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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tunga>Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>December 19,
1909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=4>ROAD NOT FOR SALE, BUT FOR
OPERATIONS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>Virginian, After Only Four Months of Commercial
Operations, is Already Beginning to Pay</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV align=left> Roanoke World: President Broughton,
Vice-President Rogers, General Manager Dupuy and Chief Engineer Fernstrom of the
Virginian railway left for a trip over the line from Roanoke westward this
morning after having spent the night in Roanoke. They came into Roanoke
last evening in their special car attached to the regular train.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> President Broughton gave no word of
contemplated improvements other than that the
general <U>operations</U> [<EM>Word blurred. Best
interpretation shown.</EM>] would continue. He said that the 120-car,
mile-long coal train that was sent from Roanoke eastward to Norfolk yesterday
was not meant for show, but for a test of operating efficiency. He said
that train's operation must show the splendid construction of the
Virginian. He also said that the Virginian was built for operation and not
for sale, else it would have been constructed much cheaper.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> There is no burden, said he, and it is now,
after only about four months of commercial operation paying. For years the
tide was flowing toward the Virginian construction financially, but now the ebb
has set in in substantial shape.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> President Broughton and Mr. Rogers appeared
well pleased with the conditions. This is the first trip they have taken
over the road since they were here with the late H. H. Rogers last May.
They will proceed New Yorkward from the western end of the road.</DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left>[<EM>New Yorkward??</EM>]</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=6 face=Script>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>