Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-04-13
THE GREENBRIER RAILWAY.

nj
This is a railway not yet known to
the travelling world, because the first
train has yet to pass over it, but it is
destined to become an important link in
the chain of West Virginia railways.
1t is being built by the G.. ~ o. and
branches from the main line at the
western end of the bridge which spans
ROnceverte stations and extends
north along the banks Of the Green
brier for about 100 miles to Travellers
Repose in the northern portion Of this,
Pocohontas county. Actual work on
this line began only on the 9th
day of August last in this quarter.
some work had been done south OF
here, but none earlier than that in
this section. Yet with u rather severe
winter. much sickness, bad roads and
a small pox quarantine, very much OF
the grading Is done, and it is said to
be the intention Of the company TO
haYe trains running as far AS this
point by July 1, a distance of about 90
miles.
The road took shape last Spring.
When the West Virginia Pulp and
Paper Co. began to prospect for a To-
cation for II plant at some point other
than on the Potomac, and at d point
so remote hat some citizens t the city
of Cumberland might have surcease
from their bitter persecution OF them.
The Pulp company visited the railway
authorities and an agreement was ell
tered into for its building on certain
conditions. This promise led the Pulp
Co. to buy large tracts of timber land
on which was pulp wood, also to the
building of their plant at COvingtOn,
and of course the building of the road.
This section is possibly the finest
undevelOped timber country in the
United States. The distance from a
railway heretofore left all timber
standing except such as could be raft
ed to Ronceverte and white pine which
could be foated. There have, since
the pine lumber began to be f1oated,
say 20 years ago, been taken from this
county not less than 200, 900 900 feet of
that timber, and there is much more
of the same character yet uncut. The
oak and other hard woods have not
been touched. The tan bark alone in
this county is something enormous.
As soon as the railway is completed
great activity will be manif ested in
now coming in daily, and the sawed
product is being stacked ready for
shipment. The location Of the road as
it is along the rivef renders the entire
county in touch with it, putting the
lands of nearly every man in the
ty within II miles of it. The timbers
industry is by no means the only in
dustry likely to spring up here. The
most massive marble find i'll this
country seems to be right on the line
of this road, the principle marbles
being black and red. These have not
yet been fully opened, but will be al
TO- as the ROAD is in running order.
There are also immense deposits of
iron ore with limestone in a stones
thrown. Eighteen miles west, on the
head of Gauley river, are vast depOS
it's Of the New River coking coal, thus
placing iron, coal and limestone near
er together than at any other point in
West Virginia. This must invite the
manufacture Of iron at some point
near here, or at this place. There is
fine water power in the county, at a
gorge in the mountain n of The larg-
est streams can easily be damned and
q wonderful power obtained.
AT present The West Virginia Cen
tral and PittSburg are ut WORK On Il
line which crosses Cheat mountain
from Elkins to connect with che Green
brier railway. Their line VIII be
about 40 miles i'll length, and when
completed will open thls section to The
West and Northwest, and also enable
coal to be shipped from the Roaring
Creek mines to Newport News. LIZ Is
rum0red that the g. & .. viii shorten
this route by building from d point on
the Hot Springs branch 10 {. point on
this line, thus making the distance 40
mics shorter from this point 10 New
port News than IL wUui1 be by follow
Ing the present line. The road has
not as yet indicated any policy witn
to freight rates, and tie
doubt on that score is somewhat re-
tarding dey %eiopneIb, and Keeping CUT
investors. The Hot Springs branch
by which this county received aliu
sent away all produce and goods has
so outrageOuS!y b~urdeHS0lne and
eXtfa VACANT Ill Its charges, as 30 cause
that such q policy might
be adopted here. This uncertainty
buyers. II is therefore tn he honed
some noIirv rnsv ho onrIinad "
i~ndicatiOn vonchsafad tbesa neo.
nle. The sharn advance in fraivht
rates in other charters is not var 70.
assuring. Shonld the ROAD he abia to
do work by September from this
point, it Will carry away many hun
which in some instances bova hoep
driven To The W Va TentraIana 49,
B. 81 q. OF conrse If will ha~in ,ho
shipment of Iumher at mes ard :,
wears mora minis w,IIIitaI1 80
II from this onarter Than from &c"
tire limo cast of tho Ohja - '"e Tn.
character of the work is oooo Thu Io7
;ation is high above water ter the re en-
oad Will be laid with heavy Steel we