Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-14

THE BLACK DIAMOND TO DE BUILT
ny PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION.
GRAND TRUNK LINE NORTH Ind SOUTH
Colonel Albert boone DiIafes Upon n
Scheme for the Development of
N virginia Charter.

Secretary-of-th e-CommonweaHh Law
less yesterday received a letter from
Colonel Albert c. Boone, Of GAINESVILLE
o., asking as to the cost Of obtaining d
charter under the Virginia laws for the
Black Diamond Railway Company. whicd
already has charters from South Carolina
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio.
Colonel Boone says there is no intention
to extend the main line Of the ro2d lntc
Virginia. but that it is probable that a
branch line will be constructed within thu
borders Of this state.
Colonel Boone. who says his fore
fathers were from Franklin county, Va.
has a great scheme for the construction
Of a great railway system in the States
of Indiana. Kentucky, Tennessee, NORTH
Carolina. Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio
West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
ORIGINATED WITH CALHOUN.
He enclosed with his letter to Mr.. Law
less a quantity OF printed matter chiefly
extracts from newspapers, giving infoT-
nation as 10 the Black Diamond system
He says John c. Calhoun first conceived
the idea. in 1896, but that no active step-
to construct the road were taken. H.
1893 citizens Of Kentucky became int
rested in the scheme, and Colonel Boone
was engaged 10 push II. He has been
pushing il, he says, until now, 1893 miles
of road have been located as follows;
Between Greenfield, Ind, and Knoxville
Tenn, 3Sl miles; between Knoxville ana
Anderson. 5. c., pa miles; between
Cynthlana. Ky, and Columbus, O., lbs
mil nj hot Nr{uqapn.e Tp1 q
Jacksonville, Ind, rs miles. Colonel
Boone says the work Of construction IS
the easiest part.
OBJECT OF THE ROAD.
He says all the lines are laid out for
the purpose Of developing the mines of
raw materials in the country traversed,
and TO find a market for them. lie says:
The lines are laid out especially to de-
yelop the great coal basins Of Pennsyl-
vania, West Virginia, Ohio. Indiana,
Kentucky, and Tennessee. The North
Carolina and Georgia lines will be great
mineral producers for such as marble,
granite, copper, sulphur. tale iron ores
Of all kinds, corundum, kaolin, and man
ganese, in addition to passing through
oceans Of hardwood timber The line
through South Carolina Will pass through
the heart Of the cotton belt, and viii
tap the great phosphate (bone) deposit
at Port Royal, S. c. The Black Diamond
lines will also connect Lake Erie at Fair
port HarbOr, Ohio, with the sea at Port
Royal, S. c.. with branch lines into
Charleston, 5. c., and Savannah. Ga. The
Black Diamond system OF railways IS
destined 10 be the great coal system of
the continent. II will touch the Atlantic
SeabCard. 1t will have it's own lines into
Pttsburg, Wheeling, Columbus. Indian
aDOlis Louisville Cincinnati and rbf-
cago. 1t will cross-cut all trunk lines
east Of the Mississippi, any one OF which
VIII be glad TO an interchange Of traffic.
1t will be built upon a maximum grade.
not In excess OF siXty-siX feet 10 the mile.
thereby enabling il TO transport its traffic
at rates no other railway corporation
could afford 10 make, should an attempt
be made 10 destroy the Black Dfo~,ond
in It's infancy by reducing rates TO actual
cost Of doing the work This Is me plan
the older corporations always adopt TO
cripple or place at their mercy a new
railway enterprise"
THE FINANCIAL PART.
The financing of this great system is
problem. The Colonel SAYS he has
grappled with it and settled fl. He has
secured, or is confident he will secure,
free right OF way everywhere. He has
already secured large sums I'm the form
OF popular subscriptions TO the stock Of
the road, made by people residing along
the projected route. He says he expects
the money ~ecessary to come from this
source There Is also a great deal said
In the prospectus about English capital
becoming interested.
The road will assuredly be completed
before CoXey's transcontinental system Of
highways is completed.