The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-03
A BIT OF RAILROAD HISTORY.

We are interested in the statement re-
Gently sent out by the Associated Press
to the effect that a movement is on foot
to extend the Danvilie and Western branch
of the Southern Railway Company from
Stuart, Va, to Bristol.
This little road has an interesting his
tory 1t is a narrow gauge road built
many years ago through the enterprise Of
Major w T. Sutherlin, of Danville Soon
after the road was completed number
of Virginians conceived the idea CT build
ing narrow gauge road from Claremont,
on the James River, to Danville, there to
connect with Major Sutherlin's road. A
company was organized as the Atlantic and
Danyille Railroad Company and small
beginning was made at Claremont. The
road was first operated as a tramway from
the pine forests in Surry county to the
James River line. and with the aid of
county subscriptions it was subsequently
extended to Waverly in Sussex county,
station on the Norfolk and Western road.
Major Sutherlin's narrow gauge road was
built as the Danville and New River road,
and it was his original intention to extend
this road from Stuart to some point on
New River across the mountains. The At
lantic and Danville people, as we have
said. proposed to carry their road on TO
DanvilJe and SO to make what would have
been at that time the most extensive mar
row gauge road in the country.
But the Danvile and New River road
stopped at Stuart and, chiefly because OF
natural and almost insurmountable Cd
stacles, the plan Of extension was aoan-
doned The road was successfully operated,
however. and finally fell into the hands OF
the Southern Railway Company, then
known as the Richmond and Danviie In
the meantime, however, the late B. d. Til
lar, of Grecnesville county, conceived the
idea of building a standard gauge road
from Danville to Portsmouth to be known,
sa the little gauge road in Surry was
known, as the Atlantic and Danville. He
decided to abandon the narrow gauge road
at Claremont, or at least to use 1t simply
as a feeder to his main line, and when his
plans were perfected he went to Danville
ANU dSheu 1OI IL SuDSSiiEIioil "a Sioe,'OO "
his road, which Danville voted and paid.
Subscriptions We're also voted in the coun-
ties Of Aecklenburg, Brunswick. Greenes-
vile and southampton, and the city OF
Portsmouth finally fell into line and voted,
If our memory serves us correctly, S150,ooO
to the road.
In the meantime A. z. Bateman, New
York broker, of the firm of Green & Bate
man, became interested in the Atlantic
and Danvi,le and it was largely through
his work and influence that the road was
built. He succeeded in interesting some
English capitalists, and before the line be-
tween Danvlle and Portsmouth was COM
pleted ne secured a charter for an extern
sion Of his line from Danville to Bristol.
Danville voted an additional $4,000 to the
extension. and the city of Bristol also
agreed to contribute literally towards the
enterprise. Mr.. Bateman proposed to use
as much as he could of the Danville and
New River narrow gauge road in the con-
struction Of his Western line, although. as
we remember, no deal was made between
him and the owners of that road.
II was great railroad scheme, and if it
had been carried out the road would have
paralleed the Norfolk and Western be-
tween Bristol and Norfolk, and would have
penetrated a section west of Stuart. known
TO be very rich in minerals. One of the
great advantages claimed for Mr.. Bate
mans proposed road was that it would cut
across the mountains and develop mineral
lands. whereas the Norfolk and Western
for the most part followed the valleys. But
Bateman got into financial difficulties and
finally abandoned the whole scheme. leav-
ing the English capitalists with a poorly
constructed road from Danville to Ports
mouth, which for some time did not even
pay operating expenses.
Recently the Southern Railway Company
acquired the Atlantic and Danville road,
and. as we have said, it had for years be-
fore owned the road between Danvi,le and
Stuart II would be interesting, indeed, If
this great corporation should noN take up
Major Sutherlin's scheme. and later Mr..
Batenan,s scheme and buil6 a great trunk
line from Bristol in the West to Norfolk
by the sea.