The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-02-10
THE SOUTHERN AFTER 1T.
That's What Rumor Says of the
Norfolk and Western.
From tho Atlanta journal

Norfolk and Western.
From tho Atlanta journal.
The placing of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad Company into the
hands of receiver day before yes
terday by Judge Golf, Of Richmond,
has been the llvest topic of discus
sion for some time in local railroad
circles. Perhaps it will be still
hvelier when the probable full i'm
port of the receivership is under
stood by the railroad world.
Does the Southern railway want
the Norfolk and Western?"
The information comes from an
authority which is reliable not only
on account of tho accuracy of its
Judgment, but from the point of
view from which these Judgments
arc obtained, that the Southern rail
way does want the Norfolk and
Western.
1t is even minated that the gen
eral debility OF the Norfolk was
Drought about bv the fact that Their q
was deal between parties interest
ed, so that the outcome of the whole
matter would be the final merging
of the Norfolk aud Western system
INTO the great Southern railway.
One might MS well look into the
reasOnableness Of such proposition.
Why should the Southern railway
want this property?
The following arc the lines of tho
Norfolk and Western system:
First, there is the main line from
Norfolk, Va, to Bristol, Tenn,
which, by tho way, is an excellent
stretch of track and road bed run
ming through beautiful and fertile
reg lon. This line is l0S miles long.
Second, is branch from Roam
oke to Hagerstown, 30 miles long,
city III the extreme northern por-
ton of Virginia.
a third branch runs from Pulaski
to Goshen, forty seven miles long; a
fourth from Blueields to Norton,
lO3 miles long; u fifth from Lynch
burg, Va. to Durham, n. O., JIG
miles long; sixth from Roanoke,
Va, to Winston Salem, N. c., l22
miles long.
The longest spur is from East
Radford, q station between Roanoke
and Bristol, TO Columbus, o., which
10 4UG miles in length. The line
runs through Blueield, through
lronton. o., to Columbus. There
are other little spurs aggregating
thirty one miles in length.
Tho total mileage OF the system
is ,472.
The Southern railway crosses the
Norfolk and Western at Lyuohbur
the Southern meets the Norfolk and
Western also Mt its western terml-
nus. Bristol, Tenn. Thus at two
points the Southern comes in con
tact with the road which is in tho
hands OF receiver. Among the
finest water terminals on the Allan
tic coast are those owned by the
Norfolk and Western at Norfolk.
Several millions of dollars have been
spent In erecting them. With IN
outlet ut Norfolk, via Lynchburg,
the Southern would be right in it t.
compete with its formidable compc.
titor, tho Seaboarl Air Line,
AT Bristol the Southern system
would be completed, and via East
Radford, Va, it wonld have "a con
nectlon with Ohio, West Virginia
aud other points In the North by
means of the Norfolk and Westerns
branch from East Radford TO Go
lumbus, Ohio.
This ls consideration Of the mat
ter merely III the light of geogra
ply. 1t does not include the fact
that the Norfolk and Western is OIL
the list of first class railroads and.
by good management, could be
made paying Institution. The
Southern would like to have it for
this reason.
The Norfolk and Western is a
natural complement Of the Southern
railway system In the South. and
from the point OF tie logic of the
situation 1t would seem that If the
southern desires to extend its mile
age Mt all it would most naturally dc
SO by the addition OF the Norfolk
and Western.
If such be the intention of the
Southern, it goes without saving
Tint LOT the present 1t would be i'm
possible OF confirmation. for If there
Is anything which is kept q secret
oy railroad men, it is their knowl.
enseI OF proposed deals of this
But The journal has in an indi.
rect way which casts the strongest
probability upon the outcome Which
has been here suggested.