The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-01-16
SOUTH AND WESTERN -
ITS GREAT POSSIBILITIES
The Great Coal Carrier Of The. Near Future
And What 1t Means To The South
Atlantic States.-George L.
Carter's Dream.
Carter's Dream.

The following story on the South
and Western railroad and its great
possibilities, written by W. G. Rowlett
for the Colvm bis, s. @. State will be
read with interest in Bristol and vici-
nifty. Mr.. Rowlett was formely AS.
sociated Press operator on the Herald
Courier.
Less than four years ago the people
of southwert Virginia and southeast
Kentucky were discussing rumors of
railroad that was to open the coal and
timber lands of that vast but rich terri
tory that lies between the Ohio river
in Kentucky on the north and the
Ashville-Morristown line of the Sou
thern Railway on the south; the Cum.
berland mountains on the west, and
the blue Ridge mountains on the east.
II is q territory Of mountains and val
leys and rolling country-mountains
that hold coal and hoard every other
mineral and mental; valleys that are as
fertile as the overflow lands of the
Nile. and rolling country that furnish
es one of the finest stock raising reg
ions Of the world.
The rumors began to float around
four yers ago. They we're mere ru-
mors in very truth, for the most care
full investigation failed to discloses
their source, and no definite informa-
tion could be had as to which was be
hind the proposed road, what route it
was to follow, where it was to begin
or where it was to end. Some said it
was Seaboard Air line project; 9TH
ers said that the Southern was behind
it; still others believed that the Tide
water Deepwater interests were behind
the proposed road. But what ever the
interests that were pushing this nigh
ty project, mysterious as the seemed,
today, as the result Of the energy OF
that same mysterious source, we see
the route of the Soth and Western rail.
road laid from Elkhorn, KY, to Spar
tanburg, s. c., distance of over 300
miles; the major part OF the grading
has been done; tunnels by the dozens
have been dug through the four vast
mountain ranges that had to be cross
ed; over half OF the entire route is read y
for the rails; 20 miles is In actual oper-
alton, and in less than two years trains
will be running from Elkhorn to Spar.
tanburg-snd thence it's trains will
come to Columbia, and on to the sea.
THE DREAM OF GEO. L. CARTER
This is the beginning OF the realisr.
tion of the dream Of Geo. L. Carter,
Virginia. farmer, mine-owner, railroad
president, capitalist, man of energy.
First he owned farm-a small farm
then coal mine and later, more coal
mines. Soon he owned, or controlled
coal fields, that are rich beyond the
dreams OF avarice. The coal fields
we're back in the recesses of the South
west Virginia Kentucky mountains,
untouched by railrod, save at one
small place. The coal to be profitabl,
must find market, and soon George
L. Garter owned o railroad, q small
railroad 1t is true, but it was to be tn,
connection link Of one Of the creates
railroad undertakings OF modern times
Deep in his heart. he laid the planI
that are today fast nearing completion
Southwest Virginia and the entir,
South Atlantic country owes him
debt. The only payment he asks is
square deal-he will do the rest.
A glance at the map will show SOM
thing of the magnitude OF this under
taking. Apparently the countr,
E through which it runs Is nothing bu
moutains and appearance in this cas-
are very nearly facts. The road begin
at Elkhorn, KY, thence to Fink, Va.
where the Clinchfeld Goal corporation
! has several mines in actual operations
Of which George L. Garter is the head
From Fink to kingspotr, the road run
through the famous Black Mountai
coal field, acknowledge to be the rich
est in the entire country. At Stoneg
and Big Stone Gap mines are now i
operation and over 1000 coke oven
are burning. Here is the vast Went
interest. Next comes Clinchport an,
then Kingsport this ends the coal field
that aae on the main line.
MILES AND MILES OF COAL
Every mile from Elkhorn to Kingspol
is practically Q vein Of coal. Blac
Mountain is said to be vast lump {
coal, and nearly every bit Of this
Oooking coal. This doubles it's value
In all, the territory drained by th
IL road. so to speak, CONTAINS /, 800. 900 /
acres Of coal lands, and q much timbe
nearly ell Of which is undeveloped.
. From Kingsport to Johnson City ii
road continues and on to Spruce Pin,
Marion and Spsrtsnburg.
There 10 not ; large city on Il