The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-10-01
Contractor Blackwell interviewed.

Several days ago the Knoxville
Journal and Tribune published the
following interview with Contractor
Blackwell about the work on the road
George H. Blackwell, railroad con,
tractor, who has been interested in the
construction of the South & Western
railway from North Carolina through
East Tennessee, spent several hours in
Knoxville Monday. Mr., Blackwell
recently went over that road from
Johnson City to North Carolina. He
reports the work of construction pro-
crossing well on the North Carolina
division. About sixty-five miles have
been completed on that end of the road
and he thinks work will be started
from Johnson City northwest toward
the Virginia coal fields at an early
date. The construction of this line to
North Carolina has been pushed all
summer and heavy expenditures have
been made in getting good grade It
has been announced for several months
that this line will be finished across
Tennessee from Johnson City to con
meet with the Virgiaia & Southwestern
system in Scott county, Virginia.
Relative to the completion of this
important line, Mr.. Blackwell said.
"It will be but short time until it
will require an extension of the s. &
W. system to make it paying project.
The fact that the original survey ex-
tended to the coal fields of Virginia is
sufficient reason to believe that the
promoters in charge will continue to
push their plans until the line IS fin
ished. More railroads are needed in
the development of the coal of Virginia.
The building of short link will make
the North Carolina division connect
with the V. & S. W. railway"
Mr.. Blackwell is confident that the
dicision to complete this line has been
reached.
''The reason for the long delay, F."
said he 'is that the short line from
johnson City to the Virginia state line
would have been of little value to the
company until the North Carolina di-
vision is finished. The company has
been making the expenditures where
the line is most difficult to grade"
He stated that fair per cent. of the
other division was graded by the o. r.
& G. company that liquidated several
years ago. Since then the company
controlling the S. & W. bought the un-
finished line. They have made big ex-
penditures on holding charters and
rights of-way.
"This line when completed through
to the coal lands of Virginia, said Mr.
Blackwell, twill be an important fac
tor in the development of East Ten
nessee and Southwest Virginia.
The proposed line will run in con-
nection with George L. Carter's road
through Virginia, according to Mr..
Blackwell's statement. These lines
will connect with the Louisville
Nashville in Wise county Virginia. Il
has been but short time since severa
deals were closed in Wise county Goa
and mineral lands. These deals in
volved millions of dollars in capital
and the prediction is safe that the es
tablishing of industries for the manu-
facture of iron in various sections O
North Carolina will cause this railway
scheme to be pushed and the line pu
in operation. The Virginia territory
which tire line reaches is one of tn,
best coal and coke producing part
south of Pennsylvania and these in
dustries are becoming larger ever,
wear.