N&W and Virginian in 1909--Fighting

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In 1909 Bradshaw was located about 4 miles farther up Bradshaw Creek than the current location.  In 1909 what we now know as Bradshaw was Coal Junction (across the Dry Fork from Dan).  Bradshaw was located at what is today called Jolo.  Coal Junction was probably changed to Bradshaw when the Bradshaw Coal Co started operations at Dan in 1919. A quick check of Dry Fork timetables do not show any station between Carlos and Atwell through April 30, 1922 (which is the latest date I have readily available).  The N&W train station was built at Bradshaw in 1926.

The Bradshaw post office was moved to the new community of Bradshaw on May 16, 1930, the Dan Post office was discontinued in 1930 and a new post office with the name of Jolo was established at the original Bradshaw post office site on May 1, 1930. 

Alex Schust
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: 4VGN Ry Yahoo Group ; 3N&W Mailing List 
  Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 11:19 PM
  Subject: N&W and Virginian in 1909--Fighting


  Bluefield Daily Telegraph
  December 5, 1909

  TWO ROADS FIGHTING FOR BUCHANAN COAL
  ------
  Norfolk and Western and Virginian Contesting Every Inch of Ground--Mate Creek Storm Center

      Commenting on the increased activity in the acquiring of coal lands in Buchanan county, a prominent engineer said last night that the Norfolk and Western and the Virginian Railway interests are fighting every inch in the Buchanan county fields.  Both roads recognize the value of the undeveloped territory in that section and both are after it.  The Norfolk and Western,it is said, expects to be into the field via Bradshaw, on the Dry Fork, while it is thought that the Virginian either expects to get in via Mate Creek or from Matoaka.
      This raises again the question as to who is really building or intending to build a line from the Island Creek property down Mate Creek across the Norfolk and Western into the Elkhorn field and other valuable fields in that section.  Two sets of engineers have been working and as they leave no marks on their stakes it is hard to tell just who they are.  The engineers have found that each one's route crosses the other and this has added to the muddle to such an extent that although the men higher up may know, the Virginian has never showed its hand as yet.  >From Elmore east the road has a trunk line, but from Mullens to Deepwater the road has only a railroad track.  It is the evident intention of the Virginian to go down the Guyan river to some point where it will connect up with the Island Creek property and from there get into Huntington.  The Deepwater charter called for a fifty-mile branch down to Guyan river, but a connection with the Island Creek property and railroad would give the Virginian direct connection with the Chesapeake and Ohio and thereby an entrance into Huntington over the Guyan Valley line.  From the line down the Guyan the road could throw out branch lines which could tap a great deal of coal land.  The presence of the men of H. H. Rogers as a factor at Swords Creek would make it appear that the road intends to join up with the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio, which roads Edwin Hawley is reported to be after.  It really looks as if the real heart of the whole affair is located at Mate Creek.  While everything would tend to show that other sections are being taken into consideration, Mate Creek looks as if it is the eighteenth hole.  The whole golf links will have to be gone around before the John D. crowd drive that ball into the last hole and walk to the club house.
  ------
  [The last part of this article makes one think that the reporter missed not being able to play golf in December.  The mouth of the only Mate Creek that I know of is at Matewan, some nine railroad miles east of Williamson.  With Pike County Kentucky across the Tug River from Matewan, Mate Creek seems to be a unlikely route to Buchanan County, Virginia.  Also, the upper reaches of Mate Creek would be hard for the Virginian to access from the Guyandotte (aka Guyan) River at Gilbert.  Any thoughts on this?]

  Gordon Hamilton


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