The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
A TWO-sTATE ROAD
THAT IS TO De Soon
Mingca Is Hustling in the Great
Southwestern scction--Big
Railway System.
CHARLOTTE is WIDE-AWA<E
Virginia Carolina Towns Arc
Getting Together by Tics That
Bind Them Very Closely.
BY FRANK $. WOODSoN,
Industrial Editor.

The Charlotte IN. ca observer of
recent date gives very interesting
account of a supposed railway de-
velopment that the Industrial section
of the Times-Dspatch has heretofore
taken some special interest in.
IL / remember Alright | was out In
the southwestern part 1.-THE state
several months ago, maybe year or
moro ago, and made tour over the
Virginia Carolina Railway running
from Abingdon, In Washington county,
UP to the Tennessee line and touching
on the North Carolina line.
1 believe / went on record at the
time as saying that that Fellow, w.
T.. Mlngea, who was at the head of
this little thirtytive mile long lum-
Der road would sooner or later carry
it down into the wiIds of Tennessee
and Western North Carolina and make
a connection somewhere that would
make it a part of great through
system.
This meeting the other day in
Charlotte would seem to Indicate that
l was something of a prophet.
The meeting l am referring to was
one called by the Greater Charlotte
Club and was attended by delegates
from Ashe county, ~ c.. and Jefferson,
Wilkes county and Wilkesboro, Alex
ander county and Taylorsvllle. also
delegates from intermediate points.
The object OF the meeting was TO form
ulate plans for bringing Charlotte
into closer business touch with North
western North Carolina and Southwest
Virginia
The ultimate object is TO make a
short line from the Southwest Vir
ginia coaltields to Charlotte. as well
as provide new short line between
Charlotte (and central North Caro-
lina), Southwest Virginia, East Ten
nessee and the great West. a glance
ut the map of Northwestern North
Carolina and Southwest Virginia Will
show that this line will greatly
shorten distances between points in
dicated, connect UP the best city In
North Carolina with one of the best IN
Southwest Virginia, Bristol BY name
as well as give new short line for
coal business into the Carolinas.
OF course Charlottc's live business
people are wide awake 10 these adj
vantages and 1t seems certain that
this new line, terminating at Char
lotte, and connecting with the exist
ing trunk lines there, will put that
good city forward in the way of in
crease in business and population,
more than any other thing that could
be accomplished. Nearly all OF the ter
rtory through which it is proposed
to build this road is undeveloped
territory, but rich in all natural re-
sources as timber. iron ores and other
minerals, agricultural products and
fruit
This appears to be practically an ex-
tension of the Virginia Carolina Rail-
way, which now runs from Abingdon
in d southeastern direction into East
Tennessee, TO Konrarock. Va, and to
the edge of North Carolina
The Bristol people, with their usual
energy. seem to be alive to the ad-
vantages of this road, and the Herald
| Courier is calling upon the people to
take such action as will Induce the
new line to build into Bristol The
Charlotte Observer urges Charlotte TO
work for this new railroad.
The Times-Dispatch favors every
! thing for the good OF Virginia and
| North Carolina as general PROPOSE
| ton, and the industrial editor hap
pens to know this territory and its re-
| sources. and believes this railroad
| proposition will be success The
| industrial editor also knows President
| NtinGea. of the nia-Carolina Rail-
road, and knowing what he has done
| in southwest Virginia already. be-
levcs he can put through this extern
| sion without a doubt. The extension
| of the Virginia line will be
good thing for the two States.