The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-08-02
sEABOARO WILL LEAD COALERs
Ryan Plans to Open Vast Coal
Fields in Virginia
South and Western Will Connect at
Marion With S. A. l.. and Southern
Ports Nil be in Easy hauling
Distance.

The Richmond T1mes-D1spatch ct
several days ago contained an inter
esting article on the plan Of L. r
RYAN and his associates to make the
Seaboard Air Line a great coal carry
ing railroad, the purpose being TO open
I'D enormous coal fields in Virginia
and to connect it with the SeaDoard
by means of a 200 mile line now being
built n known as the South and
Western Railway. The connection
with the Seaboard will be made at
Marion, Y. c., and local interest at
taches to the news on account of the
prevalent understanding that this city
is to be n of the great coaling sea-
ports Of the line, credence being given
to this by the fact that heavy rails
are being laid on the Carolina Central
division and that the SeabOard has re-
Gently purchased eligible wharf prop
erty in this city. In part the Tines
Dispatch article is as follows:
Thomas Fortune Ryan and his as
sOciateS in the world of finance have
on foot a plan to make the SeabOard
Air Line the greatest coal carrying
road in the country, by opening up an
enormous coal field in Virginia and
connecting it with the Seaboard Air
Line by means OF a 20O-mile railway
line. now being built and known as
the South and Western railway.
The news comes with peculiar force
at this time when persistent rumOr
Of a receiVership for the SeabOard Air
Line are abroad and when the earn
ings Of hat road have fallen to SO low
an ebb that for the past six months
not even fixed charges have been paid
by freight and passenger traffic.
Despite these conditions the future
is bright for the SeabOard.
Prom a reliable sOurce comes the
information that 1000, 600 acres of coal
lands have been purchased by The
Clinchfield Coal Company, the holding
company for the syndicate in which
are Messrs. Thomas F. Ryan, Blair, of
Blair & Co, Norman B. Reams, and
George l.. Carter, of Virginia, who,
nOminally head of the syndicate and
president of the South and Western
railway, planned the scheme and Ell
gineered the gigantic deal.
THE road which now has its terrli-
nus in Russell county, Va, is being
pushed rapidly, is already half finished
and will cost when completed to Mar
ion, n. c., $50, 600, 900, for the ques-
ton of expense has not entered into
the plans of the financiers who are
behind the movement.
Despite tight money and so called
hard times in Wall street there has
been no let up in the construction of
the road which is being built in the
most up-tO-date manner with low
grades and easy curves, while noun
tains are being tunnelled at all points
to save high motive power.
The South and Western railway
now has its beginning in the northern
end Of Russell county, run south
through Russell, Wise and Scott
ties, tunnelling a mile through Ciinch
mountain to the Holston river, a
of the Tennessee. and down the
valley of the Tennessee river to
Kingsport, where a large town will be
built, 5000 acres having been acQuir-
ed for hat purpose.
The road crosses the Southern
railway at Johnson City, runs south
up the valley of the Chucky river,
across a gap Of the Blue Ridge noun
tains and connects with the SeabOard
Air Line at Marion, N. c., from which
point all the southern seapOrtS are
within easy hauling distance.
THE South and Western will open
up by its main line and spur t1a,ks
the richest and most extensive coal
fields in the world, and with unlimited
capital behind the vast undertaking, it
is said the Seaboard Air Lin will LEAD
all the roads OF America as a cOaIer.'