The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-03-19
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VOL. VII.
THREE C'S RAILROAD.
HOW 1T WAS BUILT AND WHO THE
ORIGINATORS WERE.
A GREAT UNDERTAKING
lw,I,,.n ior the Manuiaclurer. RECORD }

railroad builders who saw that the
South needed many more railroads
than it had, and one OF them, an ss'
tute promoter, made trip to North
and South Carolina to ascertain what
opportunities we're open in those
States for such enterprises as he and
his associates wished to engage in
He found that the legislatures OF both
States had granted charters to local
companies which had hoped TO be able
to build short lines between important
trade centers, but having been unable
to get the money needle 1, had kept
their charters alive for more propi
Gous peroid. At Charleston, 8. c., he
learned that the merchants of that
city, from the days Of John @. calhoun
forward, had been anxious ~ carry
out the favurite idea ot that splendid
staiesman, and have railroad be
tween tidewater at that city and th'
Ohio valley. He reported tn hiE
friends all he had learned, and upon
the strength of th"t information th'
Massachusetts & Southern Construc'
ton Co. was ORGANIZED with the broad
purpose Of securing all the charters in
existence that would serve their pur
pose, OF obtaining Others for interme
diate links, and no of building a rail
road from some South Carolina sea
port tn the Ohio River. This war
done TO Il certain extel in the Caro-
linas, and then the question arose
what route to take to the Ohio valley
The publicity given to this undertak'
ing by the press of n rth and South
Carolina attracted attention to it IT,
other States, and especially in those
other towns further north, but still in
Southern territory, that were equal,
desirous to get an outlet to some
South Atlantic seaport. Among the
progressive men that were watching
this movement were Gen. John I.
Wilder and Col. Thos. y. Mstson,
both OF whom we're largely interested
in the Cranberry ore district Of Mitch
ell county, N. c., and in johnson City
East Tennessee, the latter was per
souslly well acquainted with the to
Biography Of the country between
Marion, Burke ,ounty, N. O., and the
Ohio River, and with tho iron, coal
and timber resources Of the entire re-
Kion. Those two gentlemen, learning
that q certain date the general mana
ger OF the Massachusetts, Il Southern
Construction Co. would be at Marion.
went there and met him. They ex
planned to him the resources OF the ex-
eeedingly rich region between the two
points, and succeeded in convincing
him that their route was the one to be
adopted. As result the Charleston.
Cincinnati a Chicago Railroad Co
was chartered, and the Massachusetts
4 Southern Construction Co. under
took to build it. The policy adopted
was wise. 1t included the building OF
sections between points where there
was business enough in site 10 insure
n reasonable income to the road c0v'
ering it, until, by the construction Of
intermediate links, the through trunk
line could be completed. In pursn
ance OF this policy road WAS con
structed from Rutherfordton,N G, h
Camden, 8. g. another from the coal
fields Of Virginia To n connection with
one that touched the Ohio River y
third from RutheriordtOn to Marion
NC, where an immediate juactiOn
could be effected with the Western
Nerth Carolina Railroad, and fourth
that secured the right Of way through
the Breaks Of the Cumberland
Grading was also done n0rthward
from johnson City, Tenn, to the Vir
Rinia coal fields. All their separate
works were pressed with great vigor il
the face Of much opposition and o
many discOuragements, the lattel
largely due to the unjust action o
county suthortits in respect to thu
bonds voted by townships and othei
corporate bodies TO and in the construc
ton Of this railroad. The Massachu
sets & Southern Construction Co. hat
boldly met and gradually overcome sl
these obstacles, and had obtained
mSrk,t for lts securities that mad
sure all n. cessary funds for the com
pletion Of its grand plan, when tn
momentary troubles in Europe tina
preceded by several months the fsi
ure Of the Barring Bros, and The ten
psrary but world wide collapse ths
followed. Their creditors Of all kind
got frightened, suits were brought
every State and attachments place
upon whatever properties we're !
sight, receivers we're appointed, an
the whole enterprise was in hopele'
mnddle.
Last week the subject was brougl
before the United Strtes Circuit Cour
Judge Bond presiding, At Charlesto
q. c.. which had at former ssssiC
appointed 3 temporary receiver. Th
court, after full hearing of all eide
decreed, in an equity proceeding,
follows:
. From the report filed BY the ter
porary receiver it is apparent that Il
railroad of defendant company is in
most wretched condition. II appes
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