Hickory daily record., 1922-12-27
CHAMBER ENDORSES
PROPOSED NEW LINE
Directors Of Business Organization Will Fight for
Railroad from Lenoir to Grandin and North
VIII esboro and Butler, Tenn-Wilkes Del
egation Heard Here

! Convinced that the proposed rail
road line from North Wilkesboro to
GIandln, Lenoir, Darby and Boone
with connections in Tennessee is the
! most feasible route, the directors Of
the Chamber of Commerce and other
business men last night voted their
endorsement of the proposition and
pledged themselves to work for it.
This action came after R. N. Hackett
of North Wilkesboro and others had
explained the situation. The motion
was made by Geo. F. Ivey and second
ed by j. D. Elliott.
Geo. W. Hall, vice-president, occubi-
ed the chair during the discussion OF
the railroad project, President Moretz
coming in after the meeting had got
under way. Several Hickory men made
short talks, among them being Judge
W. 3. Council, Mr.. Ivey, Mr.. Elliott,
Mayor ~Yount and Mr.. Hutton. Mr..
Hackett made the principal talk foi.
the Wilkes delegation, which also
visited Lenoir yesterday afternoon and
lined UP the Chamber of Commerce.
there in favor Of the project. Others
IN the Wilkes party were Rev. Nj.
L. Smathers and Messrs. Finley and
Hendren.
Mr.. Hackett first outlined the pro-
position as it affects the state. saying
that the legislature would select that
route which is most easily built, would
cost least and serve the most people,
and he insisted that in no other light
should a railroad project be viewed.
1t had to meet these conditions if
it got anywhere with the legislature.
The legislative railroad commission
will recommend one of two PROPOSE
tions, he said and explained them.
The first route Mr.. Hackett discuss
ed was the StatesviIle Air Line from
Statesville to Elkin or Mount Airy,
with connection at Elkin with the
Elkin and Allegheny, which extends
about 16 miles to the foot Of the
to Sparta anu Jefferson and on to
Butler, Tenn, making about 112 miles
to be constructed over territory that
is unusually rough.
The other project is the Watauga
and Yadkin and extension of this
road 26 miles have been built from
North Wilkesboro to Grandin and
from Grandin to Lenoir is Is miles.
From Darby, the terminal, the dist
ance to Boone is 26.5l miles ana
from Boone to Butler through Cooks
gap. the distance is % miles. That
world give the state a through line
from North Wilkesboro to the coal
fields of Tennessee. and West Virginia
and cheaper freight rates from that
section and the middle west
Mr.. Hackett said the Is miles from
Grandin to Lenoir would give this
road an east and south outlet-eas:
bv way Of Wilkesboro and Winston
Salem and south by wav Of Lenoir,
Hickory, Lincolnton, Gastonia and
Charlotte. It would appeal to the en-
tire state, he said, and enable Viii
mington and Southport to get lower
freight rates. The grade is such that
the road would carry coal, where the
greatest benefit would be felt.
Judge Council followed Mr.. Hackef+
and explained the situation as it af-
fects Hickory He told of the natural
resources in the mountains and declar-
ed that this was the natural route
for any railroad.
Several speakers expressed the
opinion that the state was ready to do
something for the mountain counties
and it was decided to urge this nropo-
siton when the question comes before
The legislature next month. There ars
about 62 miles to build in order to
give the state another through road.
Discussion was general and a map
Mr.. Hackett brought along was freely
consulted. The counties of Wilkes,
Watauga, Caldwell and Catawba have
lined up for the proposed route.
Following this meeting the directors
IF the chamber took up other questions
and adjuorned at II o'clock.
Possibly a Klansman's boast is that
he took a 200-mile trip without lifting
hocd.-New York World.