The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-01-16

duction, these same two engines haul
$500 tons and do it quicker and
safer.
THE NORFOLK & WESTERN STILL HAS
MANY GRADES OVER ONE PER CENT.
This ROAD DELIVERS COAL TO TIDE
WATER AT LAMBERT POINT, IN SOLID
TRAIN LOTS FOR LESS THAN 81 PER TON.
WITH IT'S Low GRADE THE SOUTH 4
WESTERN WILL DO IT FOR AT LEAST 20
PER CENT. LESS AND STILL MAKE MORE
OUT OF THE HAUL THAN DOES THE NOR
FOLK Il WESTERN.
CONSTANT USE OF EQUIPMENT
Another factor in coal transporta.
tion that the uninformed overlook ia the
empty" haul. That is, the return of
the cars to the field after they are
emptied, On coal roads ability to
return its empty equipment, depends
its ability to maintain its car supply.
The more cheaply it can be done, the
lower the rate road can maintain.
The more frequently it can be done
the more money the road can earn.
This is the principal upon which is
based demurrage-of which we hear
our shippers complain 80 much. II q
railroad could always be sure Of
quick release Of its ecipment, and q
consequent quick reloading, it could
not ouly do business with less equip
ment but could do it better and more
satisfactorily to its patrons, and we
would have never heard of demur-
rage.
The question now arises, why does
the South & Western stop at Elkhorn
and Spartanburg? Her business is to
haul coal to the Great Lakes and Tide
water as we'll as to the Zine trade. "
The bulk of the business must 20 to
the two places where ship transporta-
tion can be had. Then why should
this great road stop at two points
where it will be practically bottled up
or at best depend on connecting lines,
strong competitors in the same busi-
ness, to deliver her freight to it's final
destination? From Elkhorn the Ches-
apeake 4 Ohio will handle the lake
and other northbound business. From
Spartanbug if the line stops there, the
commodities handled by the South
Western must be turned over to the
Southern and Atlantic Coast Line,
Both the Southern and the Chesapeake
d Ohio are great coal carriers and will
be competitors Of the South & West
ern. Already the Southern has bought
and controls the Virginia & Southwest
ern, road that taps at Stonega, Va,
the edge of the great Black Mountain
coal field. In view of these facts it il
not probable that the road will stoI
at either of the indicated terminals
George L. Garter is not a man to be
handicapped. The man that has the
energy to build such road as he hat
undertaken to build-has practically
built in two years-will hardly stanG
to be bottled up in any such manner
1t is tide water and the lakes for him
and while the same mystery now sur
rounds his future movements as sur
rounded the beginning; when ht
moves, it will be with the fixed pur
pose and tireless energy that ht
started with.
GO AFTER 1T CHARLESTON
Since tidewater must be reached, th,
question is whittier and whereP Or
the Atlantic coast south OF Norfolk
there are three ports that are accessi
ble-that can be used, viz: Whining
ton, Savannah aud Charleston. Por'
Royal of course is there but not
withstanding its splendid harbor, il
hardly to be considered. It is tru,
that neither Wilmington or Savanna
has the necessary depth Of water a
their city wharves, but coal carrier
don't want city whsrves. They wan
deep water and safe harbors, for tn
bulk of the coal trade is done in sailing
vessels. At the same time the neces
sary facilities for docking the larges
steamers must be at hand for tn
'bunker" coal is no small item OF tn
tidewater coal trade. Charleston
would seem is the logical place for tn
South 4 Western to end, but either O
} the other cities named can probahl
afford the road every facility 70
handling the business
If Charleston wants the South