The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-27

5pIete financial success senatci Davis
and friends old tie stock 81 tie CON;
pany. which embraced the cYnership
81 200 miles of road and 10000 acres
Of coal land. to Mr.. Gould and asso'
ciates for $ls,OOO,CoO, thereby making
1t possible for the road to be used al
a connecting link in the great Could
system Of the Southwest to the Allan
tic seaboard at Baltimore. Senator
Davis could moi long remain out Of the
railroad business. He acquired the
Charleston, Clendenin and Sutton Ran.
road, extending up the Elk river 81
miles, and completed the gap to FL
kins, combining them under the name
Of the Coal and Coke Railway with a
total trackage of 1856 miles.
A Potent Factor.
at was this property which we had
the pleasure Of inspecting today. 1t
is said that there are in the country
tributary to this railway system some
100000 acres, with total of 100000
tons workable coal, not to mention the
hundreds ohmillions Of feet of timber.
Until the construction OF this road a
roundabout trip Of one to two days
was required in getting to and from
the State Capital, and vast territory
of the most kind of coal end timber
land was inactive and Unused.
"After reviewing these and other
evidences of Senator Davis master
mind and foresight, do you not agree
with me in my statement that he has
been a potent factor in the affairs Of
your State, and that he has impressed
his strong character upon the deyel.
opment of your industries?
an conclusion can only express
the hope that you West Vlrginians
may have him with you, and that his
indomltable will, his careful judgment
and prudent counsel may bring your
State even greater distinction than II
now enjoys, and whatever achieve
ments have been his in the past and
may be for the future rest assured that
we MaryIanders still delight in his
every success. because he was born
on Maryland soil"
Mr.. Landstreet's Address.
F. s. Landstreet, vice president Of
the Western Maryland Railroad Com
pany, ssid' that in view Of the criti-
cism which had been directed against
railroad officials generally, he felt it a
great compliment TO be invited by the
chamber of commerce to attend the
banquet. Railroad men, he said, are
only human beings, and compliment
of this character is a great encourage
ment Mr.. Landstreet called attention
to the fact that when the present man
agement took hold of the West Vir.
ginia Central. in July, 1902, it was
not a pioneer rad, but the business
had outgrown the facilities. On the
other hand, the Western Maryland
Railroad, becanse It was controlled by
the city of Baltimore, could not grow.
The city could not furnish the funds
needed and outside capitalists would
not.
He also called attention to the fact
that the money paid for the West Viz
glnia Central had been reinveSted in
the State Of West Virginia in build.
ing the Coal aud Coke Railroad 10
Charleston and in the purchase Of coal
lands, while the money paid the city
of Baltimore for the Western Mary
land had ben and is being reinvested
in Improvement of that city.
In the four years since the West
Virginia Central and Western Mary
land changed hands there has been
spent in the improvement of the prop
erty over $2O.OOO,COO, this sum being
in addition TO the cost price OF the
two properties. or this sum over 81
600 600 has been spent for new equip.