1908 - N. & W. To Spend $2,000,000 Soon

[NW Mailing List]

Roanoke Times - February 23, 1908

N. & W. To SPEND $2,000,000 SOON

Conference of High Officials Was Held Here During the Past Week

EXTENSIONS WILL BE MADE IN BLUEFIELD

Pocahontas Division Work Will Be Pressed Forward, and Thousands of 
Men Who Are Out of Work Will Be Given Employment at No Very Distant 
Date, It Is Confidently Declared

  As the result of a meeting at which were contractors, President L. 
E. Johnson and other high officials of the Norfolk & Western 
railroad, held in this city last Monday, it is declared that the work 
upon the Pocahontas Division of the road will be pushed to completion 
this year. This means both as to the extension of the line and as to 
the double tracking. It further means an output of about $2,000,000 
on the part of the road, and the employment of thousands of men, many 
of whom are now in Roanoke and in need of work.
   Although it is declared that the conference was held in the 
generals offices here, no statements have been given out about the 
matter by President Johnson or other members of the company. It is 
probable that since the work upon these divisions of the road must 
sometime be completed, the company sees an opportunity to have it 
done at the least possible cost wile so many men are in crying need 
of employment. Labor will be a comparatively small item.
   As soon as the arrangements which were discussed by Mr. Johnson 
and the contractors have been completed, it is declared that with all 
speed the work will be begun, and pushed forward to completion during 
the present year of 1908, if this is possible.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link