The times., 1899-08-24
sold TO THE SEABOARD
The West Virginia Central and
Pittsburg Changes Hands.
ImpcrfaEt Negotiations which Have
Deen Pending Practically Com
System Secures LonE-Desircd
Northern Outlet From Norfolk.

Negotiations for the purchase OF the
West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Rail-
road by the Seaboard Air Line system,
which have been pending for some weeks,
were, 1t is believed, practically completed
yesterday, and the former line viii soon
pass into the control of the latter. II is
a well known fact that for some years the
Seaboard system has been desirous of gain
ing an outlet from Norfolk, the present
IL could compete for business in other sec
tons of the North and form connections
with lines leading West.
The West Virginia Central and Pitts
burg Railroad has been constructed within
she past five or six years, and has already
become a considerable factor in the indus
trial affairs of West Virginia Former
United States Senator Henry G. Davis is
the present president. and Senator Stephen
3. Elkins is vice president The road
now extends from Cumberland, Nd, run
ming in a southwesterly direction TO Bel
ington, W. Va, a distance Of l9l miles
There are TWO branches OF six and seven
miles. respectively, making a total of IA
miles. Surveys have been made with the
view of extending the line several miles
further south in the direction of White
Sulphur Springs.
1t is understood TO be the purpose of the
Seaboard Air Line 10 build a connecting
line from either Norfolk or New Weldon,
n. c., in a northwesterly direction 10 the
southern terminus of the West Virginia
Central and Pittsburg road, thereby form
ing g through line from Atlanta, Ga, TO
Cumberland, Md. 1t has also been the
intention of the present managers OF the
West Virginia Central people to extend
that line west to Pittsburg, thus parallel
ing the Baltimore and Ohio between those
two points. BY penetrating the PIttsburg
territory, il Will be seen the Seaboard sys-
TEN will then have advanced 10 a formld-
able position in controlling traffic from
that central point 10 all the territory OF
the South Atlantic Coast and the central
portion of the South, as far west as Chat
tanooga.
The West Virginia Central and Pitts
burg liEe traverses a section OF the State
of West Virginia heretofore undeyeloped
passing through some OF the richest coal
and iron deposits of the Allegheny Noun
tains 1t is argued that the purchase made
by the Seaboard Air Line system will place
that road in strong position aga INST its
rivals. the Norfolk and Western, the
Southern. and the Atlantic Coast Line. It
will give ii an independent entrance into
competitive territory, as well as penetrat-
ing a section OF country by the coastruc
tion Of the proposed connections and ex-
tensions now untouched by railroad enter
prises-
II was impossible to learn last night
when the transfer of the property will be
made, but il is supposed it viii be done
within a few days. None of the officials
OF either Of the roads is in the city. SEN
ator Elkins, who, il is understood, man
aged the negotiations for his road, is in
New York, where the details of the sale
were perfected. 1t is believed that the
Seaboard system will al an early date be-
gin the construction of the connecting link
which will join the two systems. Ii is
thought this can be completed within less
than one year. The distance between the
two points, according 10 the most accept
able route as investigated by the survey
sre will apprn1rh 200 or 25O miles