Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-12
The Tennessee Central to Connect
With the Norfolk and Western.
S. a. l. IMPROVEMENTS
Tho Now Line nnd tho IiIinoi. Con-
trail VIII Roach Peep Water a.
Norroik-CostiyA Addition TO S. a.
Il. Equipment New Feedor for
the chesapeake nnd Shio.

The work now In progress on the
Tennessee Central railroad Is of such
magnitude that the question has arisen
as to whether the Tennessee Central
Railroad Compay is back Of the enter
prise or whether it really represents
some larger corporation. The history
Of this enterprise base been detailed in
previous numbers of the Manufacture
crs' Record. Jere Baxter, who has
been instrumental in promoting 1t, pro-
jccted railroad to connect Nashville
with Knoxville. running nearly east
and west through the central and east
crn part of the State. Owing to the
topography of the country. the cost OF
constructing the line was estimated to
be very heavy-on some portions as
high as $4,000 mile-owinE to the
large amount of work to be done In
the mountainous portions, as we'll as
the tunnels and bridges. Although 1t
was begun several years ago, and work
has been stopped altogether a number
of times since it's inception, President
Baxter apparently was not to be dis
couraged, and continued to push the
project. He interested st. Louis syn
dicatc in the matter about two years
ago, and as n result the Tennessee Gen.
trail Railroad Company was practical
~ re-organized. Among those inter-
csted were several st. Louis bankers,
while it was reported that the Med
ringhouse brothers, who are large coal
and ore property owners in Tennessee,
were also backing the enterprise. A
contract was let to resume work on the
line about a year ago, and considerable
progress has been made, as from 500
to 5000 men have been employed along;
various portions. Between the towns
of Crcssville and Monterey, distance
of sixty miles. the road has been
graded and traclSlaying is in progress.
The Tennessee Central, which will be
go miles long when completed, would
form IL most valuable link in another
system to the Atlantic coast, as at
Knoxville 1t Will connect with line
now being constructed, which. in turn,
will connect with the Norfolk and
Western system. At Nashville 1t will
meet the Louisville and Nashville sys-
tenn. BY the construction of thirty-iive
miles of road the Illinois Central can
make connection with the new line
at GAINESVILLE. Tenn. Its advantages
to both systems are obvious. for 1t
would allow them to reach the Atlantic
coast at Hampton Roads by traffic
arrangement with the Norfolk and
Western. Undoubtedly the reason for
the present activity Is not the local
value of the line. although It passes
through extensive beds OF ore, phos-
phate and timber lands, but because
1T is intended to be q part OF Il new
system from the Northwest to the
Southeast. for the outlay already rep
resents over s1,O00.000, while the entire
cost OF the road ready for operation will
not be less than $4,000, 900. owing, rs al
ready stated. to the difficulties In the
way of building It.
S. a. l.. IMPROVEMENTS.
According to the Baltimore Manutac-
turers' Record, the new train service
to be inaugurated by the Seaboard Air
Line between New York and the South
during the coming winter will repre-
sent an outlay OF nearly s250,OO0 The
rolling stock, being manufa ctured by
the Pullman Palace Car Company, in
Guides sleeping cars OF the latest pat
crns. finished in mahogany and wal
nut. The trains will be made up of at
least six cars each and will be four
in number. This service will be over
the Seaboard Air Line and its connec-
tons. forming what Is known as the
Florida and WGst India Short Line.
The Manufacturers Record is also OFF,
clally informed that the Seaboard Air
Line has decided to purchase fifty nd
ditional locomotives and two hundred
box cars to meet It's requirements for
business and ten switch engines The
orders will include about twenty five
freight engines. fifteen passenger and
ten switch engines. This rolling stock
alone will represent an outlay OF fully
5000. 900, exclusive OF the Pullman equip
ment
c. e O.'S NEW FEEDER.
The Grecnbrier Valley Railroad. now
under construction in West Virginia.
will connect the Chesapeake and Ohio
and the West Virginia Central and