N&W in 1907 -- Catawba Branch

[NW Mailing List]

The Cooper mentioned is indeed the Thomas H. Cooper who had Longwood  
built in Salem, destroyed by fire about 1968.

Ken Miller
On Jul 16, 2008, at 6:05 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:


> Bluefield Daily Telegraph

> September 11, 1907

>

> The Norfolk and Western Takes Over Short Line

> ------

>     It is said that the Norfolk and Western Railway Company has  

> taken over the Catawba Valley road leading from Salem to the rich  

> silica deposits of Craig county, Va.  The road has for some time  

> been in course of construction, but recently the work of building  

> has been much delayed, owing no doubt to the negotiations between  

> the builders and the Norfolk and Western.

>     A year or eighteen months ago a company was organized for the  

> purpose of mining the silica and founding at Salem a large glass  

> pant.  The right of way was purchased for a railroad to run the  

> distance of 12 or 18 miles between the deposits and Salem, where it  

> was proposed to build and operate the glass foundry.  That company  

> has graded the road and all now to be done is to lay the track.   

> The Norfolk and Western will complete and operate the line only.   

> The original company has retained and will operate the mines and  

> glass plant.

>     Until the little road can be completed, wagons will convey the  

> silica from the mines to the factory, which is now starting in  

> operation.  The Norfolk and Western is said to have begun the  

> laying of track yesterday.

>

> [The line never crossed Catawba Mountain into Craig county.  It is  

> my understanding that the silica mine was near the foot of Catawba  

> Mountain on its Roanoke County side and  a short distance beyond  

> the station there.  In Prince's book on the N&W he gives the name  

> of the mine as Sandburg, Va.  Prince gives the owner of the mine as  

> Cooper Silica & Glass Company.  It would be interesting to know if  

> the "Cooper" would be Thomas H. Cooper who built the 18-room  

> mansion in Salem, Va., known as "Longwood" and who was a coal  

> operator for whom the town of Coopers, WV is named, I believe.]

>

> Gordon Hamilton

> ________________________________________

> NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org

> To change your subscription go to

> http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list

> Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at

> http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/