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Roanoke Times - February 16, 1907

RAILROAD ACTIVITY IN LOGAN COUNTY

   Bluefield, W.Va., Feb 15 - That railroad development in this state 
is in its infancy is an indisputable fact. The state is experiencing 
an era in railroad development which is only seconded by the unusual 
activity in the opening of coal and timber lands.
   The latest developments are taking place in and about Logan. The 
Chesapeake and Ohio, the Norfolk and Western, the Deepwater and the 
Island Creek railroads are all trying to secure inlets and outlets to 
this territory in which many new leases are being opened.
   The Norfolk and Western and the Chesapeake and Ohio appear to be 
working in conjunction to secure eastern and western outlets from 
this new field.
   The Chesapeake and Ohio has a corps of engineers located at the 
mouth of Buffalo Creek. These men, it is thought, are planning a road 
up Gilbert Creek and then down Ben Creek to connect about 
Wharnecliffe with the Norfolk and Western.
   The Norfolk and Western, it is said, will extend along the 
Pinnacle Fork of the Guyandotte down to the mouth of the Gilbert 
Creek, where they can secure a western outlet over the Chesapeake and Ohio.
   In this way it is expected that this entire territory will be opened up.
   The Norfolk and Western would have a western outlet while both 
roads will secure eastern privileges, by throwing their tonnage over 
the main line of the Norfolk and Western down the Big Sandy.
   The Norfolk and Western and the Chesapeake and Ohio were 
undoubtedly compelled to join forces to meet the action of the new Deepwater.
   The Deepwater has bought the rights of way to connect with the 
Island Creek railroad at Holden.
   The Island Creek railroad is owned by the United States Coal and 
Coke Company, a subsidiary of the Standard Oil interests are back of 
the Deepwater, it is thought that they will build a branch line to 
connect with the Island Creek railroad and go along Guyan Valley, and 
by this route reach Huntington.
   The Deepwater or some line is putting in piers near Huntington for 
the evident purpose of transferring coal to barges, which ply the 
river at that point.
   The Island Creek railroad already covers the territory between 
Logan and Holden and it will be an easy matter for the Deepwater to 
connect with them at that point and in this way have considerable say 
in the fixing of rates for carrying coal from this immediate tract of 
coal lands.
   Then again they will secure a cheap western outlet because they 
will be able to load coal on barges at Huntington, shipping to 
various points by water, while the Norfolk and Western and Chesapeake 
and Ohio will be compelled to haul overland by a more difficult route.
   It is difficult to understand the actions of the various 
railroads, as the plans are in their infancy and no official 
information can be secured. It is very evident that something is 
being done which will undoubtedly affect most materially the 
prosperity of Logan county.
   Judging from the present activity the town of Logan will shortly 
receive an impetus which will undoubtedly place it in a class with 
other West Virginia towns which have doubled and trebled and in many 
cases quadrupled their population since the last census.
   The advent of the Deepwater and Tidewater has probably done more 
than anything else to open up the state and develop it to such an 
extent that last year it ranked second as a coal producing state.

Ron Davis