The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24


At no time in the history of the State
has there been a period that promised
more in the way of development 81
transportation facilities aud inter-com
munication of the sections.
Perhaps the most important feature OF
the development has been the financing
of the Seaboard Air Line and I'M
consequent consolidation of the roads
under its control into The Greater Sea
board System, which will be followed
by the establishment Of new fast
schedule from New York to Tampa,
over its own lines south of Washing
ton. together with a guarantee of better
facilities than ever before 10 the tow3S
and cities along its lines.
In furtherance of this new policy the
Seaboard has begun The construction OF
two links, the Ridgeway Richmond and
Camden Cheraw, and has recently &C
quired the Florida Central and PENN
sular. The construction companies are
under contract to have both the links
ready for traffic by the end of the year,
and when this is done tine time from
New York to Florida will be shortened
several hours over the Seaboard and the
newly organized +. G.. Il p. from Column
bia to Tampa via Savannah and Jack
sonville. Additional fast trains will
then be put on and new era in North
and South travel will begin.
The Seaboard officials have in mind
to make a number of extensions or
branches of the road and the building
of additional feeders. Steps have al
ready been taken looking to- the build
ing of line from Pittsboro to Green's
boro by way of Haw river and Burling-
ton. and the communities along the pro-
posed route are considering the matter
of subscriptions to the line
The Southern Railway has not been
idle meantime. 1t has bought the part
of the old c. Il. & Y. " Road from
Sanford to Mount Airy, and it is also
asserted that it has acquired the Attain
TIC and Danville, will extend it into
North Carolina, 10 miles to Pierson cop
per mines and will rehabilitate
that line for traffic to Norfolk instead of
paying trackage to the Coast Line to
Norfolk by way of Selma. This will
probably be followed by the coming of
the Coast Line to Raleigh, either by ar
rangement or over its own rails. The
Southern has also completed the Mocks-
Is used to relieve the pressure OF freights
on the main line from Charlotte to
Greensboro.
The Atlantic Coast Line has within
the last few years nearly doubled
its trackage and now reaches most of
the counties in the eastern part of the
State. The most important extensions
of the Coast Line System have been the
A..
and New line and the acquisition
of the G. Il. 4 Y. " from Sanford to
Wilmington, which is operated under
the name of the Atlantic and Yadkin.
Ii is expected that the Coast Line will
shortly build link from Newbern to
Washington, n. c., which would give il
a direct route from Wilmington to Nor.
folk. 1t has built number of Short
lines and connections in the State.
While the great systems have beer
thus bestirring themselves the smaller
roads and capitalists interested in build
ing new lines have not beer
behind hand. General r. +. Hoke
of Li1colnton, has organized !
syndicate TO broaden and exteaI ihe
marrow gauge road, whose terminus is
now Lenoir, through to Cran.
berry, where connection will Ie
made for he coal iieltl, ~ T,r
nessee and Kentucky. The road will be
made OF standard width and in the
other direction connection or traffic ar
rangement to the seaboard will be made
via the Carolina Central.
Folk county has recently voted to sub
scribe to a RAILROAD to be built through
that county under a charter granted by
the last Legislature. 1t is expected that
this road will be built through Polk into
Henderson, and possibly un to Ashe-
vile, which has long been anxious for a
Seaboard connection
The Aberdeen and Asheboro RAILROAD
has been completed between those point.
and branch thrown out at Troy 1'hi,
branch it is expected will be extended
through TO Concord by way of the lua.
nlhcent water powers Of the Yadkin rv
ed. Active steps have been taken b.
the beneficiaries of such an extension {,
prosecute it.
The Aberdeen and Rockfish railroad O.
which Mr.. John Blue is President, hal
been great factor in the States de
yelopment. fSee page 204)
A syndicate has been organized for tn
completion of the old Ohio River an,
Charleston Railway, and during the las
Legislature o new charter was granite
the company under the name of tn,
South Carolina and Georgia Extension
Railway of North Carolina.
During the session of the General AS
sembly of 1899 a strong effort was mad
by syndicate, of which Mr.. w. J. Ed
wards, of Sanford, was president t,
purchase the States interest in The ~,
Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad
Which runs from Goldsboro to Newbey,l
The project failed but the syndicate ha,
with the intention as promised by the syn
dicate. of extending the road westwar,
by way of the fine water power in Har
nett to Salisbury or some adjacent point
beeen industriously working up senti
ment along the line of the road, and tn,
bid will be renewed at the next sessio,
Of the General Assembly. Tie synd;cat
is entirely Independent of any railroa,
system.
The building of a road from Raleigl
to Fuquay Springs, and thence into Har
nett county will open up fine timbe
section. 1t is expected that this roa