Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-06-28
VARIOUS CHANGES
PROPOSED.
Norfolk n Western Said to Re Con-
sidering Important Move.

Plans are now under advisement
which when properly matured may
result in some remarkable changes
being made in the local railway stu
alton. For some time. as is well
known. the Norfolk and Western rail
way company has been considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of disseminating the
Twelve Pole Valley line. part OF
the original trunk system between
the seaboard and the lakes. This
part OF the old line from Naugatuck
10 Kenova, has been giving the man
agement much trouble owing - TIE
extreme stringency OF the curves en-
countered. and TO the heavy grades
which are TO be found at various
points between the two places named
above. To obviate these disadvanta-
ges new line sixty-eight miles In
length was constructed between
the Big Sandy, a shorter. straighter.
and much easier grade being the re-
suit of this change. At the time the
Big Sandy extension was under pro-
lection IL was the general belief that
the Twelve Pole valley system would
be retained and used in connection
with the new line in the capacity OF
double track. After a trial of little
more than year IL has been found
that even this is becoming imprac-
ticable, and circumstances have come
TO light which lend the inference
that the seventy-five miles compris-
ing the old Twelve Pole line viii.
barring a deal which is now said to
he pending. taken up and abandoned.
AT the time the road was originally
constructed through the section Il
was believed that the Twelve Pole
valley from It's extreme southern
point at Dingess. TO Ferguson, Wayne
county. would prove one OF the most
productive coal fields I'm the state.
After two years of development, how
ever, IT was found that while coal
existed in great quantities and while
the quality was fairly good, condi-
tions under which II was mined were
such as to render impracticable COM
petition with mines whose product
was more accessible. Consequently
all the mines except a few openings J
at Dingess have been abandoned. and
for commercial purposes the old line
barely pays the expenses incident to
its operation.
1t is now said that a deal is on
which, IL consummated, will result
in the old line from Dingess to Ken
ova, being sold to the Tidewater
company. This company, it is said,
will spend a large sum in lmprov-
ing the conditions OF the road, elm
mating some OF the most emphatic
curves and lettering the grade.
Another rumor which is well
founded in reason, If not in fact, is
TO the effect that in the event of the
Tidewater deal failing. the Big San
dy, East Lynn and Guyan railway
company which now operates
branch between Wayne and East
Lynn mines will buy the twenty Ave
miles Of the old road between Wayne
and Kenova in order to maintain an
outlet for the product OF the East
Lynn coal mines. This mining ter
ritory will be greatly expanded with
in the next two years.
From fairly reliable sources II is
learned that whether either OF the
deals above mentioned is closed. the
seVenty-fye miles OF track between /
Naugatuck and Kenova, traversing
the Pigeon and Twelve Pole rivers
will ultimately be abandoned.
The passenger traffic over the sys-
TEN had deterloated to one dingy
train per day each way, and is pure !
ly local. With the exception OF a
local freight the road is now prac-
tically clear OF freight trains twenty
four hours in the day with the excep-
tion Of a few empties which are haul
ed south
People OF the section to be affected
by any or either OF these changes are
busily engaged in discussing the mat
ter. and all are Of the opinion that
some important step will be taken be
fore the close Of the summer season.