The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-02-09
JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE THURSDAY. FEBRUARY O. 1905.
Virginia Goal Fields Drawing Many Rail-
roads.

Virginia Goal Fields Drawing Many Rail-
roads.
The Manufacturers Record of this
week says:
Several recent occurrences indicate
that more than one railroad company
will this year make determined efforts
to extend into the rich coal fields of
Wise and Dickinson counties, Virginia.
One OF these happenings, and probably
the most conspicuous of them, was the
incorporation of the Virginia & South
western Railway by gentlemen identi-
fed with the Virginia & Southwestern
Railway and the Virginia, Iron, Coal
and Coke Company, including Henry
X McHarg, of New York, and others.
This new company Immediately placed
engineers in the field to survey a line
from Clinchport, Va, on the Virginia
& Southwestern Railway, along the
valley Of Clinch river towards Sand
Ridge, near Coeburn Va, and Toms
Greek. At about the same time the
South & Western Railway, George L.
Garter, of Bristol, president, identified
with the Clinchfield corporation, which
owns the Cranes Nest Coal mines near
Toms Greek, also began work on line
to run up from Clinchport, notwith-
standing the latter place is far of the
line Of the South & Western, which
runs from johnson City, Tenn, to
Sprece Pine, N. G. Nevertheless it
has long been declared the purpose Of
those interested in the South & West
ern to build an extension to the Cranes
Nest mines, and as the valley of the
Clinch river presents probably the
most available route, it is not surpris-
ing that both companies should seek to
obtain the lead in getting possession of
the best line along that stream. Liti-
cation has resulted from the rivalry.
Meanwhile at O place much nearer
Toms Creek, little line of six miles
length (the Interstate Railroad), which
connects with the Virginia & South
western and also with the Louisville
& Nashville railroads at Apalachia, Va.
is building an extention which may
reach to Toms Greek, or at least to the
objective point OF the cutoff planned
by the Virginia & Southwestern people
from Olinchport. The announced route
Of this extension Of the Interstate is
from Apalachia TO Kelleyview, via
Blackwood, and up Roaring Fork. a
total pistance Of 15 miles, The con-
tract for it has but very recently been
awarded and work is reported under
way, This road is said to be controlled
by the Virginia Coal and Iron Compa-
ny of Stenega, Va, and the president
of it is J. s. Wentz, Of Philadelphia.
1t is generally expected, according to
reports from points in the vicinity of
this construction, that it is designed
to reach Toms Greek, which 10 now
entered only by branch the Norfolk
&tW estern railroad. ..''.s's,t'v4" -
Aearing upon this situation is the
announcement Of the Southern Rail-
way Company that,it will Immediately
begin q survey for a connecting line
from Marion, N. c., to johnson City.
Tenn. This is accepted as an indica-
tion that the Southern proposes to seek
o share of the coal troth to come out oi
the rich fuel regions in the Southwest.
ern counties of Virginia. By building
from Marion to johnson City ii would
connect by line through the noun,
tains with two divisions Of its system
and make possible the establishment
OF short route for coal to tidewater
At Bristol the Southern already con
meets with both the Norfolk & Western
and the Virginia & Southw stern roads
although neither has o direct rout,
from there to Toms Greek, and TO OBJ
tain an air line, or even route approx
imately straight, it would be necessar.
togo over or through the Clinch noun
tain, which lies nerth Of Bristol. As
suming that the Virginia 4 Southwest
ern might establish a traffic arrange
ment with the Interstate Railroad t
reach Toms Greek, coal route fror
the latter place to Bristol could wit
reasonable quickness bs made availa
BILE.
| There is also the possibility that th
Chesapeake 4 Ohio railway, which b
next summer will have completed il
| Big Sandy extension to Elkhorn CITY
KY, may continue that line 20 or {
miles &c to the Cranes Nest coal field
This could be done by following ii
Russell fork of the Big Sandy throug
the Cumberland mountains into Dicl
enson countp, Virginia, and then g
ing southwark along Pound river an
Cranes Nest creek. Doubtless vei
heavy construction would be nessal
to construct such line, yet il it W
built an outlet would be established
the North and West for the Virgin
coal.
The building Of a line to connect Il
South & Western with the Detrc
Southern, at Ironton, Ohio, to make
coal route to the great lakes, has be
! talked off or several years, but !
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