The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-06
KAILROAD
New Road from Mount Airy to
Petigo's Mills, Va. II.spected-Very
Bright Prospects

- Airy, =. 9. Feb. 1, 1900.
Editors Messenger:
On invitation of Mr.. Walter II. Tu-
mis-, Of Baltimore, vice president. a
party Of Mt Airy's leading business
men made the initial trip over Mi.
AEy's new railroad today. going as far
as PetigO's Mills in Patrick county.
Va. After enjoying a few hours skat-
ing over the smooth crystal ice shat
covers Ghe lake at the latter place, the
gentlemen returned to the city. incl
deIstally inspecting the rOadbed anu
culverts and p%rOnouncing the same to
be aS substantially built as n T
row gauge railroad in h state. The
SurfacinS and ballaSting Is SO we'll
done thai there is scarcely a suggestion
OF the road being other than an old
established line. II is laid with fifty
six pound rails and is, together with
the substantial bridges. sufficiently
heavy for operating a standard gauge
road. The only regrets expressed were
rdhas q should not have been a four
foot eight and a half inch gauge in
stead Of three feet, the latter width
being the same gauge as the Danville
AID Western, n western terminus
is at Stuart, Patrick county. Va.
ThE rad is well equipped. having
two locomotives, twenty-seVen fiat ears
and tan box cars. An order is now
placed for several passenger coaches.
1t IS expected that q regular schedule
will u pu. in force rOr thorough
lravd TO the Pinnacles Of the Dan by
March 1st- Our people have hereto
fore lahore under the impression that
n building OF this railroad mea
merely a lumberman's enterprise to
bring d vast quantities OF lumber
THAI are being manufactured along the
Dan river. which Of itself is a gigantic
volume OF buinesS ITO handle. The gen.
tlemen Of the party accompanying Mr..
Tunis today, observing the substantial
character Of the roadway and equip
meEs. We're unanimously convinced
that his is the beginning Of the open
ing up OF a permanent railway that
will result in the development of this
section Of Month Carolina and south
eastern Virginia into a commercial
road There is 10 reason why the Mt.
Airy and Eastern with the increasing
demand could not be speedily and prof
HuabIy extended either north or east.
In making sue connection it would
pass through a territory Astounding in
unlimited resources and presently
withou,t railroad facilities Patrick,
Floyd and Henry counties, Virginia, is
the section Through which this road IS
likely 20 pass A glance at the map
will show without explanation the Ill
inmate outlet Of our city to eastern
connections. The section through
which the road passes abOunds in
beautiful scenery, the famous Pima
cIes OF the Dan tower their lofty peaks
just above and overlooking the Mt
Airy and Eastern that winds along the
course eff rhe river DAN.
Already arrangements are bang made
fer handling of summer traffic, and
people from WinstOn-Salem, Green's
bore. Raleigh and other near by towns
VIII find this a most attractive noun
tain reSort, second ito none in the land
OF the sky, which has hitherto been
inaccessible except by wagon Dads.
Among the townspeODle accompany
ing Mr.. Tunis were ]. w. Prather, Of
Pralfher & DeVauTt, Geo. D. Faucette,
OF the First National bank; ThOs. and
Frank Woodruff. OF the Mt. Airy Gran
tie Company; j. d. Smith and w. e.
Sydnor, of the Bankers Insurance
Company; s. Porter Graves and Geo.
w Sparger. aittorneys-at-law, and O..
y. Quincy, Of the Blue Ridge Inn.
On arriving at Mt Airy ON the re-
turn trip. the road was formally ded-
icated TO the material prosperity OF
MORT hwestern North Carolina and
southwestern Virginia, linking the two
states with another bond of iron in a
few we'll chosen remarks by Mr.. ).
Porter Graves, the silver-tonSued or
artOr OF the Granite City, at the same
time acknowledging the hanks of the
panty for the treat that Mr.. Tunis had
furnished them.
Other enterprises in which the latter
gentleman is interested are Granite
Mountain Hardwood Co, of Wilkes
County N. c., being vice president and
general president of the Hot
Springs Lumber Co, of Madison coun-
", N. c.; president OF the Mt Airy
Lumber and Manufacturing Co., OF
this city and of Baltimore.
These companies control an aggre-
gate of over $1,000 acres OF virgin
hardwood timber lands
c. C. C.