Tidewater in 1904 -- Roanoke

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RIVAL RAILROADS AFTER INJUNCTION
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Fight for Entrance to Roanoke Assuming Considerable Proportions
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    The Roanoke Times says:
    "The Tidewater Railway company, through their attorneys, served notice on the Norfolk and Western yesterday evening that they would apply to the judge of the corporation court March 14 for an injunction to prevent them from constructing the belt line from near Norwich to a point on the Winston Salem division of the Norfolk and Western.
    "It is understood that a formal notice of ten days has to be given before an injunction can be asked for.  The notice was placed in the hands of Sergeant Tillett late yesterday evening, and in the absence of President L. E. Johnson, it was served on H. D. Gay, an agent of the road.  The following is a copy of the notice served:
    "'To the Norfolk and Western Railway Company, a corporation:
    "'You are hereby notified that on the 14th day of March, 1904, at 9:30 [blurred, best estimate] a.m., we will apply to the corporation court of the city of Roanoke, Virginia, for an injunction to prevent the interference by your company, its officers and agents, with the located line of the Tidewater Railway Company, so far as it conflicts with the old right-of-way of your abandoned belt line around the city of Roanoke.
    "'You are further notified that any work done, or which may be hereafter done on the said abandoned belt line, will be done at your risk, as such work was commenced after the location of the Tidewater railway along said abandoned belt line.
    "'TIDEWATER RAILWAY CO.,
    "'By Thomas D. Ranson, president,
    "'Ranson & Ranson; Robertson, Hall & Woods, Attorneys.'
    "Mr. Thomas D. Ranson, the president of the Tidewater Railway Company, was in the city yesterday, and consulted with the local attorneys regarding the injunction, and Mr. Ranson, when seen by the Times man, was reticent as to the plans of the company, but intimated that something might be given out shortly.
    "A great legal battle is expected when the matter gets before the court."

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
March 5, 1904

[The injunction states the Tidewater was located "along said abandoned belt line."  Because the Tidewater/Virginian was built along the north side of the Roanoke River, does the above phrase mean that the original N&W belt line was to be built along the north side of the river rather than south of the river where it is now?  If it were just a matter of the Tidewater needing to cross the belt line wouldn't the injunction have stated "cross" instead of "along" the abandoned belt line?]

Gordon Hamilton
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