Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-01-09
THE DREAM Of
A RAILROAD MAN

anu W eSIeIn railroad ana It's great
possibilities. written by w. c. Row
lett for the Columbia, S. c., State
will be read with interest in Bristol
and vicinity. Mr.. Rowlett was for
merly Associated Press ope 'ator on
the Herald-Courier.
Less than four yeans ago the peo-
pie OF Southwest Virginia and South
east Kentucky were discussing ru-
mors OF railroad that was to open
the coal and timber lands of that
vast but rich territory that lies be-
tween the Ohio river in Kentucky on
the north and the Asheville- Morris
town line OF the Southern railway on
the south; the Cumberland noun
tans on the west, and the Blue
Ridge mountains on the east 1t is
a territory OF mountains and valleys
and rolling mountains that
! hold coal and hoard every other
mineral and metal; valleys that are
as fertile as the overflow lands of
the Nile and rolling country that fur
nishes one Of the finest stock-raislng
regions OF the world.
The rumors began to float around
four years ago. They were mere ru-
mors in. very truth, for the most
careful investigation failed to dis
close their source, and no definite
information could be had as to who
was behind the proposed road what
route II was to follow, where il was
! to begin or where it was to end.
Some said it was Seaboard Air Line
project; others said that the South
ern was behind it; still others be-
! leYed that the Tidewater-DeeDw q
ter interests were behind the pro.
posed road. But whatever the inter
ests that were pushing this mighty
project, mysterious as they seemed
today as the result of the energy of
that same mysterious source. we see
the route of the South and Western
railroad laid from Elkhorn. Ky, Ia
Spartanburg, S. c.. a 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 crossed; over half of the
entire route Is ready for the rails
40 miles is in actual operation. anC
IN less than two years trains will b,
running from Elkhorn to Spartan.
| burg-and 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 reali
cation of the dream of Geo. L. Car
ter, Virginian, farmer, mlne-owner
railroad president, capitalist, man O
energy First he owned farm
small farm; then a coal mine anc
later, more coal mines. Soon h,
owned, or controlled coal fields. that
are rich beyond the dreams of avar
ice. The coal fields were back in the
recesses of the Southwest Virginia
Kentucky mountains, untouched by ;
railroad, save at one small place
me coal to be profitable must fine
market, and soon George L. Car
ter owned a railroad, a small rail
road 1t IS true, but 1t was to be tn,
connecting link OF one of the great
est railroad undertakings OF mod
ern times.
Deep in his heart he laid the plan,
that are today fast nearing compile
ton. Southwest Virginia and the en-
tire South Atlantic country owe
him a debt The only payment h,
asks Is a square deal-he will de
the rest
A glance at the map will SHOW
something Of the magnitude of thi
undertaking. Apparently the coun
try through which It runs is nothin,
but mountains and appearances il
this case are very nearly facts. TIL,
road begins at Elkhorn, KY. theme,
TO Fink Va, where the Clinchfiel,
coal corporation has several mines fl
actual operation, OF which Georg,
/. Carter is the head. From Fink Il
kingsport the road runs through tn,
famous Black Mountain coal field
acknowledged to be the richest fl
the entire country. At Stonega and
Big Stone Gap mines are now In Cd
Grafton and over ] 900 coke oven,
are burning. Here is the vast Went,
Interest. Next comes Clinchport ant
then Kingsport. This ends the Goa
held3 that are on the main line.
MILES AND MILES OF COAL,
Every mile from Elkhorn TO King
sport is practically a vein of coal
Black Mountain IS said to be a vas
lump of coal, and nearly every bit o.
this is cooking coal This doubleI
It's value In all, the territory drain
| ed by the road, so 10 speak. contain,
| 100000 acres Of coal lands and
as much timber. nearly all OF which
/ is undcvcloped.
From Kingsport to Johnson Clb
the road continues and on to spruc,
/ Pine, Marion and sportanburg
There Is not a large city on tn,
route but there are millions Of ton,
Of coal in the mounfaipe rr,.r,