The Washington herald., 1909-10-29
COMPANY MAY BUY
ROAD TO BLUEMONT
Virginians Lay Plans to In
prove the Line.
MAY CHANGE MOTIVE POWER
Movement Starts tn LOudOun County
10 Improve Traffic Facilities to
WashingtOn-Leesbu Capitalists
Said to BE Interested in Project.
Obstacles IN Way of Sale.

According to information coming to
Washington from Leesburg. a company
Of capitalists is being formed in Vir-
GINA to purchase from the Southern
Railway the property and good will OF
the Bluemont division Of that system.
T. B. White and r. c. Walker, Of Lees
burg, are named as being among the
chief promoters Of the plan. and are
said TO be financially interested IN IL.
AS the plan Is understood here not all
the details have been worked out def
nitely. II is understood that the neces-
sary capital for the formation Of the
company has been practically assembled,
and that the project has come along
about to the point OF the incorporation
Of the company. The company thus
formed Will buy the road. and the plan
Is 10 change the motive power from
steam TO some kind OF motor car
which will run at short intervals. carry
fewer passengers, and make the Blue
mont road more like trolley road than
It has been. II Is understood that no
definite decision has been reached rels-
tive to the type Of car to be used. but
1t will probably be either a gasoline
motor OF one OF the approved electrical
storage battery motors.
VIII Improve Trackage.
It is also understood TO be the purpose
Of the company TO improve the trackage
Of the road. strengthen the bridges. and
probably find an entrance into Washing
ton. at least for the passenger trains.
over new route.
The movement. which It Is said will
result In the formation Of the Virginia
company TO take over the Bluemont prop
erty. has no connection with the deal
announced several months ago which had
the same object in view. The present
movement grows out OF the need felt
especially IN Loudoun County, Va, FOR
better transportation facilities 20 Wash
ington.
Obstacles TO the Sale.
One OF the obstacles in the way Of the
sale OF the Bluemont road in the past has
been that the Southern Railway would not
consent 20 part with the property, except TO
capitalists who could be depended upon 70
manage the property IN a way which
would NJ into the policies and plans Of
the Southern system. For example, the
Southern has jealousy guarded its con-
troll Of the territory covered by the Blue
mont branch from possible inroads by
some other great railroad system which
might md by it easy access to the Capt.
tai from the West or Northwest. II Is
with this end in view that the Virginia
capitalists are now said to be bargaining
for the property, not 10 antagonize the
Southern. but to work In sympathy and
IN connection with II to the common adj
vantage Of all concerned.
Another obstacle In the way OF the
transfer OF the property arises from the
fact that the 81 .o25 900 bonded debt OF the
Bluemont division is part Of a general
mortgage covering the whole system. and
that it is difficult 20 separate this in
debtedness from the main system until
the maturity Of the bonds. IL is said.
however that way has been found 20
overcome this obstacle and that the
movement started IN LoUdoUn County
Will eventuate In the purchase OF the
property, by the assumption Of the bond
ed Indebtedness. and such other terms
as may be agreed upon between the buy
ers and the sellers.