The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-01
SOUTHPORT PROSPECTS
THAT PORT MAY YET BE A GREAT
GOALI.G STATiuN.
vaFisus Schemes for Railroads Con-
Meeting with the Coal Fields of
South Western virgfnia-Interest I'm
the Matter is Wide Spread.

The Southport Standard, OF yester-
days date, says:
Southport has been more or less dis
turDed from her accustomed serenity by
the numerous reports of her railroad
prospects with her harbor in view, that
have swept over US the past week. 1t
appears that these reports come like
troubles, mot in single file, but in bat
~talions." and the town is in suspense,
not knowing whether 1t will be made a
victim by the S~eaboard, the Norfolk
INC Western or the Atlantic Coast Line
or perhaps an independent line from the
South Carolina borders, or finally
whether the whole business will not be
an April fool.
There is one thing quite evident, viz:
that printers ink is showing up in va
rous places quite largely in Southport's
favor. and whether the outcome will
bring great developments to the town
or not, Southport, IS a deep water
point, suitable for d cOdling station, is
getting circulated freely in railroad cir
cles.
First came the News and Courier
article I'm the Sunday News, March 18th,
in the dispatch from Columbia which
says in part:
1.-The railroad commission has re-
ceived n letter from Nr. A. p. LorIng,
who is connected with the elevated
electric railway line in Boston. Mr..
Loring and friends in Boston have been
working on a proposed line from nth
port. n. c., to Knoxville, Tenn. Mr..
Loring writes that the chief purpose of
the o is to get a short cut road from
the coal fields to a good port, and that
this proposed line is the shortest cut
that can be found. The proposed road
would cut directly through the upper
tier OF counties, and ought to run
hrnv1Oh Horny Marion rhnCtcrhpl6
Darlington, Kershaw, Lancaster, Ches-
ter, Union, SpartanDurg, Greenville,
K and possibly Oconee- This sec
ton OF the state is practically without
an east n west line. and Mr.. Lor1ng
thinks that this ought TO be a strong
feature In favor of the proposed line"
The Baltimore Sun. of the 21st said:
Mr.. George Blackstone, president of
the Union Trust Company, was n New
York yesterday in connection with the
plan of a syndicte TO acquire upward of
100 900 acres of coal land in southwest
Virginia and to build the old Virginia
and Southwestern and Ohio River and
Charleston railroads. 1t is said that
the underwriting syndicate has been
completed and the amount, :, $780, 600,
largely oVer-subScribed. The plan IS to
organize a new company with a CAPT
talization of from $1,000, 600 to s12, 0OO, G0t
Mr. Blackstone will probably be he
DI6SluSIll. Ic 1llICo ~ ~ NOtii
pleted will form a short route from the
coal fields of Wise county to Lincolton,
N G. From there they will run over
the SeabOard Air Line to Southport,
". c., where large coal piers and docks
will be built to handle the coal and
other business. The Union Trust Com
pany employed we'll known experts to
examine the property and report, among
them Prof. w. B.. Clark, of Johns Hop
kins University; John Scott, a rail-
road expert, and William T. Manning,
former chief engineer of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. Mr.. Manning may
become chief engineer of the new road.
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York
capitaIists are interested in the plan"
While the majority of ideas follow the
prospect OF q inc from the undeVeloped
coal fields over new road to LlncOlnton
then the S~eaboard to Wilmington, then
To Southport, it is also believed mere
that the Norfolk and Western interest
is watching the situation very careful
Iy. and will have a hand in controlling
the coaling business at Southport. Ii
will be remembered that the SGuthport,
Wilmington and Durham has a charter
and q right to the water front property
here, also that the Norfolk and West
ern extends 10 Durham.
1t is evident that the Seaboard pur-
poses opening up a line from the coal
fields to some South Atlantic seaport,
but it is wen to remember. too, that the
Seaboard is to enter Charleston on the
Charleston, Augusta and Chattanooga
now being constructed
Rumors are atioat that the Pennsyl-
vania. which owns controlling stock In
the Norfolk and Western, has pur-
chased controlling stoCk in the Atlantic
Coast Line. If this be true. IT shows
that the Pennsylvania, which has long
controlled the coal traffic to the sea
board, will cut tAe Seaboard OFF al
either southport or Charleston IN com
netting over lines alrSady constructed
except for the short distance from Will
-,Sorfon 70 SOutbDorf