Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04
The First Railroad in Virginia.
(For the Dispatch.)

|
In 1899 the enterprising people of Pc
| tersburg. looking to a future enlargement
| of the trade of the city. began the dis
cussion of the construction of a railroad
to the North Carolina ine Interest in
the project became general, a public
meeting was held, and hearty endorse
ment given it.
On or about the 10th Of February, 1920
an act was passed by the General Assem-
bly, Incorporating the Petersburg Rail
road Company, and commissioners were
appointed to receive subscriptions TO It's
stock, which at first was only 100000
divided into shares Of 500 each, and all
of which was quickly taken.
FROM PETERSBURG TO NORTH
CAROLINA.
The road was to run from Petersburg
% some convenient point on the North
Carolina line" and the survey was be-
gun i'm December, 1890 A month later
January, 1917 the contract was award
ed to build the road from Petersburg 10
Jarratt's, in Sussex county, a distance
of about thirty miles, and in the sum-
mer of 1892 arrangements were made for
extending 1t TO Blakely in North Caro-
lima. about sixty miles from Petersburg
which was accomplished by the LIST OF
October 1893
This road. then popularity known as the
Petersburg and Roanoke railroad" was
1.-THE first railroad laid in Virginia. "on
which steam locomotives were used" Its
completion marked a new era in the his
tory of Petersburg.
THE FIRST THROUGH TRAIN.
The first through passenger train from
Blakely to Petersburg. consisting of an
engine and two or three coaches, was
welcomed with great demonstration by
the whole community of the Cockade
City.
The methods of railway construction
In those early days were necessarily prim-
tive. The prototype of the fine steel rail
Of to-day was piece of strap iron abou:
"a of an inch thick and 2 IL to inches
wide, nailed to the wooden rail, which.
in its turn, rested on the ties. Within
the limits of Petersburg the wooden rails
We're first fastened upon stone blocks.
through which holes were drilled for the
spikes. Some of these drilled blocks are
still in use on the sidewalks of the CITY.
though the fact is known to but few who
walk upon them.
THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE.
The late Edward Pollock, in his Ills |
torical Guide 10 PETERSBURG" published in |
1884. in a chapter on the Petersburg rail- |
road. says: 1.-THE first locomotive used on |
this road was built in England, and the |
cars were modelled after the old English |
stage coaches, carrying about eighteen |
passengers, inside and out. The freight
cars were four-wheeled conveyances
called wagons. ard carried about three |
tons each The first president of the
was Donald Mckenzie. At n
meeting of the stockholders, held in
March, 1886. Henry ID. Bird, the chief en-
gineer, reported that the company had
IN use 100 wagons, five coaches. and
seven engines His heaviest engines
Weighed. including fuel and water. 6 tons
hundredweght and were each capable
II drawing twenty to twenty-five wagons
In the aggregate 60 TO 20 tons.
THE PASSENGER RATES.
The passenger fare was cents per
nile subsequently reduced TO cents)
0 cents per ton per mile was the charge
or freight. In 1886 the company was re-
tIicted by act OF the Legislature from
aging dividends in excess of Is per cent.
,lakely was subsequently abandoned as
he southern terminus OF the road I'm
ayor OF Weldon, N. C. II
The Richmond and Petersburg railroad