<head><style>body{font-family: Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:9pt;background-color: #ffffff;color: black;}</style></head><body id="compText">Gordon:<br>This is interesting particularly for a Radford native. It is going to require digging out the old USGS s to pursue the creeks and gaps named. I THINK I understand the approach. Just looking at a Google map, one can see a somewhat straight line between Bluefield an Radford is much shorter than following the New. The only creek name readily recognized was Wolf Creek meaning the line was definitely going to be on the west side of Narrows.<br>Charlie Long<br><br><br><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 0px;">-----Original Message-----
<br>From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org>
<br>Sent: Sep 13, 2009 10:13 PM
<br>To: 4VGN Ry Yahoo Group <virginianrailwayenthusiasts@yahoogroups.com>, 3N&W Mailing List <nw-mailing-list@nwhs.org>
<br>Subject: Virginian in 1910--Bluefield
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<div><font face="Tunga" size="2">Bluefield Daily Telegraph<br>February 5,
1910</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div align="center"><font size="4">HOW THE VIRGINIAN CAN GET INTO
BLUEFIELD</font></div>
<div align="center">------</div>
<div align="center"><strong>Route Through Bland Would Give Line to Radford Twenty
Miles Shorter Than N. & W.</strong></div>
<div align="left"><strong></strong> </div>
<div align="left"> One of the proposed routes which will bring
the Virginian Railway to Bluefield was the subject of a great deal of discussion
at Welch the other day, and a gentleman who claimed that he knew of a route
which had been surveyed by engineers suggested a line that may be built.
By following the contours on a geological map it can be seen that the route is a
feasible one and one that will require but one tunnel between Bluefield and a
connection with the Virginian Railway near Radford.</div>
<div align="left"> The proposed route leaving South Bluefield
would go to Davidson Gap, about four miles from the southern terminus of Bland
Street, and would, after passing through Bethel, or Cross Roads, make a tunnel
through the East River mountain, having followed the county road to that point,
would go up Dry Fork and then pass through Rocky Gap between Rich Mountain and
Wolf Creek or Buckhorn mountain. From there it would go along Wilderness
Creek to Compton's Gap and by following the north fork of Kimberling Creek to
Kimberling Creek and follow Walker Creek to where it joins with Little Walker
Creek and then would pass through the gap known as Shannon's Gap, which would
take it through the Walker Mountain and Little Walker mountain and Cloyd's
mountain, and from that point on to Dry Gap, near Radford, the road would have
easy sailing, crossing Back Creek and Neck Creek and going into Montgomery
county where it would join up with the Virginian and from there it would have
the main line to any point. This route would be from fifteen to twenty
miles shorter than the Norfolk and Western route to Radford.</div>
<div align="left"> This route would also allow the Virginian to
follow the Cedar Fork from Rocky Gap to the south fork of Clinch river, where it
would reach the Norfolk and Western about three miles below Five Oaks, Va.,
thereby giving the road a route into the coal lands of Virginia. It would
also be in shape to build along Wolf's Creek through Hicksville, Va., in to the
Rich mountain territory, via Crabtree Gap and Little Creek. From
Hicksville the road could go along Hunting Camp Creek into the Round mountain
coal and iron territory and following the creek could also get into Brushy
Mountain. An almost impregnable barrier in the form of mountains seems to
stand in the way of getting into Burks's Garden, but it is by no means
improbable, as a route could be secured by either the Wolf Creek and Little
Creek route or the Hunting Camp route. The road could also get into Smythe
county, and while that is a very remote possibility at present there is no
reason why it could not be done.</div>
<div align="left"> The people of the entire section are taking a
great deal of interest in the Virginian Railway, and any plan which would bring
it to Bluefield and help the town by bringing new people and new business
interests to the city would be greatly appreciated by the people in all walks of
life.</div>
<div align="left"> The proposed route would open a large
undeveloped timber and mineral territory which at the present time is not
touched by a railroad. It is a well known fact that there are large tracts
of timber and many deposits of coal and iron, as well as other minerals in the
territory which can be reached by such a route and it is only lying there to be
awakened by the civilizing touch of the railroads of the country, which are the
empire builders. These are a number of fine tracts of agricultural lands
which are watered by some very good rivers and these too would be brought in
touch with the outside world as they have never been able to do before.</div>
<div align="center">------</div>
<div align="left">[<em>Could you follow along with all of the streams,
mountains and gaps named?</em>]</div>
<div align="left"> </div>
<div align="left"><font face="Script" size="6">Gordon
Hamilton</font></div></zzzbody></zzzmeta>
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