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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tunga>Bluefield Daily Telegraph<BR>April 7,
1910</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=5>BLUEFIELD-HINTON LINE WOULD PAY</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=5>Number of Wealthy People Said to be Ready to
Invest in Enterprise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=4>PRINCETON MAN TALKS OF PROPOSED
ROUTE</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>Would Develop Country Rich in Natural Resources and
Establish Connection Between Three Great Coal Carrying Roads</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG>LARGE PASSENGER TRADE ASSURED FROM THE
FIRST</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=left> A well known Princeton man who was in the
city yesterday, in speaking about the proposed railroad between this city and
Hinton, said he believed the route would pay and furthermore that a number of
wealthy people along the line would invest in such a property. Part of the
route along the Bluestone river, the gentleman said, would be heavy work and
some of it might cost as high as $100,000 a mile. Even if such were the
case the construction of the forty miles would be far below $5,000,000, which it
is stated in a letter to a local firm a British banking institution has for the
purpose of financing a road in the locality of Bluefield. The proposed
line, according to the Princeton man, would pass through large deposits of
limestone, which is found close to other ingredients which go to make up the
formula for Portland cement. Red and brown sandstone as well as all of the
ingredients used in the making of brick, such as brick clay and pottery clay are
found in abundance. Pure white silica, which is used for glassmaking, can
be found in large quantities and there is waterpower as well as cheap coal and
reason to believe there is natural gas close to the proposed railroad. The
route would pass through a field of salt which in some cases bubbles out of the
ground.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> Eight miles from Princeton the road would tap
Rich creek, where it would reach a large lumber territory, as well as some fine
Pocahontas coal. Six miles further on it would reach Camp creek where it
would again reach fine timber as well as a better route into the coal fields of
the great Flat Top mountain wherein lies the heart of the Pocahontas
coalfield. The road would also pass through good farming communities and
besides reaching all of these natural resources, added to which is excellent
waterpower, it would touch Hinton, a division point of the Chesapeake and Ohio;
Princeton, the principal town and a division point on the Virginian, as well as
Bluefield, a division point on the Norfolk and Western and the gateway to the
Pocahontas coalfield.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> The Chesapeake and Ohio reaches the New River
coals, the Virginian reaches the Pocahontas, Beckley and Sewell seams, and the
Norfolk and Western has the greatest coalfield in the country, embracing the
heart of the Pocahontas measures, the Tug River, Thacker and other seams which
are valuable for coking as well as steam purposes.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> At the present time there is a fair passenger
trade between the towns and as the road would make a short cut it would develop
a large passenger trade. In addition to this large [<EM>sic, passenger
trade?</EM>] shippers would have their goods shipped via the short line so as to
save time, and better freight rates would be enjoyed.</DIV>
<DIV align=left> Bluefield has a population of 15,000;
Princeton now claims 5,000 people and Hinton has 6,000. Both Princeton and
Bluefield are growing rapidly and Hinton is not far behind. Princeton is
bound to reach at least 10,000 within the next two years, and if another
railroad should come here, it would grow even more rapidly. Bluefield
should go to 25,000 in the next five years and with a new railroad it would grow
even more rapidly. The chambers of commerce in Bluefield, Princeton and
Hinton should get busy. Bluefield and Princeton, because they need another
road and Hinton so that it may be able to force the keeping of the division
point at that place instead of allowing it to be removed to Thurmond. The
Princeton people are heartily in sympathy with the movement to get as an
additional railroad. Bluefield is enthusiastic and Hinton is doubtless not
far behind.</DIV>
<DIV align=center>------</DIV>
<DIV align=left>[<EM>The reference to Rich creek is a bit puzzling.
Obviously, this does not refer to the community of Rich Creek, VA. There
is a stream named Rich creek that flows into the Bluestone river at
Spanishburg, WV, but that is up the Bluestone river from the mouth of Brush
Creek, which the railroad would presumable follow from Princeton to the
Bluestone river. Also, how about it C&O historians. Was there
ever a serious threat to move the division point from Hinton to
Thurmond?</EM>]</DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=6 face=Script>Gordon
Hamilton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>