The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-01-30

the country. The managers OF the
roads realize that it will be an unfortu-
nate necessity that compels them to
double-track existing lines. They know
that to properly serve their territory
and put it on an equality with other
industrial sections of the country, not
ably in the north, grades must be
reduced, and to accomplish this an
enormous outlay of capital would be
required. For this reason double
tracking along the present lines, that
would be comparatively inexpensive,
has been delayed, and will be delayed
until sufficient capital can be provided
to build double.track roads over new
grade lines that will admit of econom-
ical operation.
These things are mentioned here be.
cause it is necessary to understand pre-
vailing conditions before being able to
properly appreciate the value of this
territory which the South and Western
railroad must prove. When completed
it will be able to haul as much coal
from the mine to the market in one
train as can be hauled in three trains
over existing lines, assuming the use
of locomotives of equal capacity.
To accomplish this result an amount
OF money has been necessary such as
has not been expended upon the initial
construction of any other railroad in
the country. In some places this road
for miles consists of succession OF
cuts and Alls and fills and cuts that
come so close the one to the other that
there is no intervening space. There
are to be no trestles, nor even any steel
viaducts, which are cheaper than fills.
No matter how deep the hollow or ra.
vine to be crossed, it will be filled ur
solid to the grade line. Some of the
iills are as much as 10 feet, while those
ranging from 100 to 1876 feet are numer.
ous.
Astudy of the map will serve to show
the immense expanse of territory which
will become tributary to the Clinchf field
coal field by the building of this road.
The connections which it will have
with the Southern, the Seaboard All
Line, the Atlantic Coast Line and 9th
or railroads radiating through the cen
tral south will enable the Clinchfleld
coal to be q potent factor in the marke
throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and
Florida. In much Of this territory
there is now in progress an industria
development as remarkable as any tha
the country has witnessed. The cot
ton mills, the furniture factories and {
large number of industrial plants en-
gagged in other lines are springing nj
on all sides, and will spring up more
rapidly, yet when the fuel question ha
been properly solved for the variou
communities. And not only viii
Clinchfield coal be an important iacto
in the markets of the central south, bu
it will play large part in furnishin.
coal for export, especially for use il
islands and neighboring countries {,
the south. Every southern port from
Wilmington to Fenandina can b,
reached, by, it with unriValed ease an,
economy, for it lies closer to them thai
any other coal Held that can afford Il
cater to export trade. Then, too, i
will reach ,tidewater to the south O
Cape Hstterass which, with Diamond
Shoals, constitutes. the bette noir of tn
men Who sail the southern seas. Whe
the Panama canal is completed an
Colon becomes, ss 1t Individually vii
become, The greatest coaling station il
the world. Clinchfeld coal will furnisl
: an importantspsrt of the traffic
It is expected TO have the line fror
Dante to Bostic completed by the frs
of 1909, and to meet its demand fo
traffic il is the intention to have tn
mines now opened aud being opene
ready to furnish coal production sui
ficient to meet an enormous trade. T
J do this will, of course, require activ
work in opening up operations aud in
creasing the output of those already o
, q producing basis but large as the VI
! dertaking is, the ClinchfeId Coal Coz
} poration has started out with the inter
! tion to accomplish it, and will no doul
be ready with the coal when the roa
: is ready with the cars and the mott,
> po@eA and the track. Experts VII
> have calculated the quantity of coal
: the holdings of the Oliuchfeld Comps
5 ny say they contain 10, 900, 900, 900 ton
( This would furnish the road 10000, OF
: tons Of freight annually for 1000 year
: In addition to the great amount
: coal which it will have to haul, th
D road will have an immense lumber ira
= &c for Q number Of years. There is
!. large amount Of virgin forest upon