The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-14
SEEKING LEASE
FOR $3.50 YEARS
Taking Over of c. c. & 0
to be Practically Equal
to Purchase
----'----------------~- ~
c. & O. AND S. A. L.
STILL NEGOTIATING
Cost of Building Dante-Elk-
horn Link is Chief Obsta-
Gle. Says President
Stevens

If pending negotiations are finally
concluded. as they doubtless will be,
the Chesapeake and Ohio and Sea-
board Air Line will secure lease on
the Carolina. Clinchfield and Ohio ex-
tending over a period of 500 years.
according to a statement made yes
terday by President Stevens. Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio.
Negotiations. he said, are stiIl pend
ing, owing to numerous details to be
worked out in connection with such
a lengthy lease, which would prac-
tically be equivalent to a purchase.
| The chief obstacle In the way Of
closing the deal, he said. is the cost
! os building the connection link be-
tween the southern terminus of the
| Chesapeake and Ohio Big Sandy d.
vision at EIkhorn. Ky. and the north
ern terminus of the Carolina, Cltnch-
+ field and Ohio at Dante. Va. located
/ in the extreme southwestern part OF
/ this State.
The cost of constructing this link,
he said. would be considerably in ex-
| cess of what the Carolina, Clinchfield
and Ohio is earning annually at pres
emit but il Is believed that this prob
lem will be worked out at an early
date TO the satisfaction Of all par
ties.
Working Close Together.
The proposed lease appears to bear
! out the previously advanced theory
that tho Chesapeake and Ohio and
Seaboard would buy the road instead
of easing II. II also indicates that
| the Chesap eake and Ohio and Sea-
i beard are working sn pretty close
union with each other although Mr..
Stevens repeated his denial yester-
| day that there Is deal on foot by
which the Chesapeake and Ohio might
also take over the Seaboard. as re-
ported.
The Chesa peake and Ohio, he said
lis merely seeking an entrance into
the South Atlantic territory by the
Carolina Ciinchfield and Ohio route,
while the Seaboard would get a much
desired outlet to the middle and north
lwest.
The distance between Dante and
Elkhorn IS about forty miles. and
the country rough and mountainous.
rendering the cost OF construction
exceedingly expensive. 1t is estimated
that 1t would take at least two years
to build this stretch of road that
would give the Chesapeake and Ohio
| practically q direct line from the
Great Lakes at Toledo and Chicago
ito Spartanburg. S. c., the southern
terminus of the Carolina. Clinchfield
and Ohio. From that point traffic
arrangements would have to be made
to get deeper into the southeastern
territory. 1t has been suggested thai
the tracks OF the Southern Railway
might be used as far as Columbia, s.
c., where the Seahoard would then
/ supply traekage facilities into Atlanta
Jacksonville and other strategic
points.
Building Great System.
Persons we'll informed In railway
matters foresee in the Carolina,
ECfinchfiefd and Ohio deal an EFFORT on
the part Of Edwin II. Hawley. owner
of the Chesapeake and Ohio. to build
none in the country. He made the
first step In this direction when he
took over the Hooking Valley las,
year. and soon thereafter acquired
possession of the Chicago. Cincinnati
and Louisville. now known as the
Chesapeake and Ohio OF Indiana
considerable litigation was encoun-
tered In getting possession OF the
Hooking Valley. and some was threat
+ enei when tfs other purchase was
made. On this account 1t Is believed
that Hawley and his associates have
determined to avoid the possibility
Of litigation In the Carolina C1inch
field and Ohio deal by leasing the
I road for a term OF years that would
bring the blush of envy to even Me-
lthusaleh himself
,Picrccs Rich Country.
The Carolina, Clinchfieid and Ohio
Is a little over $50 miles In length
and in its course from Dante to Spar.
hamburg penetrates country that Is
rich in mineral ore and timber. II
is finely constructed road, and
would need practically no reha bill
Continued on Sixth Page)