Virginian in 1910--Bluefield

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
February 5, 1910

HOW THE VIRGINIAN CAN GET INTO BLUEFIELD
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Route Through Bland Would Give Line to Radford Twenty Miles Shorter Than N. & W.

    One of the proposed routes which will bring the Virginian Railway to Bluefield was the subject of a great deal of discussion at Welch the other day, and a gentleman who claimed that he knew of a route which had been surveyed by engineers suggested a line that may be built.  By following the contours on a geological map it can be seen that the route is a feasible one and one that will require but one tunnel between Bluefield and a connection with the Virginian Railway near Radford.
    The proposed route leaving South Bluefield would go to Davidson Gap, about four miles from the southern terminus of Bland Street, and would, after passing through Bethel, or Cross Roads, make a tunnel through the East River mountain, having followed the county road to that point, would go up Dry Fork and then pass through Rocky Gap between Rich Mountain and Wolf Creek or Buckhorn mountain.  From there it would go along Wilderness Creek to Compton's Gap and by following the north fork of Kimberling Creek to Kimberling Creek and follow Walker Creek to where it joins with Little Walker Creek and then would pass through the gap known as Shannon's Gap, which would take it through the Walker Mountain and Little Walker mountain and Cloyd's mountain, and from that point on to Dry Gap, near Radford, the road would have easy sailing, crossing Back Creek and Neck Creek and going into Montgomery county where it would join up with the Virginian and from there it would have the main line to any point.  This route would be from fifteen to twenty miles shorter than the Norfolk and Western route to Radford.
    This route would also allow the Virginian to follow the Cedar Fork from Rocky Gap to the south fork of Clinch river, where it would reach the Norfolk and Western about three miles below Five Oaks, Va., thereby giving the road a route into the coal lands of Virginia.  It would also be in shape to build along Wolf's Creek through Hicksville, Va., in to the Rich mountain territory, via Crabtree Gap and Little Creek.  From Hicksville the road could go along Hunting Camp Creek into the Round mountain coal and iron territory and following the creek could also get into Brushy Mountain.  An almost impregnable barrier in the form of mountains seems to stand in the way of getting into Burks's Garden, but it is by no means improbable, as a route could be secured by either the Wolf Creek and Little Creek route or the Hunting Camp route.  The road could also get into Smythe county, and while that is a very remote possibility at present there is no reason why it could not be done.
    The people of the entire section are taking a great deal of interest in the Virginian Railway, and any plan which would bring it to Bluefield and help the town by bringing new people and new business interests to the city would be greatly appreciated by the people in all walks of life.
    The proposed route would open a large undeveloped timber and mineral territory which at the present time is not touched by a railroad.  It is a well known fact that there are large tracts of timber and many deposits of coal and iron, as well as other minerals in the territory which can be reached by such a route and it is only lying there to be awakened by the civilizing touch of the railroads of the country, which are the empire builders.  These are a number of fine tracts of agricultural lands which are watered by some very good rivers and these too would be brought in touch with the outside world as they have never been able to do before.
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[Could you follow along with  all of the streams, mountains and  gaps named?]

Gordon Hamilton
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