Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-29
WILL SOON COMPLETE
ORGANIZATION OF ROAD
Engineer Rufiin Preparing Report on
Line to Rappahannock
River.
VIEWS OF BALTIMORE MAN
Development of Rich Country VIII
Mean Increased Business Instead
of Division OF Trade, Says f.. j..
Heath, After Inspection Tour.

Charles RufTin, chief engineer OF the
proposed Richmond, Rappahannock and
Northern Railway. tapping the rich
territory OF the York Rappahannock
Peninsula counties and the Northern
Neck, Is preparing report that VIII
be submitted to the board of directors
at the next meeting. Final arrange
ments will be made at this meeting
for placing the stock on the market
and the finishing touches OF the or
ganization Of the road will be COM
pletcd.
a careful survey and complete study
of the territory and the prospects for
business for the new road has been
made by Mr. Rufiin and these Will
be laid before the board at this meet
ing. A favorable report by the engi-
neer on the heels of the enthusiastic
reports from the bankers and capital
lists who made tour of the section
will make the outlook for the road
extremely bright 1t is stated. MIR.
Ruffin estimates that the new line can
be operated At a profit OF $4,000 per
mile yearly. The plans are that the
road should be in active operation in
about twelve months and the actual
grading will be started within the
next sixty days.
WILL DEVELOP NEW BUSINESS
SAYS BALTIMORE MAN
Baltimore at first registered some
opposition to the proposed line, for
the trade in the past has been almost
| all in her favor. While there was
I a little business that went to Norfolk.
the majority of the buying was in the
Baltimore market, and it was naturally
| felt that the new road to Urbanna
would cut into that business.
The Baltimore News sent E. j. Heath.
! a representative. to view the situation.
: a nd he tnl
view of conditions, and while acknow-
lodging that some trade will be di-
verted from that city to Richmond,
still is Of the opinion that 1t will
mean more business for Baltimore. He
| says:
! The proposed railroad from West
| Point to Urbanna is now regarded as
certainty by every one along the
! Pappahannock River, and that il Will
divert some trade from Baltimore 10
| Richmond by this new rail line is
| another certainty.
HICHMoND's GAIN MAY NOT
MEAN LOSS TO BALTIMORE
| But what Richmond gains may not
mean loss to Baltimore. Several per-
sons who have given deep study to
tat trade situation feel sure that the
railroad VIII give such an added I'm
petus TO he business in this whole
part OF thu State that Baltimore. and
| S'cu A>oFtoih. via get a snare OIL the
incrf Sc. Ono man said when he was
asked about the railroad: I would
| give half my land to have the railroad
the other half would be worth more
than all is now to me-
! New enterprises OF many kinds are
expected TO follow the opening OF the
railroad. Norfolk, which sells much
| building material along the river fol-
lowing periods of especial prosperity,
when the farmers invest their money
In better buildings, will profit to that
extent. at least temporarily after the
| line Is started.
WOULD MEAN NEW
METHODS OF FARMING
| important light on the source OF
new trade was given by II. c. Daniels
| q farmer OF this section. He said that
a large part OF most farms Is not de-
veloped now because the profit does not
| justify the labor. With the railroad
trucking will be resumed by some
who have abandoned il. and these
farmers will then have more money
to spend, meaning that they will buy