The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-07-13
RIVAL LINES
TO SEACOASI.
Bitter Railroad War in East
Tennessee Coming.

Tennessee Coming.
Probably never before in the history
of Tennessee has there been such
railroad war waged as is abont to COM
mence in upper East Tennessee be-
tween the Southern and South Il Wes-
tern sytems,
These two systems have undertaken
the construction of rival lines from
Johnson City, Tenn to different
points in North Carolina, where con-
nections will be made giving direct
line from the heart of the iron aud coal
fields of East Tennessee to the ports of
the Atlantic Coast Line. The South
ern's line will extend 20 Marion, N, c.,
where connection will be made with
the main line o. the Southern, while
the South and Western will run to
Spruce Pine, where connection will be
made with the Chester (and Lenoir
railroad.
President Samuel Spencer announc-
ed several days ago that the Southern
would shortly commence the construc-
tion of its line from johnson City to
Marion. At Marion this line will con-
meet with the main line Of the South
ern and will not only give another di-
rect line to the east, but will afford an
opportunity for the development of the
coal and iron resources of upper East
Tennessee and Southwest Virginia and
will offer direct route from that sec
tion to Charleston, S. c., and other
points on the Atlantic ocean.
The South and Western system is the
reorganization of the old ''Three C's"
line which was started about fifteen
years ago with the intention of afford
ing great railway system, which
would connect the cities of Chicago,
Cincinnati and Charleston. About one
hundred miles of the road was finished
and put in operation and then the
scheme fell through. For years por-
ton of the road extending from
point in Virginia above Bristol to
Unaka Springs, Tenn. was operated.
Recently the road has been placed in
the hands Of new company and with
the intention of affording an outlet for
the resources of Southwest Virginia
and East Tennessee to the Atlantic
ocean. Work was again started on the
right of way. So far the road has been
constructed and is in operation, dis
tanee of about sixty eight miles south
west of Johnson City. The work is be-
ing done by the Carolina company a
railroad contracting compony, which
was recently organized for the speciel
purpose of finishing this Job. A great
deal of the work has been sublet and
as result the construction of the road
is progressing rapidly.
1t is stated that the Southern railway
Will start work within the next thirty
days on its line. A preliminary sur
vey of the route was made several
weeks ago but recently w. B. Cren.
shaw, one of the Southern's best known
engineers, was called to Johnson City
and with two large surveying corps his
men are going over the proposed line
in the hope of reducing the grade.
, 1t was stated sometime ago that the
new line of the Southern and tnat ot
the South and Western would parable
one another through the mountains. A
gentleman who recently went up the
: South and Western as far as ithas beer
| completed and who is now in the city
stated yesterday that it would simply
be impossible for the Southern to fol
: low that route, in the event that it wa
/. SO desired, as the line wasfor Ion!
! distinoe in deep gorge which was jus
wide enough to allow the one track
There are other natural obstacles ant
it is generally believed that Enginee
Crenshaw and his corps will find ney
route through the mountains.
In the route which was passed sever
al weeks ago and which was though
would be accepted by the officials 9
the Southern, there were no less tina
j nine tunnels to be bored through til
Blue Ridge mountains between John
e !: son City and Marion. Whether MI
g Crenshaw will change this or not is
Is question, but at any rate it is eyider
q that the road will be rough and tbs
II there will be good deal of heavy wol
/, on it.
Just what contractors Will secure I'll
work is not known. When Mr. Crer
shaw makes his survey and reports
Chief Engineeo Wells bids for IL
work will probablp be advertised 70
- W. J. oliver, the we'll known railros
contractor of Knoxville, has done
great deal OF the Southern's work
the past few years. but as there will
ly some especially heavy work on til
IN job, it is probable that other contra
r. I, tors will try and get in the game.
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