The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-29
More Factories on It's Line Than on
Any Similar Road.
DIVERSIFIED PRODUCTS AND LANDSCAPES
History Of the Narrow Gauge Which Has De-
veIoped a Fine Section. First Chartered
as the Kings Mountain Rail-
road Company.
road Company.
(Staff Correspondence


cilities it is indeed difficult to appre-
ciate or thoroughly understand the
actual condition of section without
railroad communication. Railroads
eivilize the people and develop the
county wherever they are built. me
land may possess the most fertile soil
and contain the most valuable min
eral deposits. 1t streams, and water
power worth billions of dollars for
manufacturing and other purposes,
but all these remain in q state of per-
feet paralysis until the railroad makes
It possible for development and use.
It is the purpose of the writer to call
attention to the past and present and
future possibilities of the carolina
and Northwestern Railway Company.
No railroad in the South, whether
length of line is considered or not,
runs through country Astounding in
greater diversity of products, change
of landscape, or more beautiful and
picturesque scenery. The Carolina
and Northwestern Railway is cross
section railroad, running North and
South. crossing almost at right angle
''the South Carolina and Georgia eX-
tension at Yorkville, S. c., the South
ern' at Gastonia, n. c., and the Sea-
board Air Line at Lincolnton, n. Z. 1t
strikes the Southern at Newton, N. e.,
runs along side the road bed of the
Southern for ten miles to Hickory, n.
c., and then leaves it abruptly, run
ming North to Lenoir, n. c., its pres
emit northern terminus. Until year
ago the Carolina and Northwestern
used a third rail over the Southern's
track from Newton to Hickory for it's
narrow gauge cars. From Chester, S.
c.. its present southern terminus, to
Lenoir. the Carolina and Northwest
ern Railway is one hundred and ten
miles long.
Connection at Chester is made with
the Seaboard Air Line, the Southern
and the Lancaster and Chester rail
roads, thus giving travel over the
Carolina and Northwestern quick time
to all points South, East and West of
that point.
The following is the history OF the |
road from it's charter organization
and completion to Lenoir:
KINGS MOUNTAIN RAILROAD COM
PANY.
In the year 1850 the Kings Mountain |
Railroad Company was chartered un- |
der the laws of the State of South |
Carolina. Beginning at Chester, S. G.,
the road was completed to 1orkvllle, |
S. c.. in 1852. The road at that time
being broad, or standard gauge. The |
company used their own slave labor
in building and operating their road.
Two of these negroes are still living |
and are now in the employ OF the pres
emit company.
GAUGE AND NAME CHANGED.
Early in the seventies the name of
the road was changed to the Chester |
and Lenoir Railroad Company. The |
gauge of the road was also changed |
at this time to three feet, the present |
gauge.
EXTENDED TO LINCOLNTON.
In the latter part of the seventies,
the road was extended to Lincolnton,
n. c., and this point remained its
northern terminus until the property
was leased to the Charlotte, Columbia
and Augusta Railroad in 1891. The
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta
Railroad Company at once began to
build the road to Lenoir, and complet-
ed the line to that point in 1882. The
Chester and Lenoir was operated I'M
der this lease until 1886 when it was
subleased to the Richmond and Dam
Vile and continued under the control |
Of that company until they collapsed
i'm 1894. The Chester and Lenoir then
reverted to its original owners.
THE REORGANIZATION
The company reorganized in 1895,
under the name and title of the Caro-
lima and Northwestern Railway Com
pany.
INDUSTRIES ALONG THE LINE.
1t is fact that there are more cot
ton factories and other industries
along and adjacent to this one hum
dred and ten miles of railroad than
There are on any other road of same |
continuous distance in the United |
States The following facts and fig
ures are given in proof of this state
ment:
Number of cotton factories 81, with |
265, 900 spindles, 35,402 twisters, and
3,6OS looms, oil mills and 64 other |
Industries. Cotton delivered at points |
on line for shipment, 101,076 bales. |
The above is annual business and |
makes total freight traffic aggregat- |
ing very nearly S60.000.00. These fig |
,,res represent last years business. !
The above industries represent an in
vested capital of about S5,s07, 10000.
PAYING \ GOOD DIVIDEND.
Il. spite q: the disa advantage CT e,--
listing traffic arrangements with other
lines at competitive points the Caro-
lima and Northwestern is paying n
good dividend out Of its earnings. over
and above ita operating and other ex-
penses. Too much credit cnnnot be
cfven President William \. lIarber.
General Manager /. +, Nichols, Gen.
erui Passenger Agent y. y, Reid aud
their assistants for the healthy ilnnn-
clnl condition Of their company
llISTOnlCAi..
During the war between the states,