The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-15
SECURING RIGHTS OF WAY
Rumored That Southern Is Preparing
to Build Road to Seaboard-Eorc-
stalled South and Western I'm Getting
Lands Alon. French Broad.
Correspondence of Charlotte obser-
yerl

~Aase <tfB8a. EFNHCn BrDau.
Correspondence of Charlotte obser-
ver.1
Asheyille, December 6.-For the past
week or ten days there have been
persistent rumo-s to the effect that th.
Southern Railway Company was &C
lively engaged in securing rights of
way along the eas side of the French
Broad river from the trestle NEAR
Asheville To the German bridge, FIVE
miles below the city, and also that op-
ton a been taken on a considera-
bic amount OF property with a view
TO buying. Numerous alleged reasons
were given for the Southern's activity.
Ii was commended that the object OF
the Southern Was to block the asst
side or the river and prevent the en-
trance Of any other road from tne
Yancey county region.
Rumor also had 1t that the South
ern and the South and Western were
fighting for rights of way along tie
French Broad and this rumor was
given some color by the presence of
Mr.. Carter OF the South and Western.
here a few days ago. Mr.. Carter came
here with Il certain degree Of secrecy
and during his stay refrained from
registering. That something was in
the air was evident, but just what Jais
something was could not be learned
1t was stated today on authority hat
b present activity of the Southern
was due TO a desire On the part Of tcc
road to secure factory sites along the
east side of the French Broad river:
that the Southern had secured rights
of way from a number of properly
owners and had taken options CH
other property between Asheville and
the Weaver Power Company.
In connection with this authori;a-
tive statement other reasons are gi:en
for the railways present undertaking
and while these subsequent reasons
are in the nature of gossip or umor
it is Believed that they are we'll founl l.
ed. 1t is believed hat the Southern
is after a desirable route from AShe-
vile 10 Yancey county a I'd thence %
Erwin or Embreville to g meet with
its road at either of these points. Il
is known hat the Southern has had
a corps of engineers on this Surve;
for several weeks and that reports III
a feasible route lave probably beer
made. 1t is not unlikely that some
definite announcement viii be made
in the near future relative to this new
line and that if the railways efforts
in securing rights Of way and a deSir-
able route meet with success
such undertaking may be looked Sor.
If this line is built ii would not Only
nnnn nm tho roc. tirohay- - ,E
Yancey county but would likewise give
the Southern a shorter haul via Asle.
vile from the coai fields to the coast.
At present. however, a great jea,
of this proposed new line is specuIa-
ton. The stated purpose of the South
ern now is to secure rights of a
at. options on p1CIe!ty for factory
sites along the French Broad river to
Germans bridge and then Develop
ments of unusual interest and for III:
material good of Asheville may be
looked for. That the present activity
of the Southern is for the ultimate
purpose of building a line or becoming
interested in a line from Asheville to
Burnsyille and hence to Erwin is :he
belief of Ashevllle people who have
studied the situation. DR.. H. b
weaver Sdlu Ills ilIO llLS lLdG W
building this road the Southern would
save more than a hundred mile haC,
to the seaboard. DR.. Weaver showed
this fact c~cnclusively in an article by
him some time ago. It was stated ihls
morning by an Asheville gentleman
that the Southern had either bought
or secured an option on Mr.. Miles
right of way from this city to Burns
vile and that the price agreed upon
Wa $4,000. do yea know what Nr.
Carter, of the South and Western, was
here for" asked this gentleman OF 4
newspaper man today. We'll. he was
after that right of way and | have it
on reliable authority, 90. The South
and Western really wanted the RICH.
CT wa, but the SCt:hern beat them 10
it. I have had it on good authority
for several days hat the Southern in
tended building d line from Ashev:!ie
TO connect with its road at Erwin or
Huntsdale and that r. S. Howiar /
was interested with the Southern n
the project