The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-26
The Norfolk and Western to
Run Solid to Atlanta.
THE LAST LINK NECESSARY
The Roanoke and Southern Ac-
quired For 100000.
BUILD EXTENSION TO MONROE
Close Traffic Arrangement to be Made
With S. a. /. Which VIII Open
Up New Outlet to North
and West,

New York. Nov. 25.-The Mail and Ex-
press says: The sale of the Roanoke and
Southern, at Winston, n. c., yesterday,
TO interests identified with the Norfolk
and Western, has greater significance
than the sale of a line one hundred and
twenty miles long in a comparatively poor
country usually possesses. The property
was bid in for 100000 and it is said
that it will soon be leased to the Norfolk
and Western for long term of years,
perhaps in perpetuity. The road has
been operated by the Norfolk and West
ern for some time as one of its divisions
and it extends from Roanoke, Va, to
Winston-Salem, ". c., a distance Of one
hundred and twenty two miles. The
object of the acquisition by the Norfolk
and Western means. that it is to play an
important part in the extensions of the
company which has for it's object the
reaching of the Central and important
points. The present management of the
Norfolk and Western is desirous Of Sc
suring an entrance into Atlanta, from
which important centre it is virtually
shut out. The Southern main line of the
company extends from HagerstOwn, Md,
TO Bristol Tenn, and at the latter
points the East Tennessee, which is part
of the Southern. Railway begins and
hauls the through cars to Chattanooga
and to New Orleans over the Queen and
Crescent The desirability of an entrance
into Atlanta is very strong in the esti-
Of
and it is proposed to attain that object
by forming n close traffic alliance with
the S. A. L.
In order to make this complete it will
be necessary for the n and w to do some
building on its own account, and this
it proposes to do in the very near fu-
ture. The Roanoke and Southern's ter
minus is at Winston. BY building an ex-
tension to Monroe, n divisional point on
the Seaboard Airline, the desired con
nection can be made, and the Norfolk
and Western will then be only 272 miles
away from Atlanta. That the Seaboard
Airline management will see the mutual
benefits from an alliance and will enter
upon the same is undoubted il for no
other reason than an outlet to the North
and West is created which will doubtless
form formidable rival for Southern
trade. The Seaboard Airline has some
very interesting plans of development
ahead, but the combination with the Nor
folk and Western viii serve to materially
strengthen the strong strategetic posi-
tion it holds in the Southern situation.
1t can well afford to haul Norfolk and
Western trains from Monroe to Atlanta.
because an interchange of husinass 70
veals the fact that the Ohio cities will
be brought in contact with the South bv
a new route, which virtually means an
other line from the West into Atlanta.
The consummation of the proposed
plans is matter of the near future. The
Norfolk and Western intends to be a
stronger bidder for Southern business,
Of which Atlanta is the common distrib-
1ting point and to that end it proposes to
work up extensions and connections.