Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-07-31
To BUILD INTERURBAN ROAD
FROM RUTHERFOROTON HERE
Will connect this section with Seaboard
Air Line railway and open up a vast
amount Of territory not traversed
of railroad now

suit between the Blue Ridge lntorurD-
an Railway company and the Hender-
sonville Light and Power company is
rapidly drawing to close is the opin-
ion of many in this city. The recent
decision handed by Judge Lyon
c.oses one chapter of the case.
Of course the local company will
take an appeal to the supreme court
of this state and there put before the
Judges the merits of their side Of the
fight Mr.. Schenck, counsel for the
HendersonviIle Light & Power COM
pany stated that the fight was just
begun and that they were not discour-
aged in spite of the verdict of Judge
Lyons.
Mr.. Smith, local representative of
the Blue Ridge Interurban Railway
company, stated that his clients were
gaining ground slowly and he felt
sure that this county would soon see
the biggest development put through
ever attempted in the history of the
county.
Many of the local people who have
taken an interest in the big suit and
have kept up with the various stages
in the courts are now of the opinion
j
Iarties involved.
Notice was received yesterday ac-
Oording to the Observer, by Tillett &
Guthrie, attorneys for the Blue Ridge
Interurban Railway Company, that
Judge Lyon had decided in favor OF
their client the famous case brought
AGAINST the Hendersonville Light &
Power Company and r. M. oates to
condemn certain water rights on Big
Hungry Creek in Henderson county.
It will be recalled by the readers
of Observer that this matter was first
brought before the Legislature in the
passage of a bill which it was thought
at the time would prevent the Blue
Ridge Interurban Railway Company
from proceeding with it's development.
Considerable interest was manifested
when the matter was before the Leg
islature, as it was contended that the
Blue Ridge Railway Company was an
ally of the Southern Power Company
and was attempting to swallow up Mr..
Oates plant at Hendersonv1lle, Repre-
sentative Plummer Stewart of this city
espoused the cause of the Blue Ridge
Interurban and contended that 1T had
no connection with the Southern Pow
eI Company The result of the trial
shows that he was right in his conten-
ton as it was established that the peo-
PIE behind this enterprise are push
ing forward an entirely Independent
water power development.
1t was contende dby the Henderson
vile company that they had certain
water powers which they needed In
extending the plant at Hendersonville,
but by the finding of Judge Lyon and
the jury the water rights condemned
to the use of the Blue Ridge 1nterurb-
an do not constitute water powers,
and, therefore, the court holds that
there is no reason why they should
not be condemned. The decision IN
no way affects Mr.. Oates existing
plant and it will continue to operate
as before. '.'q,a'sA-
- Large Demands.
The Hendersonville Company con-.
tended that it's water rights were
worth approximately 100000, but by
the findings of the jury and the ruling
Of Judge Lyon these water rights are
found to be worth $500, and upon the
payment of these sums the lnterurDan
Railway Company can proceed to use
the property.
This development of the Blue Ridge
Interurban Railway Company Is per.
haps the biggest thing that has ever
been projected in western North Car
olina. The company proposes to erect
a dam of 100 feet high. generating
about $4,000 horsepSwer. Besides
operating an Interurban galway Com
pany through that section of Western
North Carolina, the companuy will
furnish cheap power for manufactur-
ing plants and other industries all
through that section of the State.
One Of the plans proposed is to con-
rect Hendersonville with Rutherford
ION by an interurban and thus put that
sect1o nof the Seaboard Air Line in
connection with the Seaboard Air Line.
IND this of course will add immensely
TO the transportation facilities of
vast territory.