The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-05
Ne " ERA Of RAILROAD
DEVELOP pMENTS
IN STATE
Much Projection and Con-
struction Among
Railroads.
The NEW EXTENSIONS
Significance of the Report of the Sea-
boards Entrance In Ashe-
Vile
The NEW EXTENSIONS
NEW ROAD ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS
Peniteptiary Convic's Working on Ohio River
and Charles on Extension in Yancey
County, More Conyic,s to go
From HIRE.

There is more activity in the project
ion and constructions of railroads in
North Carolina now than in long
while.
The figures of the Corporation Com
mission showing the amount of railway
construction for the year are not yet
complete, but Secretary III. C. Brown
says there is unusual activity in rail-
way projection and construction.
The News and Observer has secured
as nearly as possible a list of railroads
that are being planned and are in actual
course of construction. 1t is remark
ably large list and gives evidence of the
fact that North Carolina is moving
along at rapid pace industrially.
interest in railroad matters for the
past few days has conferred in the report
that the Seaboard Air Line was contem-
plating an invasion of Asheville. While
This has been an Oft repeated story crc-
dulity was given to the report by reason
of the fact that Vice President V. E.
McBee, &C &he Seaboard Air Line, re-
Gently made a trip through the country
over the proposed route in company with
Mr.. Frank Coke and other Asheville gen.
tlemen. The Seaboard has traversed the
greater part of the State and stopped
almost at Asheville's gates. 1t has been
a matter of surprise for years that the
Seaboard did not span the gap between
Rutherfordton and Asheville. which is
only about fifty miles. Mr.. McBee's re-
cent trip over the proposed Seaboard ex-
tension to the Land of the Sky is very
significant at this time 1t is known that
the new management of the Seaboard Air
Line has many big plans on foot.
One of the most important railroad de-
velopments in the State is the extension
of the Ohio River and Charleston, which
is in operation from Johnston City in
Tennessee to Huntsdale in Yancey coun-
ty. The company is making big prcpara-
tions for the extension, 134 convicts from
the prison here having gone to
Yancey county and there are or
ders for as manv more as the peni-
tentiary can spare. These convicts have
been put to work a few miles this side
Of Huntsdale. The objective point of the
new extension is mere speculation. One
report is that it will be pushed to COM
pletion as far as Marion. where conncc-
lion CAN DC Hdu Win the SeaDOdTu
at Rutherfordton. There is another re-
port that the extension will go direct to
Morganton with the ultimate object of
extension to Wilmington. Asheville is
also referred to AS a possible terminus of
the road. However, the people of Yancey
and Mitchell are satisfied with the fact
that the railroad is being built in their
midst AS soon as the prison crops are
harvested Superintendent Mann will dis
patch another squad of convicts to the
scene of construction.
The Washington and Plymouth railroad
has twenty miles in operation from Ply
mouth and is building thirteen miles
more to complete the road to Washing
ton, n. G.. The road will be completed by
January 1st. E. A. Armstrong is Pres-
dent and S. Parker is general manager.
The Carthage railroad from Hamlet to
Carthage is also considering an extern
sion to Greensboro. Mr. w. C. Petty is
president of this road When Mr.. Petty
undertakes a thing he generally does it.
The East Carolina, from Tarboro to
Macclefield, proposes an extension to
Snow HILL a distance of about twenty
miles.
. 4 lie ADcFucen ana ROck1lSn is DullQlnR
an extension to connect with the Atlantic
Coast Line at Hope Mills The Rockfish
road is now forty miles in length.
The Cape Fear and Northern proposes
an extension to Ellington and Fayette-
Vile
The Carolina and North Western is be-
ing made standard guage from Chester,
S. c., TO Lenoir, 109 miles branch
twelve miles TO a point in Lincoln has
been contracted for and a thirty-fve mile
extension north OF Lenoir is projected.
The Charlotte. Monroe and Columbia,
from McBee. S. c.. to Monroe. has ten
miles completed. Work is progressing on
this road, of which Mr.. Chas. E. Johnson,
of this city, is president.
The East Tennessee and Western North
Carolina has completed twelve miles of
an extension via proposed route through
Montezuma and Morganton to Lincolnton,
total distance of sixty five miles.
The Raleigh and Western is graded to
Harpcrs, a distance of fifteen miles and
there is talk of an ultimate extension to
Ashboro.
The Appalachia Short Line. at Apalachia,