The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-01
NORFOLK AND WESTERN ROAD
The Southern Said to be Contemplating q
- Purchase.
Washington Star, 2Sth)

-heiltioh WAS maze several months ago
that all indications pointed TO the acquire
| ment by the Southern Railway Company
of the Norfolk and Western railroad.
Those who are in position to be reason
| ably well Informed on the subject say
that arrangements for the deal have been
practically completed, and that the trans
action will be formally closed Mt the fore
closure sale, which, it is understood, will
take place during the next month at the
farthest.
To secure the Norfolk and Western
would be directly in line with the policy
that the Southern has@@been pursuing for
some time past, to absorb and consolidate
with its own system any line that could
be of special benefit to it,
1t is the impression in some quarters
that if the consolidation above mentioned
takes place one result will be the con-
struction of new short line of railway
between Front Royal, Va, on the Shen-
andoah Valley division of the Norfolk and
Western, to Washington via Vienna and
Falls Church, Va. The former owners of
the Norfolk and Western were very anX-
lous to have such a connection, as il
would save them an immense expense in
getting their trains into Washington
their only means of getting here now be-
ing via the Baltimore and Ohio-but the
hard times which set in three or four
years ago and the passing of the Norfolk
and Western into the hands of receivers
put an end to the scheme for the time
being
The main lines of the Norfolk and
Western extend from Norfolk and Ports
mouth, Va, to Bristol, Tenn from Roa
| noake, Va, to Hagerstown, Md; and
from Radford, Va, to Columbus, O., a
total mileage of about 400 miles.
The Norfolk and Western would be a
natural connection for the Southern to
make at Bristol, Tenn. At present the
Southern is cut off there With the Nor
folk and Western in Its possession. the
Southern would practically control the
great coal-felds of Virginia and Tennes-
see, and it would get up into Maryland
very near TO Baltimore, Philadelphia, and
New York. 1t would also reach up as
far in Ohio as Columbus the very heart
of that rich country, and with the Brice-
Thomas lines out of Cincinnati and Col
umbus, the Southern would have it's own
road from Chicago and the greet lakes
down into the South. The Monon and
| the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton are
| understood to be kindred lines, Just as
the Southern and Central are understood
TO be kindred in Georgia.
Another matter which leads to the con-
clusion on the part of some people that it
is the intention of the Southern to absorb
the Norfolk and Western is the following:
Major Henry Fink is one of the receivers
of the Norfolk and Western. He was
for long time the head and front of the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.
when it was one of the Richmond and
Danville properties. When that road
became the property of the Southern Ma
Jor Fink became the receiver of the Mem.
phis and Charleston. Afterward he was
made receiver for the Norfolk and West
ern, and he continues TO hold both posi-
tions. The Memphis and Charleston will,
1T is generally understood, be sold at re-
ceiver's sale and it is conceded the South
ern will purchase it.
1t is pretty we'll known that unsuccess-
full attempts were made by parties in
Philadelphia, where the genera! offices of
the Norfolk and Western are located, to
reorganize the latter. Most of the stocks
, and bonds of the company are held in
England