The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-28
FOR THE CRAIG COUNTY RAILROAD

To THE EDITOR OF The TIMES: In the
speech OF MI. a. a. Arthur, resident
manager Of the Middlesborough Town
Company, delivered November II. 1000,
during the great sale at Middlesborough,
Ky, that gentleman said: take from
this city to Roanoke, in Virginia, and
you. will find that there are eighteen
furnaces which will go into blast in
1891, and not one pound of ore has been
provided as yet from mines for these
furnaces; that is to say. these furnaces
Will demand million and threc.uuart-
ers tons of iron ore per annum, and as
yet no mines have been opened up to
supply them. There will he an ore
famine, and those who own ore lands
will make large fortunes"
Is there not a hint to Roanoke in this?
Or course, do not mean to reflect upon
the management of our furnaces at pre-
sent in blast. but even they. am told.
have experienced some delay and con-
sequent loss through insufficient ore
supply either in quantity or qualify. l
am informed also that some of our
neighbors are sadly deficient in the
matter OF supply. These present Diff
why not look to the future?
Col. Eddy, with the presclence born
OF great experience in the development
of States, makes the prediction that
within the ensuing twenty or thirty
years there will be a population Of half
million souls between the eastern
limit Of Roanoke and the town of Shaws-
vile, distance of about thirty miles
along Roanoke river.
In the light of Pennsylvania growth
no one will question the assertion Of Col.
Eddy, and if Roanoke is to retain her
supremacy and deserve tho proud dis
tinction of being the center Of this mag
niiicent development, let her keep
thinking. This matter of orc supply is
one of the greatest moment, because an
''ore famine" means great loss to the
stockholders in the many furnaces now
in operation, and the discouragemcnt of
capital in its tendency toward this
class of industry.
1t has long been conceded that the
mountains of Craig county, Va, twenty
five mile, north of Roanoke, contain
vast bodies of tho finest grades of iron
ores, and so much Importance was
attached to that territory by some Of
Roanokc's far-sighted men that strong
movement was organized several years
ago naVlnE LOT us OBJECT the building OF
railroad to Newcastle, the county seat
Of Craig county.
Is this not Il good time to revive this
enterprise? Now that the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad has about finished
branch of Its limo to Newcastle would
it not be n wise move on the part of
Roanoke to extend an arm over into
Craig county, and there not only ia 0 the
lneXhauStible orc beds but also unite
with the Chesapeake and Ohio, tt us
securing competing line for Western
and Tilewater freight. This Crag all
road should be a standard gauge ms cad
of the narrow gauge as was first pro-
posed. thus perhaps avoiding tho ncces-
slty of great outlay for equipme mt,
since both the Norfolk and Western and
Chesapeake ard Ohio might lay libcr-
ally for the use of the tracks at times,
inasmuch as the furnaces on these roads
would be in need of the ores of Craig
county and the Newcastle, furnaces
and rolling mills will need the coke and
coal produced along the Norfolk and
Western and Chesapeake and Ohio rail
roads. VoX.