Virginian in 1911--Rumors

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
January 22, 1911

CREDITS RUMOR OF TRANSFER OF VIRGINIAN
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New York Times Supports Prediction Printed in Daily Telegraph Year Ago
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NEW YORK CENTRAL TO COMPLETE [SIC] WITH PENNSY
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Acquirement of Rogers Road Will Give it Entry to Port of Norfolk and Put it in Line for Panama Canal Business
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NEWS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THIS ENTIRE SECTION

    The New York Times in a late issue again gives credence to the rumors regarding the proposed transfer of the Virginian Railway to the New York Central through the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern.  It will be remembered that such reports were printed in the Daily Telegraph over a year ago as being rumors which apparently had sufficient foundation to establish their truth.
    The recent rumors which appear to have substantial backing, and which state that the Panhandle will get the Norfolk and Western, even give stronger support to the Virginian rumor because for a number of years there has been a rivalry between the Pennsylvania and the New York Central lines which will be recalled by everyone who has ever followed railroads.  Some years ago the New York Central lines leased for 999 years the  Boston and Albany railroad which gave the New York Central a line into New England where it has been able to reach a very substantial manufacturing district.  The Pennsylvania became interested in the New York, New Haven and Hartford which in turn absorbed  the Boston and Maine with its subsidiary lines with the result that two railroads practically supply New England with railroad accommodations.  The Pennsylvania has never taken over the New York, New Haven and Hartford, but it has always been extending its ownership of stock so that it eventually will have entry into the port of Boston, which is reached by the New York Central lines and the New York, New Haven and Hartford, as well as the Boston and Maine owned by the latter line.
    The acquisition of the Virginian Railroad [sic] would give the New York Central entry to the port of Norfolk and would put that company on a footing which would enable it to go after longer haul business when the Panama canal opens and it is evident that this fact is not being overlooked.  The news is of great import to this section of the country because of the fact that the Virginian Railway runs through this county and parallels the Norfolk and Western east of Bluefield, although it is not a competitor of the Norfolk and Western to any great extent, not touching any of the coal supply which the Norfolk and Western is mining at this time, although it will eventually become a competitor when the Pocahontas Coal and Coke Company opens up its land on the Guyandotte river, which may be several years from now.  Another factor which should make the Virginian valuable to the New York Central is the fact that owing to the projected changes in the port of New York, wherein a great amount of freight is to be hauled to New Jersey where it can  readily be turned over to the Pennsylvania, the New York Central will want to become an active competitor of the Pennsylvania, and if the Pennsylvania can make such arrangements that will take freight away from the New York Central right at home by getting the New York, New Haven and Hartford to change its boat line piers with the result that more and more manufacturing will be carried on in New Jersey, it is up to the New York Central to adopt some method of getting to another port from which point a fast line of steamers might be put on so as to compete with the Pennsylvania in Newark Bay and at other points where the Pennsylvania is now doing business.  The New York Central now has a northern route through the upper  part of New York and it stands in need of a southern route which the Virginian Railway would give.
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Gordon Hamilton
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