Virginian in 1911--Coal lands

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
August 27, 1911

VIRGINIAN RAILWAY MAY ACQUIRE NEW COAL LANDS
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Princeton Progress Hears That Big Deal is on With Pocahontas People--Raleigh Territory Taken

    Rumor has taken form in the belief that the Virginian railway is to shortly come into possession of other valuable mineral lands lying in the Winding Gulf section that will more than double the development that has already been made in that territory and the present coal traffic for the road, says the Princeton Progress.  That boundary of land lying between the main line of the Virginian and its Winding Gulf road, embracing thousands of acres owned by the Pocahontas people, it is reported, is being negotiated for by this road.  According to reports, for the mineral rights of this territory other land owned by the Virginian is being offered to the Pocahontas interests in exchange.
    No other coal land owned by the Virginian is so readily accessible perhaps to development and transportation as this land, and its development by the Norfolk and Western would necessitate an extension of many miles to its line to reach it.  So, while it is not learned where the land which is offered in exchange by the Virginian is situated, in all probability its location affords greater convenience to the Norfolk and Western than the Pocahontas boundary blocked in by the lines of this road.  As a matter of conjecture it is very plausible that the proffered territory in the deal lies on the Gauley river in Wyoming, adjacent to the Pocahontas' own lands in that county.
    In fact this conjecture merely strengthens the rumor of the proposed exchange.  At any rate it is stated on authority of a capitalist of that country that such a transfer is pending and is in the process of consummation.  The way it is now, as it is understood, the Virginian's Winding Gulf line extends into that territory twelve or fifteen miles before it reaches its own coal lands, so if the reported proposed deal goes through it will come into procession of all that territory running from Maybeury to Mullens and from that point to the winding Gulf branch where it connects with the Beaver Land Company, one of the richest coal properties in southern West Virginia.
    Then another report from the same authority is to the effect that the Virginian has practically closed a deal with Beckley coal capitalists for one tract of a thousand acres and another of about twelve hundred acres of mineral lands lying on the front of a great boundary adjacent to its line near Mullens.
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Gordon Hamilton
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