The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-06-29
COAL ROADS PROJECTED.
Southern Railway Charters New Line
Significant Work by the Caldwell and
Northern.

Interest in the railroad situation
with regard to the coal fields of Wise
aud Dickinson counties, Virginia, is
again awakened by the incorporation
in North Carolina by officers of the
Southern Railway of the Johnson City
Southern Railway Co. to build line
from Marion, N. c., northwesterty
along the north fork of the Catawba
river aud then down the valley of the
Toe river to the Tennessee boundary,
II miles, to connect there with rail-
road to Johnson City, Tenn. The in
corporators and directors are A. B. An
drews, Henry W. Miller, T. H. Miller,
of Raleigh, N. G.; Alfred P. Thom,
Fairfax Harrison, of Washington, d,
c., and H. G. Ansley, Of Alexandria,
Va.
Mr.. Andrews is first president
of the Southern Railway. Mr.. Harri-
son is assistant to the president. Mr..
Thorn is general counsel. Mr.. H. W.
Miller is assistant to the vice-presi-
dent, and Mr.. Ansley is treasurer.
A survey for the proposed line was
started out of Marion several months
ago.
Simultaneously with this news comes
areport from Knoxville, Tenn, that
the Southern has awarded to W. J.
Oliver of that city contract to build
46 miles of line to complete it's Rabun
Gap extension from Maryville, Tenn,
to Bushnell, N, c., the latter point be-
ing on the same division as Marion,
but about 100 miles farther west. A
connection with the Tallulah Falls
Railway at Franklin, N. c.. is expect
ed.
Still another piece of news bearing
upon the development of the coal re-
gions in Southwest Virginia is the fol-
lowing:
Mr.. J. r. Erwin, chief engineer of
the Caldwell & Northern Railroad,
Lenoir, N. c., writes Manufacturers
Record calling attention to the fact
that the road is no longer a narrow
gauge line, but is of standard gauge,
and saying that it was enormously re-
ferred to as narrow gsuga railroad in
recent issue of this paper.
Continuing, Mr.. Erwin writes: "This
road was purchased by parties interest
ed in the Carolina & Northwestern
Railway is months ago. The line then
extended from Lenoir, N. c., 10 miles
in northwesterly direction to Col
lettsville, N. c., and was a narrow
gauge, but it has since been chunged
to standard, laid with 6O-pound steel
rail, it's grades and alignment improv-
ed, trestles and bridges rebuilt and the
line extended and track laid from Col
lettsville II miles in northwesterly
direction to Mortimer, N. G. The
roadbed is being substantially BULL
and steel bridges designed for heavy
traffic are being used.
"The extension from Mortimer to
wards Tennessee is in progress; sur,
veys have been made from Mortimer tt
Butler, Tenn, distance of 81 mileI
and from Mortimer towards Spruce
Pine, N. c., distance of about o.
miles, these distances being along prac
ticable lines over the Blue Ridge. Th'
road is being built and its surveys arr
being made on exceptionally ligh
grades for freight moving southeast
wardly."
In its issue OF June Sth the Manufact
urers' Record commented on the pos
sibility of using the Caldwell & North
ern Railroad as part of through rout
from the Wise county (Virginia) Goa
fields, the other in the line through tn
mountains to be furnished by the Lin
vile River Railway and the East Ten
nessee & Western North Carolin
Railroad, in connection with the Vir
ginia & Southwestern Railway, but
according to Mr.. Ervin's letter, it ar
pears that his company is prepared t
. build its own line to connection wit
the Virginia & Southwestern at Butler
or If the MeHarg people do not wan
this road and the Clinch6eld-Seaboar
people do, he is equally ready to cor
meet with the latter's slime, the South
Western, at Spruce Pine, N. @. Th
chare cter of the construction is such 9
to indicate that the Caldwell & North
ern is to be used for heavy freight bu'
mess, aud probably in the near future
!; Manufactures Record.
q Quality vs.. Quantity.
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