N&W in 1904 -- Dry Fork Extension

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DRY FORK EXTENSION IS LET TO CONTRACT
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Work of Construction to Begin at Once
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WILL TRAVERSE RICH COAL FIELD
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Predicted that It Will Eventually Become Main Line of N. & W.
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THE CLEAR FORK EXTENSION IS PRACTICALLY COMPLETED
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Virginia-Pocahontas Company Ready to Ship Coal -- Double Tracking and Other Improvement are Being Rapidly Pushed
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    After postponement several times the Dry Fork extension of the Norfolk and Western railway was let to contract last Saturday [November 11, 1904] to the following firms:  J. W. Oliver and Company get the upper fifteen miles and the first fifteen is divided between Lane [blurred; appears to be as shown] Brothers, Walton, Witten & Graham and Boxley and Company.  This new line will use the roadbed of what is now the Iaeger-Southern its length, five miles, but it will be reconstructed, many changes being made, as this road when built was expected to be temporary and not permanent.  Work will begin on the construction of this railway at once and be pushed to completion.  It will traverse one of the richest coal fields in the state, which owing to its greater territory, may in a few years exceed the production of the Elkhorn field and its branches.  The new field that this route will develop does not commence proper until twenty miles is reached, or two miles above Perryville, which was for many years the county seat of McDowell [Welch has been county seat since 1892].
    The junction of the new line will be at Iaeger, twenty-three miles west of Welch, and will extend through the Southwestern part of McDowell county, and when the entire branch is completed will extend into Tazewell county, going to the town of Pocahontas, a distance from Iaeger of fifty-five miles, the survey for the entire line having already been made.  It is predicted by those who are familiar with the situation that this will eventually be the main line and that the road which is now the main line through the Elkhorn field will be numbered with the numerous branches of this great railway system [The connection into Pocahontas to create a new main line may seem like just another newspaper rumor, but maps in N&W annual reports through 1927 show this proposed connection even though the Dry Fork Branch was completed through to Cedar Bluff and placed into operation April  15, 1913.].
    There will be a number of branches from this new line, four of which are already contemplated.  Only one tunnel will be necessary in its construction and it will be within five miles of Iaeger, and only 400 feet long.
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Rails will be Laid Within Two Months
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    It is reported that the railway which will be known as the Clear Fork extension, leaving the main line at Gordon and extending ten [miles] to the operation of the Virginia Pocahontas Coal Company, at Coalwood, is practically completed and that the rails will be laid its entire length within two months.
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Anxiously Awaiting the First Gondola
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    The Virginia-Pocahontas Company has everything in readiness for the shipping of coal and will anxiously await the receipt of the first gondola.
    This company has labored under many difficulties in its development process, owning to its remoteness from the railway, Welch, seven miles distance, being its nearest station.
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Double Tracking Force Increased
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    The number of laborers engaged on the double tracking of the main line west of Welch has been greatly increased recently, and the contractors while still under restrictions as to the number of  men they engage, have sufficient forces to make great headway.
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Contract Includes Two Big Tunnels
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    McClaren [blurred; appears to be as shown] & Berry, the new contracting firm of Welch, have a good force engaged in making the large cut in the west end of that town, and still haven't the number of men they want.  The next contract west is that of E. M. Nettleton, of Covington, Va., which includes two tunnels, 849 and 1133 [blurred; appears to be as shown] feet in length respectively, and a cut, one mile and seven tenths.  The first tunnel going west is the smaller [Hemphill No. 1]and it is expected to be completed by January 1.  Work on the other [Hemphill No. 2] is not near so far advanced, the first heading being completed yesterday.   A large crusher is being built by the contractor for the preparation of material for the concrete lining of these tunnels, the contract calling for lining of this material.  These will be among the best tunnels on the road and are wide enough for the double track.  Mr. Nettleton began work February 13 [blurred; appears to be as shown], 1904.  Next comes J. R. Seipell [blurred; appears to be as shown] Company, who have the contract for the remainder of the double tracking from Mr. Nettleton's work to Davy, a distance of six miles.  This new roadbed will include two tunnels [Antler No. 1 and 2] 600 [blurred; appears to be as shown] feet long each, and a number of large open cuts.  Work was begun on this section October 1, 1903 [blurred; appears to be as shown]
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Shortens Distance from Welch to Davy
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    When the two last contracts mentioned are accomplished the distance from Welch to Davy, eight miles, will be shortened one half.  The new bed will be several feet higher, than the present one, thus insuring its safety from the high waters of Tug river, which has heretofore proved so destructive to the Norfolk and Western along this route.
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Substantial Bridge Across Elkhorn
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    Pursell & Sheen [both blurred; appear to be as shown] have just completed a single track from Huger, two miles east of Welch, to the first tunnel east of that place, nearly a mile.  The construction of this work required a substantial bridge across Elkhorn river, and will be used from Perryville.

[Have you ever seen a newspaper article with more headings than this one?]

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
November 16, 1904

Gordon Hamilton
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