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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tunga>Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>December 22,
1909</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=4>NORFOLK AND WESTERN MAY BE ULTIMATE
OWNERS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>New River, Holston and Western is Still Three Months
>From Rocky Gap</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left> J. L. Boggess, a well known and prominent
merchant of Narrows, is in the city and when asked last night by a Daily
Telegraph man what progress has been made on the New River, Holston and Western
extension said that there is still about three months work on the line to Rocky
Gap. Forces of men are at work on the line and among the foremen is a son
of Mr. Boggess'.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> When asked what he thought the road was being
extended for he said it was probably the intention to build to Bland
courthouse. The distance from Rocky Gap to the courthouse is eighteen
miles. Mr. Bogess said that road in his estimation will follow Wolf Creek
to Walker's Creek and from Sharon's Springs will go over to Bland
courthouse. The road is also expected to pass through Ceres, in Bland
county. The distance from Narrows to Bland is about thirty-nine miles and
as soon as the road is finished to Rocky Gap twenty-one miles of the line will
have been built.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> The road runs through some fine timber
country and also taps rich mineral lands. Mr. Boggess says a road has
already been surveyed from the New River, Holston and Western to the coal in
Round mountain, but it thought that this road will not be built at present,
although the coal in Round mountain is valuable. Mr. Boggess' son said
that the coal from Round mountain had received a prize at the Chicago World's
Fair on account of its excellent character. It is similar to the coals
found in this region, although it is not known whether it is the Fire Creek or
Pocahontas seam. The Fire Creek seam is the New River seam, which is now
being mined along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> Young Mr. Boggess said that some of the plans
of the engineers or the men higher up are being given out that the road is being
built by phases into the country. The first seven miles of the road near
Narrows are ?? on account of the age of the rails and roadbed, but further on
the line has every appearance of a first class line.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> It is generally supposed that on account of
traffic arrangements the Norfolk and Western will be the ultimate owners of the
line.</DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left>[<EM>Some words were blurred on the microfilm. The best
interpretation is shown except the word at "??" was indecipherable.</EM>]</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=6 face=Script>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>