The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-27
PROPOSED BELT LINE.
There Is No Longer Any Doubt As to
lis Early Construction.
THE ROUTE PRACTICALLY DECIDED ON
Where IL WIFI Probably Ee Located
The riH,e tn which tho Work
VIII Conncct in Bcrhley win
the n. a. w. nn.l X. d. -. Railroads.

The finna details which still remain to
De adjusted before the Belt line Shall
oe q. fact, are being rapidly adjusted,
and 1t viii not be lone; before the aclGai
work OF construction will begin. For
many years a Belt line railroad, which
should practically eucircle Norfolk,
Portsmouth, Berkeley and contiguous
towns. has been discussed and routes
nave been surveyed for II. the obje
of this Belt line being TO furnish trans
fer facilities for the various railroads
centerinE in this section. Though often
revived the scheme never al,proa ched
naturalization until The New York,
Philadelphia and Norfolk railway pur-
chased Rs magnificent property at Port
NorfClk. 1t Was then that this company
began 10 look around fol. 4 cheaper and
quicker method OF transferring its cars
to the tracks or the various lines with
which 1T does business. which, OF course,
includes all the roads having q terminus
on this harEor.
The Belt line plan came up once more,
this time for serious business -cons.derl-
ton. ana arrangements were at once en-.
tered into for the purchase Of right on
way through tho property through which
the Belt line must pass. At This rate
nearly all rights have been secured, and
Is thought that the rest may b. obtain
ed without condemnation proceedings.
There Is no longer any doubt as TO the
building of the road. III fact 1t is prom
lsed within IL year, and 1t is said thar
work will be begun within sixty days
When Il: is completed an enormous con
Venence Will result not only to the
New York, Philadelphia aud Norfolk
railroad, but to the Norfolk and West
crn, Norfolk ana Carolina, Se;tbuarl Air
Line, Atlantic and Danville and, III fact,
every Tine having Il terminus here It
Will render the transfer for freight from
one OF these lines to another less tedious.
less expensive and more rapid
TIrlI ROUTE.
The road will start from the COM
pany's property, at Port Norfolk. It's
other terminus will probably not be
| actually In Norfolk at present. though
eventually IT must Leaving Port Nor
folk the BELT will pass through The
property CT the Port Norfolk Land com
pany, West Portsmouth Land company,
the Cassell and Whitehead estates,
)crossing the Atlantic and Danville rail
road not far south OF the Seaboard Air
| Line shops; thence It will proceed
through the Watts. IVY and Emmerson
| farms. striking the proposed route OF the
| first planned Belt line, already survey
ed, near the Portsmouth and Deep Greek
turnpike. about two miles from the city
The route from there lies through the
property OF the Portsmouth company
and reaches Southern Branch. about q
mile south OF the navy yard. Coming
into Bcrloey It will probably connec
with tho norfolk and Western and the
Norfolk and Southern Mt the junction OF
those two roads, though this has not vel
been decided upon. A connection of this
sort Will serve the main purpose of the
line, and the connections will have beer
made ell route With the Seaboard All
Line. Norfolk and Carolina and Allan.
tic and Danville roads.
A BIG INVESTMENT.
The cost Of such q route as outlined
will hardly be less than SAC. 10000. calculat.
ing the cost OF the land at 500, 900, The
bridge over Southern Branch al $l00,0 0l
and the construction Of the road at SO.
900 per mile. the entire distance being
about eight miles. This estimate does
not. Of course, include the terminus a
Pork Norfolk, It having been already
bought and paid for at cost Of about
$50, 900.
| It is Rgain limited in certain circle!
that the chesapeake and Ohio railroa
lis considering the feasibility and ad.
vantages Of bringing their freight over
| by way of Pig Point, which Is only abouH
| four miles from Newport News. Thi:
| idea has also been much discussed. and
1t would surprise no one We're 1t adopted
From the Point TO the Belt line would be
an easy thing, for the Norfolk and Caro-.
| lima has Il brancih extending thithel
| which could, perhaps, be bought a t g
reasonable figure, especially as it has
not proven a bonanza to the builders.