The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-19
THE FIRST RAILROAD
Inc NOrtOlk and Petersburg Railroad md
It's Developments.
"REMINISCENCES OF FORTY YEARS.
som" Very Interesting Records Nor
'" !" fh">" i."ug Az" Dnys
G"". VIM. Nnhonc consolidation
III" N'lnniic. mississippi nnd Ohio
"nd the N"rinl, aud western.


! promised Won n communication
while WAS away from Norfolk win
choose Tor the subject my r.cou,ciions
"i IN" first railroad Norfolk ana Pc
trrShurrl that entered Norfolk This
ron" We" completed about forty years
hS"' allh I"i many years afterwards il
wa, IN" only railr,ah in this section.
WIN IN" exception of the Soaboard and
itoah"hc across the Elizabeth river,
ManN of tn" old citizens of the CIV
ny the Sea iwll remember th,. old
Kat trap. tn" \ and f. used fo, u
depot which was disgrace. To nuy
civilized community
I'm" population of Norrou; forty
years ago was Il.0nu Hundreds nf
persons would cuugi"gnt, about Tho
u'n"t I" witness tho arrival OF the
train. which would bring u few rassnt
gers and some chickens. the nnsso,,-
gers would I" I" tn" National Hotel
tnow the Hotel Norrolkb Tho Ma
tional had genial clerk. Dicl, Glenn
ems by name. who had "a dialect rrc,l-
mar ms own hay" ufi.n boon
amused at Dicks quaint rrnalI;s In
the guests of the National. tor exam
PIE when the passengers uu rh,. q u
M. train would arrive at the. hni.l
Dick would HntiCly address each aud
every ON" of them as cousins. ana M.
would max" all kinds OF inquiry about
imaginary pclSun&. Many of thrn,
would helicV" that Dici, was "a roIutiy,.
OF theirs Whom tn" omnibus would am
rive from the train without any guests
Tor the hotel Dick would cont. from I,.-
hind TIA counter into the sitting rouf.
where there wer" u number of ru.StS
som" al them reading. hers Nyritiur
etc. etc. and he would commence. a.,
cNiinEu!Sh all of the li.htS ,Nccpt mn.
ihnS" who we're reading or Vvritirl, b,,l
7" d!Scnutinu" on account of the. dark
ness. : one OF Them would ask VIII. ne
,u'ltn "li TIA" lights Dick would reply
mat Inc Petersburg train Is .u 'i'L,st.
WI" W"r" ann pN,d The most AT this u.
'u'olr proceedings. ash"d Dick vhat
thcN mad - do with the puturshurr
train ana that TIA" arrival ana dru;,,.-
tuf" "l mat tram was "f no concern to
th'n, am writing an important busi
ness letter, on" of them would remark
Another would say I am writing 10 my
WIG VINO has not heard from mo fan.
several weeks, ana another said tim,
he WAS Interested in reading an ne
cunt oi the earthquake ia china DirR
W"aii say, Gentlemen, told YOU that
IA" petersburg train IS in. and you viii
nave 10 stop until morning"
Alter ;hr close of the war the turr..
roads mat formed "a link between Nor
ioik and Bristol. Tenn. were consoU-
dated ana was known as the Atlantic
a "a Mi"sIosIppi luil. Dad, ana under mo
ihatHGrmrni of General VIM Mahonr.
when TIA" \ NJ ~ O. hccmmr rubur-
raised ana went into another mnnup.-
inrnl ana cidnScd its name to the Nor
folk and Western Railroad. tin. .u,ir..
country through which il traVcrsrd he
S"n immediately TO develop To "A re
markabl" extent. The wisdom which
mas guided ia" management OF the Nor
l"lN ana Western has been tn. cause.
@! u wonderful Increase into the trcns-
llfN ol IN" state OF Virginia There. arr.
comparatively f"w persons who know
nc great worth this road has been.
ana - 10 very lurg" portion of This
STAT. Ih" people of Norfolk know
ni TN" vast improvements that n;t,o.
taken place ut Lambert. Point and oC
IN" large advance I'm the value OF prnr-
"'iS ~ that section. We know of many
persons who have become wealthy bN
IN" incr"a - =, tn.v r.cCiNad
TOR ihrir iand.. ali OF which ha. Leon
brought about by the immense i'm
hr"N"mvmtS made 10y tn Nuri III. :rd
Western at that point Not culv al
l.anh"u's Point. but everywhere in
arl around Nurfolit Ni,rlcoNcr IT,, No.
inik ana Western DO any business lir,.
and activity is plainly discrruad hy
'"N observer.
Those OF as who have had occasion T.,
Sc" the improvements this road has
nude in this state are amazed nj lis
magnificent achievements Roanoke
q city of considerable inheritance was
brought in'o cxistcuc. solely ~ tGo
N"ii"lk and Western. Th" busy little
Norfolk ana IVnst,.,,,, inn.,, ~.
shops there. All along tn, rutlr. rom.
may b" seen inviting and progressive
towns All keep fully alive bv IN. Mar
folk ana Western. PoCahontas ON IN.
New River branch of tn" Norfolk ana