The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-02
South and Western to Tap theS. A. |.
at Rutherfordton
FOUR THOUSAND MEN AT WORK
The South and Western is Coal Road.
and il Desires to Build Southwark
From Marion - Interesting Facts
Brought Out i'm Case involving Con-
demnation of Right of Way Along
the Toe River
Especial to The MessengerD

Raleigh. n. c., December SOTO
day dispositions were taken before an
associate commissioner here :, in the
case involving the condemnation of
four miles of the right of way along
Toe river. Yancey county, the South
Western Railway, controlled by the
Seaboard Air Line, claiming it has
acquired this territory,it being through
gorge in the. mountains near the Ten
nessee line.
The South and Western resist the
proposed condemnation, saying it
needs the right of way for it's road
which it is pushing with great rapidity,
having four thousand men at work on
Its lines and spending, it's attorneys
say, 100000 to $15O,OOO monthly. J.
Crawford Biggs, of Durham, J. Nor
ment Powell, general counsel of the
South and Western Railway, and F.. F.
Watson, of Yancey county, came here
to be present at the proceedings.
which are an effort by the Johnson
City Southern Railway, a corporation,
under which the Southern Railway is
operating, to condemn or acquire the
right of way referred to. The South
and Western sets out it is trying TO
make road of not over one per cent.
grade; that it has seventy miles of
line in operation from Johnston City
to Spruce Pine, and is building to-
wards the crossing of the Southern
Railway at some point near Marion.
The South and Western is primarily
coal road, the company owning 30O,-
Of in rinio
Kentucky. The Southern Railway
wants the haul of this coal eastward
and southwark; propositions have
been made looking to a stoppage of
construction of the South and Western
when the point at Marion or near it,
is reached.
The South and Western desires to
build southwark from Marion so as to
tap the Seaboard Air Line at Ruther-
fordtOn, and the Atlantic Coast Line
at Spartanburg. It's purpose is, after
it has made these connections, to go
on to Southport, where it owns most
of the water front Of the force the
South and Western has at work, two
thousand are on the extension, south
ward from Johnston City towards Mar
ion, two thousand others working on
the section north of Johnston City into
Virginia and Kentucky, of which abou.
three-fourths has been graded.
The Southern Railway claims it is
going to build a line through Yancey
county, and needs the right of way
and along the Toe river. The South
and Western claims the Southern is
doing no grading in the gorge except
with wheelbarrows, that no blasting
or extensive excavation is in progress
there, and but few men are at work.
The Southern assures the Yancey
county people it means business, and
will build.
Today's proceedings are to get mat
ters into shape for hearing before
the clerk of Yancey county court,
January 4th, in condemnation proceed
ings which the Southern will press for
it's Johnston City Southern line. Of
course the case will go to the supreme
court.
Dispositions were made today by
President Andrews and Secretary Mil
Ter of the Southern Railway, who are
also officials of the Johnston City
Southern