The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-27
NEWPORT NEWS FEELS
SURE OF NEW RAILROAD.
Looks for Actual Construction Work
to Be Started Not Later Than
September Next
DIRECT LINE TO WASHINGTON
VIII Bridge York, Rappahannock and
Potomac Rivers and VIII Give Nor
folk and Newport News Short Route
to Nations Capital.

Newport News, Va, April Go
Construction OF the Norfolk, Washing
ton and New York Railway, from this
city to Washington. will be begun in
July. IL the counties through which
the road will pass grant the rights
of way by that time. according to a
statement made yesterday by Chief
Engineer Ward of the proposed rail-
way.
The last survey has been completed,
the three costing 500, 900; the S.
o00.000 necessary to build the road is
in hand, the European war pressure
has been lifted. the threatened diff
Guilty Of securing permission to bridge
the Potomac has vanished. and every
thing is favorable to early and rapid
construction of the road. Mr.. Ward
said.
Counties through which the road
will pass have in their hands to say
whether or not the construction of
the road Will be begun in July. Mr..
, Ward said. There Is no opposition to
/ the project, and the residents of the
counties have intimated that the right
of way will be granted. However,
many of the county authorities vet
have to take official action on the
matter and until that is done the con-
struction of the road cannot be begun.
To Have Two Terminals.
Mr.. Ward said yesterday that the
/ road Will have a terminus on either
side Of the municipal boat hsrbor, the
land offered by the city and by the
Old Dominion Land Company having
/ been accepted. 1t was originally the
intention Of the company to use bur
one side OF the harhor, but both will
he used now. The city gave the COM
pany aout % acres of land on the
east side of the harhor, and the Old
/ Dominion Land Company about 10
acres on the west side OF the harbor
In view of the fact that Newport
| News has given the railroad a termi-
nus and guaranteed a right Of way
/ into the city. the counties through
/ which the railroad will pass, should
act with all dispatch. said Mr.. Ward
! in discussing the matter.
From the engineers conversation Il
was inferred that New York capital
lists are furnishing the money for the
project and are anxious 10 see the
railroad completed as soon as pos
sible- THE New York end is anxious
/ to secure the rights. Of way and be-
GIN work" said Mr.. Ward.
Preparing Estimates.
Estimates of the total cost of the
road are being prepared, the engineer
said. The work will be completed IN
a short time. The original estimate
Of $s,oo0,0o0 still holds good. accord.
ing to the engineer.
Mr. Ward was here Yesterday to
bring papers for the chamber of COM
merce to sign, which papess will bind
the chamber of commerce in its as
surances of right of way into tne
city. 1t is thought that special
meeting OF the chamber, or the board
of directors Of that body, will be nefd
at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. At
which time the matter will he settled
Municipal Industrial Agent T. r.
Case yesterday stated that there ia
not the slightest doubt in the world
that the railway will be built, and OIL
fered to bet two to one that the con-
struction will be begun within the
next four months He said he placed
the time at September. as the right
of way question through the counties
probably will consume more time than
Is expected
Two Counties Yet to Acg.
Mr.. Ward said that the counties
north Of the York River have acted
with dispatch. but Eliza beth City and
| York counties have not been quite so
prompt.
However, r. s. Harris. Of Harris
/ Grove, York County, was here yester-
day morning to confer with Mr.. Ward
and 1t Is thought that his assistance
will greatly facilitate matters
The road is almost direct from this
city TO Washington. The biggest fac
tors In the construction are the bridg.
ing Of the York, Potomac and Rappa-
hammock rivers