N&W in 1907 -- Catawba Branch

NW Mailing List nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Wed Jul 16 20:41:12 EDT 2008


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/




More information about the NW-Mailing-List mailing list