idea of constructing a railroad
from Roanoke South TO connect with
the Western North Carolina road was
originated by Rev. Jno. Q. Moomuw,
II Dunkard preacher. In attending
his appointments in the section
through which the Roanoke and
Southern will pass, lie discovered The
natural route for Il road, and suggest
ed that steps be taken to build q road.
In 1885 he made Il trip from Roanoke
TO Salem, N. c., on horse back, and
when he returned with "a glowing de-
scription of the country, setting forth
the p~racticability of building a road,
considerable enthusiasm was aroused.
In 1885, Hon. Henry S. Trout repre-
sented this district III the state Sen
ate, and on the 18th dayof February,
through his influence, IA charter was
granted to j. NJ Gambiil, ID. T..
Houston, f. II. Stewart,J C. Moomaw,
J. ID. Kirk, II. II. Fishburne, ID. c..
Moomaw. j. a. Gale, NJ. Nj. Rogers,
Z. w. Miller, l.. Il Cooke, George z.
Taylor, W. q. Evans, w. X. Andrews,
j. NJ. Harris and Thomas Engleby as
incorporates, with power to organize
the Roanoke and Southern Railroad
Company of Virginia, with II capital
stock OF not less than $4,000 nor
more than $4,000, COO.
A sufficient amount OF the sock
having been subscribed, the stock
holders met in the old skating rink,
April 30, 1856, and organized by elect.
ing Col. d. f. Houston, president, and
Col II. G. Lester. vice president. The
following were elected the first board
of directors: j. NJ. Gamhill, II. 5.
Trout, j. F. Christian, ID. Kirk, j.
G. Moomaw, w. X. Andrews, j. l..
Terry, Andrew Lewis, T. n. Starkey,
Peter Sanders, Jr., j. Nj. Barker, "
ID. Brengle and j. d. Spencer. At
the first meeting of the directors,
which was Immediately after their
election, s. w. Jamison was elected
secretary. AT this meeting Messrs.
S. w. Hinshaw, OF Winston, William
Wellington and DR.. J.. II. Mc.Aden, OF
Charlotte, appearedg before the di-
rectors with plans for the extension
of the road beyond the State line.
On the 23d of February, 1857, Hon.
Henry E. Fries, Il brother OF Col.
Frank II. Fries, succeeded in getting
IL charter for the Roanoke and south
ern Railroad Company, of North
Carolina. That company was organ
lied May Is, with Col. L. p. Fries,
president; f. J.. Stone. first vice pres
ident; W. Y. LomaX, second vice-pres-
idenr, and Il. II. Nogle, secretary and
treasurer. Messrs. X. J. Reynolds, e.
H. Fries, G. H.Vosle, q w. Hinshaw,
T. j. Stone. j. 81. Galloway, w V.
LoInay, +. +. Fuller, and G. b. Wat
son were elected directors IF tie
North Carolina company.
In the meantime the Virginia COM
pany ha been going ahead formula
ting plans and locating the route OF
the road. Henry county had voted
500, 00G to the capital stock, and 8o-
anoke city had been asked for the
same amount, which was subsequently
voted.
The stockholders of both companies
met in Roanoke on the 18th Of Juue,
1887, and consolidated. with the fol-
lowing officers and directors: ID. +.
Houston, president; f. IL Fries,
e. f. Fuller and H. c.. Lester,
vice-presidents; L. Mailman, New
York; w. V. Lomay, Greensboro,
n .C;F. J. Stone, S%toneville, n. c.;
&. w. Hinshaw, K j Reynolds, Jas.
A. Gray, @. B. Watson. Winston; j.
~ o.. ID 81 90 ,-n ~. ID D AIo ron ~
D. Spencer. Martinsville; J. Nj. Gam
Roanoke. The consideration was
made upon the terms that work be
commenced at Winston, provided
Winston would subscribe $4,000, and
that the private subscriptions should
be paid upon the completion of the
road to the Cape Fear and Iadkin
Valley, all of which have been com
piled with.
On the 4th of April, 1888, the con-
tract for the constructio of the road
was let to the North Carolina and
Virginia Construction Company.
Soon afterwards ground was broken
at Winston, and in May, 1889, the first
eighteen miles of the road from Win
ston to Walnut Cove, where it con
meets with the Cape Fear and Yadkin
Valley, was put in operation. Since
that time the work has been pushed
forward as rapidly as possible. Trains
are now running on thirty-two miles,
and sixty miles will be in operation
soon. With the recent important
events the readers of The TINES are
familiar.
coNu or THE TRADERS.