The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-17
THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN
Its Wonderful Development Of
Southwest Virginia.
What a Virginian Correspondent Wit.
messed. Remarkable Changes
=. for the Better in Ten
Years. a Great
Country.
Especial Correspondence of The virginian. +,

Especial Correspondence of The virginia,i.l
RADFoRD. Va. August 1G. 1885,
To one who Tor ten years has been alb.
sent from thut section, visit to that
portion of Southwest Virginia peue-
trated by the maiu line and branches
OF the Norfolk and Western RAILROAD
VIII be such revelation as the dis
covering OF our unknown land to the
explorer. just about decade ago |
Travelled over horseback through most
oil the territory now travetsed by the
ONO extension and the Cliuch Valley
line. 1t is land Of beauty and fertil-
ity, of finest mineral wealth then as
now; but then its beauty WAS only TO
be seen by the few who would or could
endure the discomfort incident to
primitive modes of travel: then it's fer.
tlhty contributed little or nothing to
the markets OF the world; then its
giants OF ash, maple and walnut found
Immunity from the axe in the absence
| OF means of transportation, and the
coal aud iron, with which the noun.
tains teamed. lay as idle aud proiitIuss
| to the uses of man as when first fused
| into shape by the mysterious forces OF
| natures laboratory. Then, too, the
country was sparsely settled, the vii.
lagos lew III NUMBER and insignificant
| III trade anu population, and under the
ulfhcnlties OF grent di.tauces and Of
rough roads or no r0nds at all, inter
communication was rare between the
people, aud churches and schuulhunses
those twin lights of civilization aud
progress-wer few aud far between.
Now, all this IL changed. Not by
magic, but by tie far seeing liberality
OF policy with which the Norfolk and
Western management has devoted its
energies to the building up aud devel
| opment Of the local territory OF their
| lines. Temporary embarrassment NAV
nave been caused by expensive con
struction through tue rugged passes
which guard our Western FOUNDRY,
but the eventual outcome must yiudl
cate the wisdom. Us well as the pubic
spirit of the work which the lamented
| Eddy inaugursted, so ably seconded by
Sands aud other co adjutUrs. All really
great railway enterprises have, as the
main source of successful operation.
looked to the creation OF business be
| tween their owners termiui Every
| additional house erected, every extra
acre OF ground planted, every industry
means that much more volume OF Il re.
established. every immigrant attracted,
liable traffic with which no competitor
can interfere, and to that condition OF
large and stable local business the
Norfolk and Western 10 rapidly ap.
proachipg unless all the signs OF time
and place are deceptive.
10 be convinced OF this one has only
TO select as IL vantage point such cen
trail station ns Roanoke or Radford
and witness the streams OF travel and
tonnage pouring IN and out by numer.
Gus trains; or, better still, TO take pass
age on the main line or either of the
important stems, and gather wonder
and satisfaction from the symptoms of
thrift and prosperity, and which every.
where abound. Substantial towns have
sprung up here, there aud everywhere;
and the older settlements have nut on
tue Snise of cities, with electric lights.
street care. and all the Appliances of
modern progress. Every sort OF pro
| duction has been stimulated, thus n, css.
stating the establishment of new sta.
lions at every few miles of the way.
Journeying on the New River road the
stoppages are so frequent rs to remind
one of trip through the populous
portions OF Ohio or PENNSYLVANIA.
On this particular route the whl2Zlne
by ct short intervals OF long trains
laden with dusky diamonds from the
Pocahontas mines Induced your cor