The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-28

President kimball, of the Norfolk
and western, was seen by reporter for
IHE TINES Monday morning and asked
to give his views concerning the pro-
posed entrance into Roanoke OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio by way OF the
projected Roanoke, Fincastle and Clifton
Forge railroad. He talked frankly and
freely.
"lf the Chesapeake and Ohio thinks
1t Is to its interest to build into Roanoke
at It's own expense said Mr.. Kimball,
"the Norfolk and Western Railroad
Company could not object. Railroads
are not benevolent institutions and the
Chesapeake and Ohio would not and =
will not come unless it considers il an
advantage. But I do not think thought
to call upon tho city OF Roanoke to aid
it by subscription, which is practic sllv
gift. The Chesapeake and Ohio is
amply able to build its own lines. lido
not think any community ought to be
called upon to make such contribu-
ton. The Norfolk and Western has
1T would make some difference If the
city wore asked to build a line through
some section where there was none, but
to ask Roanoke to contribute to parallel
an existing line is not right. The Nor
folk and Western have xpended millions
OF dollars to improve the Shenandoah
Valley railroad and even yet it is not
self.sustaining. IL is out OF reason to
expect this projected line to bs self
sustaining.
You say tho argument is used that
manufactures and industries will not
como to oue.railroad town. Lynch
burg has competing lines, so has Basic
City, so has Bristol. Have any OF those
places secured as many new industries
as Roanoke, or progress I'd as rapidly?
You have in Roanoke the most enter.
prising people in Virginia, but il Roam.
oko can raise 100000 it had better
spend it in making the city attractive
rather than in building a railroad You
have only two or three decent bits OF
sidewalk and no really first class pave
ments in the whole city. One hundred
thousand dollars spent in improving
streets and sidewalks, and planting
trocs, taking caro- of your macadam al.
ready laid, and making your city attrac-
tive will do moro toward drawing capt
tai, investors and industries than that
amount put into s parallel railroad.
IF the Norfolk and Western had
come here and found city OF $4,000 and
had proceeded to throttle it's industries
and business men, there would be lust
cause for complaint, but tho Norfolk
and Western has always fostered Roa.
noke, has spent it's money here freely,
and has always favored every PROPOSE
ton for improving the city. There is
not enough business here to Justify
competing line. The Norfolk and West
orn, with all its development, has boon
barely able to pay its shareholders 3 per
cent. per annum.
1--WE arc contemplating still further
and moro liberal expenditures at this
point, but this movement will act as a
damper on our desire to help Roanoke.
For, if you will consider for a moment,
you will see that on tho basis of your
present taxes, the Norfolk and Western
itself AMI those directly connected with
it pay nearly one-third OF the taxes. and
will DO called upon to pay one third the
cost OF this proposed bond issue. thing
that would be plainly unjust.
81 want to see Roanoke a city OF 1GO,e
600 people. but the best way.to make it
grow Is to foster what you already
have"