The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-03
SOUTH & WESTERN
Progress Of Work on New
Road
A COAL CARRYING ROAD
Part of Work Averages $1,000, 1000
a Mile in Cost
Splendid System Penetrating Eastern
North Carolina to Make an Epoch
in the Statc-Mr. f. S. Sterrette
Tells of the Progress of the Work
VIII Reach Marion by July-Ter-
minals Not Yet Decided on


miaals Not Yet Decided on.
The display OF the chamber of COM
merce several days ago OF the splend-
lC map OF the route OF the South ami
| Western railroad, which is now under
construction, and which it is beliey-
| ed will result in great advantage to
| this city, aroused considerable inter
! est among local business men and dis
~uesiOns as to me progress of the work
! and probable terminals of the road
were listened 10 with interest.
I AS stated in previous article Off
1 cials of the company had admitted
hat they would not be able 10 say
| what amount of business would be
| done through Wilmington but they
asserted that all the traffic would be
| sent here which could be handled and
| disposed of to advantage through
| the port Of Wilmington Those who
| have studied the situation believe that
| very great good will result to Will
| mington.
| Concerning work on the new road
| an interesting interview occurs in yes
| terdays Charlotte Observer with a
newspaper man who had been over
part of its route and who is> apparent
ly familiar with the progress being
| made The story is as follows:
| FThe completion of the South and
Western road, which is now being
| built through western North Carolina
| by a syndicate of northern capitalists
| for the purpose Of connecting the coal
| fields of West Virginia, Kentucky and
East Nennessee with the Atlantic
! seaboard will mark an epoch in the
industrial development of the south,
declared Mr.. F. S SteIrette, editor OF
| the Mitchell observer to a newspaper
| man in this city recently. That Ii
is intended for something worthy the
name is evidenced by the care and
attention which the officials are giving
| to all the details OF construction. The
grades are only one per cent. and no
| expense is spared in getting only the
very best rOadbed d.. Rails IS pounds
to the yard are being laid and the
tracks are being most carefully bal
lasted The line is now complete to
Alto Pass, Mitchell county It's exten-
sion to Marion, En- Mcdowell county.
will cost something IN the neighbOr-
hood of $50, 900, 600, which is practi-
CaIly one million dollars mile There
will be 16 tunnels en- route, IS being
situated in the mountains east Of Alto
Pass. 'Ilhe new eoal-carrying road
enters North Carolina at Unaka
Springs, following the course Of the
TOecane river through Mitchell coun-
ty as far as Alto Pass where it crosses
the mountains. Trains are today run
ming regularly from Johnson City,
Tenn, to Alto Pass. The line COM
Plete to Marion Will be ready by the
1st of July according to the estimate
Of the engineers. The work is now be-
ing actively prosecuted at both ends
Of the line, practically the whole route
being graded. A little delay is now be-
ing experienced, not because of the
condition of the money market, but
because of several obstinate tunnels
and the big steel bridge across the
CataYba river.
'FEhis bridge is one Of the heay lest
in the country, being constructed enly
OF the very strongest material. The
foundations are now being laid and
much Of the stuff is on hand. 1t
will be finished within the next few
A ,Io-. e
are employed on the Alto Pass as well
as the Marion end of the line. The
road south from Alto Pass has been
graded and made ready for the rails
fol about seven miles. The line north
of Marion has been graded and made
ready for the heavy rails for a distance
Of about 20 miles. The intervening
distance is about seven miles which
is yet to be finished. Along the
greater part of the graded section
'dinky' line now runs and one who
secures permission from the proper
authorities can go from Marion to AL
to Pass and Johnson City, Tenn, by
walking the seven miles intervening.
Such scenery as that along the
South and Western line is not 10 be
found elsewhere in North Carolina or
Tennessee and that means that IL is
not to be found in America Had the
surveyors desired to select a beauti-
full route rather than an easy one
they could not have hit upon a better
one than they did. The views along
the Toecane river are simply grand.
This beautiful stream traverses the
greater part of Mitchell county and