N&W in 1910--Coal movement

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
August 31, 1910

EASTERN MOVEMENT OF COAL IS VERY HEAVY
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Half Million Tons More Dumped Over Lamberts Point Pier Than Ever Before, Mr. Barrett Says
    F. R. Barrett, of Norfolk, is authority for the statement that up to the 10th of this month the Norfolk and Western had dumped over Lamberts Point over 500,000 tons more coal than has been dumped at the same period in the history of the Lamberts Point pier.
    This record speaks well for the eastern movement so far this year and shows that the western movement, which has been enormous, is not the only movement which the Norfolk and Western depends upon.
    According to semi-official advices the shipments for the past fifteen days on the railroad have been record breaking and some trouble has been experienced in getting enough cars to supply the demand.  The outlook at this time is such that it is believed the Norfolk and Western will equal if not exceed the wonderful record of last month when the road shipped within seven thousand of a million and a half tons.  The cars during the past month have averaged a smaller tonnage than the month previous and this may reduce the total although it will be close to the million and a half mark.
    Every coal agency in the city has a large number of unfilled lump orders which are slow in filling on account of the lack of demand for slack and the lack of call for coke, which situation does not seem to improve, although a healthier movement of coke is expected next month.  If these lump orders could be filled as fast as they come in and assurances given the market that the business could be taken care of, the Norfolk and Western would have more than it could handle.
    One feature of the movement which is noticeable this fall is the lack of wrecks on the road.  Last year about this time the road was having all kinds of trouble and cars were being smashed up every day.  The percentage of cars broken up or smashed this year is small, thereby adding considerably to the car supply.  It has, however, shown its effect on the shop forces, which are not crowded as they have been in former years, although the road is hauling more tonnage than ever before in its history.  These little things have a big effect on the earnings of the company as it is not necessary to keep equipment in the shops.
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Gordon Hamilton
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