The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-07-10
THE SEABORD AIRLINE
HAS TWO ROUTES BY WHICH IT CAN GET
OUT OF ASHEVILLE
Southwest Virginia, the objective Point,
May be Reached Over the 0. R.
& c. via Johnson City.
Nv. L. Morgan in Knoxville sentinep

Asheville, N. O., July TT is now
practically certain that the Seaboard
Airline will have its trains running
into Asheville within four years, and,
according to a statement credited to
Contractor McCamas, they will be here
in just half that time. Coupled with
this is the practical assurance, based
upon rumors and straws that indicate
the direction in which this Seaboard
breeze is blowing that the big system
will not stop here but will go on to
Tennessee. Numerous theories have
been advanced from time to time as to
what route would be taken from Ashe-
vile to Tennessee. Some have figured
that it would go byway of Waynesville,
Newport and Sevierville into Knoxville.
Others believe that the line will be in
the direction of johnson City, to con-
meet with the Ohio River & Charleston
railway at a point below Huntdale on
the North Carolina side.
1t is learned here that Contractor
McCamas, who halls from an eastern
city, is now constructing q read from
Rutherfordton to Asheville, distance
of about fifty miles. He claims, it is
understood, that he is building the road
as a private enterprise in which he is
interested and has agreed to have it
completed in four years, or to build not
less than twelve miles year. How
ever, he says he can cut this in half,
and have trains running into Asheville
in two years. One who has talked with
Mr.. McCamas is authority for the
statement that he will give out abso-
ldtely no details as to how he became
interested in the road or for whom he
is building it, other than himself. He
declines to discuss the Seaboard Air
Lines probable connection with the
enterprise. 1t is fact, however, that
he is concentrating much effort on this
big job and that he is building most
substantial roadbed, one that will stand
the heaviest of traffic.
1t is learned from an authority in O
position to know that 7. J. Rowland
of Providence, r. l., owner of the Ashe-
vile Citizen and of the Overlook Park
railroad, and having other interests in
Asheville, is identified with this rail-
road scheme Mr.. Rowland, it is sta
ted, now has engineers in the field sur
veying line from Asheville to the
North Carolina Tennessee line, where
il is thought he proposes to make a
connection with the o. r. & G. road.
It is also said that Contractor McCamas
is interested in this and will perhaps
build the road for Mr.. Rowland, when
the surveys are ready for construction
to begin,
Whether Messrs. McCamas and How
land are acting for themselves, or for q
single corporation, or for two separate
companies, or for the Seaboard Air
Line, is an unsettled question. The
general belief, however, is that the Sea-
board Air Line is indirectly behind
these movements, the purpose being
two fold, to get into Asheyille and tc
reach the coal fields of Southwest Vir'
GINA. If the road is built to connect
/ with the Ohio River & Charleston, as IL
indicated above, it may be the inten
ton of the Seaboard Air Line to scoop
: the Ohio River & Charleston and its al
> lies and then to possess its own track
0 directly into coal region from whicl
Q its territory may be supplied. Recon
r developments in the Ohio River
v Charleston and the South & Western
railroad, the former becoming merge'
t with the latter, indicate that something
! is about to happen. Geo. L.. Garter, o
!, Bristol, and others who are identitie,
u with these two Tennessee enterprises
d have declined to make known the in
d wardness Of the deal. 1t is believe
r here by some that the Seaboard Al
! Line already practically has control c
y the Ohio River & Charleston, and thG
}. the "South & Western" is q product {
Y the Seaboard Air Line for the purpos
4 Of securing this road and protectin
the Seaboard Air Line plans from expo
sition before they are more fully mi
Is tured.