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<DIV><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>June 23,
1909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=5>TWENTY MILES HARDLY DROP IN BUCKET</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT size=4>Virginian Railway to Build Line Through
Tazewell, Bland and Russell Counties</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT size=4>MAY CROSS CLINCH VALLEY REGION AND REACH
BRISTOL</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>Possible Connection With Cairo and Norfolk Project
Said to be in View--Rich Coal Lands to be Opened Up</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>Hinton to East River Right of Way
Purchased</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left> The Daily Telegraph's exclusive story
yesterday regarding the building of a branch line by the Virginian Railway from
Rock in this county to Pocahontas, Va., has been practically verified, but
according to those who claim to be in touch with the railroad situation, this
proposed twenty-mile feeder is hardly a drop in the bucket from a relative
standpoint compared with what the Virginian intends doing in this section of the
country.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> It is stated that it is the ultimate
intention of the company to extend the line from Pocahontas through Tazewell,
Bland and Russell counties, across the Clinch Valley region to a possible
connection with the projected Cairo & Norfolk road at Bristol, Tenn.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> This will take the branch through the
Merchants Coal Company's leases, the Pocahontas Consolidated Collieries
Company's leases near Pocahontas and possibly touch the New River and Pocahontas
Coal Company's leases. Passing out of Tazewell, the line will go through
Bland, Russell and Buchanan, tapping a region rich in gas coal.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> A railroad survey was made through Clinch
Valley some time ago, and it was given out that it was at the instance of the
Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio, but it is now believed that the Virginian is
behind the project. The Virginian has been nosing around all through the
outlying territory making preliminary surveys for branches into areas which
promise business. It has made surveys down Bluestone to its junction with
New River to Glen Lyn, Va., The company has even gone so far as to purchase a
right of way from Hinton to the mouth of East River. And there appears to
be no reason to believe, according to those who claim to know, that the
activities should not extend into the Clinch Valley also.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> If the road should go through the
country outlined, it will be practically virgin territory. It is rich in
coal, and there is at present little outlet. There is not a mile of
railroad in Buchanan county--and it is claimed not a negro [<EM>sic</EM>].
It is said there are signs tacked up on trees for the colored race to keep
out. The people, however, are not said to be averse to railroads.</DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Script size=6>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>