The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-18
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad md
Its Developments.
"REMINISCENCES OF FORTY YEARS.
Some Very Interesting Records Nor.
folk I'm These Long Ago Bays
Gen. VIM. Mahone- consolidation
The Atlantic, mississippi ana ohio
nnd the Norfolk and western.
Concord, Va. September lG. 1895.

while | was away from Norfolk | will
choose Tor the subject my recollectionS
OF The hrSt railroad Norfolk and Pc
terSburS) that entered Norfolk Thi,
road was completed about forty years
ago, ana Tor many years afterwards ii
WAS the only railroad in this section.
with the exception of the Seaboard ana
ltoanoke across the Elizabeth river
Many of the old citizens of the city
by the Sea" twill remember the old
KAT trap the y. and T.. used for a
depot, which was a disgrace To any
civilized community.
The population of Norfolk forty
years ago was $4,000 Hundreds of
persons would congresatc about the
depot to witness the arrival of the
train. which would bring Il few passcn-
gers and SON" chickens; the passcn-
gers would 90 to the National Hotel
mow the Hotel Norfolk The Ma
tlonai had genial clerk. Dick Glen
Gnts by name. who had Il dialect pecu-
mar his own. | have often been
amused at Dicks quaint remarks tn
the guests of the National for exam
PIE when the passengers ON the -.
m. train would arrive nj the hotel
DICK would anticly address each and
every one of them as cousins. and he
would make all kinds Of inquiry about
imaginary persons Many OF then,
would believe that Dick was Il relative
of theirs. When the omnibus would ar
rive from the train without any guests
for the hotel Dick would come from be
mind thu counter into the sitting rooni.
where there We're u number Of guests
some OF them reading, others writing
etc, etc, ana he would commence TO
cNtinguish all of the lights except ono.
THOSE who We're reading Or writing had
to discontinue" on account of the. dark
ness. some Of them would ask why he
turned off the lights. Dick would reply.
That The Petersburg train is in Those
VINO were dnnlyt d the most ut this pc
cular proceedings, asked Dick what
they had to do with the Petersburg
train ana that the arrival and dcpar-
iurc of That train WAS of no concern to
them. ] am writing an important bust
ness letter, one of them would remark
Another would say am writin, To- my
wife who las not heard from me for
several weeks. and another said that
ne was interested in reading an ac-
cunt of the earthquake in China Dick;
would say. Gentlemen, ! told YOU that
the Petersburg train Is in, ana YOU Will
have 10 stop until morning"
After ;he close Of the war the three
roads that formed Il link between Nor
folk ana Bristol. Tenn. were consnli-
dated and was known as the Atlantic
al Mississippi rail. Dad. and under the
management Of General VIM. Malone
when the y. NJ. ~ o. became rmiar-
raised and went into another manage
folk and Western railroad, the entire
country through which it travrrscd be
gan Immediately 10 develop TO- n re-
markablc extent The wisdom which
has guided the management OF the Nor
folk and Western has been the cause
OF wonderful increase into tn, treas
ury of the State of Virginia. There are
comparatively few persons who know
the great worth this road has been,
and is 10 Il very large portion of this
state. The pcopl" of Norfolk know,
OF the vast improvements that h:ts.c
taken place at Lambcrt's Point, ana of
the large advance in the value OF prop
crty in that section. We know of inany
persons who have become wealthy by
the inCrca sd ,s;, M, hn.t. received
Tor their lands. al Of viii has loon
brought about by the immense i'm
proVements made by tn, Norpli; ;,ud
Western at that point. Not only at
l-amh"rt'S Point. but everywhere "a
and around Norfolk Nt.clcrVcr tn. MOI
folk ana Western do any business. lille
and activity is plainly disccrncd by
amy observer.
see IN" improvements this road has
made in this STATE are amazed at it's
magnificent achievements. Roanoke.
II city of considerable Importance. was
brought into existence solely bN tho
Norfolk ana Western. The busy littI,.
Norfolk and Western located their
shops there. All along the entire route
may be- seen inviting and progrcSSiy.
towns. All keep fully alive by the Nor
folk and Western. Pocuhcutas. on the
New River branch of the Norfolk ana
Western, ana the net work of other
branches to the numerous coal mines in
that section. is a wonderful spectacle
of development. | do not know of any
road which has done SO much for TN,
country through which it passes as the
Norfolk and Western. Its management
appear To he perfectly devoid OF the sell
iiShucsS which is sometimes noticed I'm
Il great railroad. You will rrmcn, Dor
how checrfuily the Norfolk ana West
ern vacated their beautiful Offices at
the corner of Main ana Granny streets
for the accommodation of the firm who
wanted 10 occupy tn" entire building
to conduct lurg" business to meet
the requirements of Norfolil's con
tinucd growth They gave up this
building. Notwithstanding they had Soy
cral years lease on il.
| viii advance the opinion that tho
Norfolk and Western has done more.
for the material interest OF the state of
Virginia than a score of any other
factors all combined. Norfolk has now
Il population OF 10000, and it is stead
lily going ahead Norfolk should deal
librrGlly to all great enterprises w
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of The 100 600 pcrson.