Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-01-09

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! Re same mystery nov surrounds his
/ future movements rs surrounded the
beginning; when he moves, Il will
be with the fixed purpose and tire
less energy that he started with.
GO AFTER IT CHARLESTON.
Since tidewater must be reached.
the question IS whittier and where?
+ On the Atlantic Coast south OF Nor
folk, there are three ports that are
access lle-that can be used. viz.
Wilmington, Savannah and Charles
ton. Port Royal of course is there
MISUNDERSTANDING its splendid har-
Dor, is hardly to be considered. IL
is true that neither Wilmington or
Savannah has the necessary depth
Of water at their city wharves. but
coal carriers don't want city wharves
They want deep water and safe har-
bors, for the bulk of the coal trade
is done in sailing vessels. At the
same time the necessary facilities
for docking the largest steamers
! must be at hand for the bunker"
coal is no small item Of the tidewa-
ter coal trade. Charleston II would
seem is the logical place for the
South G. Western to end. but either
or the other cities named can prob
ably afford the road every facility
for handling the business.
If Charleston wants the South g.
Western, she should be up and do
ing. That the game is worth the
crandle is amply demonstrated in
the case OF Norfolk. To the inn
mense coal business of that city she
owes in great measure, her present
prosperity and the large increase of
her shipping trade in recent years.
Hampton Roads and the inner har-
Dor are constantly filled with schoon-
ers and steamers awaiting coal and
nearly every steamer from the gulf
and the north and to Europe. other
than the coastwlse passenger liners.
so into Norfolk for bunker coal.
In this way, Norfolk gained the
advantage of an export business that
she probably would not have gained
otherwise. Certainly there Is great
advantage in having rs per cent. of
the Europe bound steamers calling
at her port for coal. When the Pan
anna canal Is completed and the cur
rent of the worlds traffic turns
westward, the increase in this bus
mess can scarcely be calculated
Since Charleston is the nearest South
Atlantic port to Panama, and could
certainly command as much of coast
wise business as Norfolk If she had
the coal, 1t would seem that It is
the logical outlet for the South 6
Western. But Charleston should not
be idle. She should go after the
South & Western. Again, this line.
may be the means of gaining the
long-sought direct line to the west.
A good deal of the new line is con
structed along surveys made by the
old 3-C's.
Today the Norfolk C Western. the
only line with which we may COM
pare the future business of the
South & Westerly Is delivering to
the Lambert Point coal piers at Nor
FOLK an average Of 900 cars of coal
daily. These cars average A tons
each, or total of $4,000 tons, or
practically 100000 tons annually
Except what Is used locally at Nor
folk every ton of this coal is ship
ped by coastwise schooners and
steamers and in the bunkers of
coastwise or foreign bound steamers.
The Industry gives employment to
! hundreds OF men. it has produced
an enormous ship chandlery business
which is growing by leaps and
bounds. 1t is an industry, without
which Norfolk would not have been
half the city she is today.
To the mills, factories and other
mercantile coal consumers of this
state, the road will be God-send. It
means cheaper coal; it means a reg
ular coal supply; it means direct
connection with the west by a COM
peting line; it means increased in
dustrial energy; commercial progress
and business activity The South
e Western should be given a well
come hand and strong support.
When George L. Carter bought
coal mine he did a great work for
himself and a still greater work for
| the south