Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-04-16
CHAMBER HOLDS
ITS MEETING
CONTINUED from page one)

Continued from page one)
II is expected that the city will be
ready within a few weeks to con-
5truct the connecting link betwe n
the city and county roads. Mayor
Peters SO informed the chairman of
the committee in communication
which was read at the meeting last
night.
Another matter of great public in
terest was the report OF VIM. Nc
Carthy on the Burke's Garden road
via Sanders Gap. The survey was
made by Engineer Stone and M
Mccarthy pronounced it very
thorough piece OF work. Mr.
Mccarthy was OF opinion, however,
that Mr.. Stone had figured on too
expensive a road and that a much
better road could be built for one
fourth the money. Mr.. Stone found
the length Of the road in Mercer
comfy to be one and one-third miles
and the approximate Sardage 1900
yards, which at 80 cents per yard,
would cost $5,75O. Mr.. Mccarthy
was of opinion that much more
servicable road and one that would
cost much less to maintain could be
built for about $1,000 for the en-
tire distance. In Tazewell county
the new road would be about three
miles in length and it's estimated
cost is $1,000 according to Mr.
Stones plans, but a narrower and
better road could be built, Mr.. Ne
Carthy thought, for about $1,000
Mr.. Stones estimate provided for
cut on hill sides of the entire width
os the road, while it is customary TO
make cut for part OF the width and
use the dirt eXcavated in making
about one fourth the amount Of
yardage on the average mountain
road and makes it much less expen-
sive to maintain as the upper bank is
30 much lower. This piece of road
would bring to Bluefield and Graham
large trade that now goes else
where and the Chamber OF Com
MERGE is fully alive to its import
ance. They made the survey at n
considerable expense to the chamber
and made 1t thoroughly
"A report was made by the special
committee appointed to inquire into
the merits of the Coffman patent
railroad track, as follows:
Whereas, during the month of
December, 1908, one hundred feet
Of track was laid for the Bluestone
Traction company west of the power
station, according to plans and spec
| ification5 furnished by the patentee,
W. III. Coffman of this city, and
Whereas, all OF the tarffic Of the
Bluestone Traction company between
this city and Graham, in both direc-
lions, has been passing over this sec
ton of track since it's creation, and
Whereas, this section of track
has passed through a period of near.
" five months OF continuous use in
winter and spring weather, with the
usual freezing and thawing incident
to this latitude, without showing the
slightest deterioration nor has its
surface or alignment been disturbed
in the least, and
Whereas, a section of track was
also laid according to same plans
and specifications during the month
oe March 1909, near the rock crush
er plant east of the city of Blue
field, and
Whereas. the largest of the Nor
folk and Western Railway company s
equipment pass over this section OF
track loaded to full capacity with
crushed stone, without in any man
ner affecting it's surface or align
ment, nor producing in any way any
apparent damage to either the road
bed or the track, now, therefore be it
" Resolved, that the Bluefield-
Graham Chamber of Commerce sin
cere'y believes that the Coffman pat
ent track is an invention OF much
merit, that it will be the means cf
securing additional safety for the
passage of tarffic, and that it will
ultimately solve the tie question
and thereby save our forests from
further destruction"
An interesting discussion Of
freight rates in and out Of Bluefiell
was participated in by several mem
tiers, after which the chamber adj
iourned.