The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-29
Special to The Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Richmond, Va. Dec. 2S.-The Tidewater-
Deepwater Railway, which is being built
in Virginia and West Virginia, is attract
ing considerable attention from railroad
officials ia all parts Of the country. owing
to the fact that the company has not Of
fered any stocks or bonds 10 the public.
Henry II. Rogers, Of Standard Oil fame,
is the hacker OF the road.
The acknowledgement road is being
constructed through one Of the richest
coal fields IN the country, and is now near
ing completion. 1t extends from Deep
water, W. Va. 10 Hampton Roads. Va,
about 800 miles. Deepwater, the western
terminus of the line, is merely a whist
ling point on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad. about thirty-five miles southeast
Of Charleston, W. Va, on the Kanawha
River. The 1900 census places the popra-
ton of the place at only 49,
Road Well Built.
There are many things about the new
road which are causing railroad men to
take a deep interest in the new company.
First, is the substantial manner in which
the work is being done Elghty-hve-
pound rails are being laid, while the
grades are easy and much less than those
of either the Chesapeake and Ohio or
Norfolk and Western. with which the new
road viii come into competition at places.
The viaducts are all of steel, built of dou-
bic tracks, while the tunnels are larger
than others I'm that territory. On the
Norfolk and Western the average height
of tunnels is II feet, while none OF those
on the TidcwateT-D eepwater is less than
% feet. Then, too, the track is we'll bal
lasted, and there are comparatively few
curves on the line
Own Big Coal Tracts.
All of these things point TO the fact
that the new road can be operated at an
economical figure, and hence the other
companies operating in the same terri
tory are feeling no little concern. The
new railway is being built from starting
point to destination without reference TO
local business of interior points. The
route followed by the road is through
the best steam and coking fields Of West
Virginia, and those behind the project are
doubtless figuring on getting the bulk Of
this business. The interests backing the
company are also credited with owning
thousands OF acres OF coal lands only
awaiting the completion of the road to be
developed with all the rapidly that ample
funds viii assure.
VIII Cost Millions,
The cost of the road. with terminals,
&c, is estimated to be about SIS, 600, 900,
1t goes through a mountainous country,
which makes the construction both diff
cult and costly. The builders, however,
are apparently taking little account Of
the expense, the idea being 10 provide
the best that money can obtain. They
are saying nothing whatever about their
plans; In fact, some Of the officials Of the
company have remarked from time 20
time since the work began that the pub
lie need not be concerned about the prop
erty until asked to invest. Whether or
not the securities Of the new company
will be offered publicly has not been
made known.
May Extend to Lakes.
When the plans Of the company for
building the road first became known the
idea was ridiculed by many. The inter
ests behind the company did not take the
pains to try 10 correct the opinion, but
on the contrary went quietly ahead with
their plans, and to-day the road is near
ing completion. Up to four years ago
only about four miles of road, between
Deepwater and Robinson, had been built.
but since then the work has been going
on in earnest. Ii is now believed In some
quarters that the road will eventually be
extended through TO the Lakes In that
event, it is said, the cost of the entire line
VIII not be less than 100000. Should
terminus be established on the Lakes, the
Tidewater would be able to offer a
splendid northward traffic in exchange
for grain for the seaboaTd, and doubtless
would hurt many of the roads now in
operation in that territory.