Cartersville and Van Wert Railroad
| Company type | Railroad company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Defunct | 1870 |
| Fate | Restructured as Cherokee Railroad |
| Headquarters | Cartersville, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Georgia, United States |
| Products | Rail transport services |
Cartersville and Van Wert Railroad
The Cartersville and Van Wert Railroad was conceived to link the Western & Atlantic Railroad at Cartersville, Georgia with the Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad at Prior, Georgia, situated close to the Alabama border. Established by charter in 1866 and officially incorporated on December 13 of that year, its primary purpose was to function as a regional feeder line for the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The route was strategically planned to serve the abundant marble and slate quarries, along with other mineral extraction operations located along its path.
Although Colonel E. Hulbert of the Western and Atlantic Railroad pledged significant support for the project, construction faced setbacks due to delays and conflicts over securing the railroad’s right of way, which impeded progress and raised concerns about the railroad's feasibility. By 1870, the line had completed approximately of broad gauge track extending from Cartersville to Taylorsville, Georgia. However, further development was obstructed by questionable financial activities involving Governor Rufus Bullock, Hanniball Kimball, and their associates. These controversies sparked disputes over ownership of the railroad. Ultimately, these complications led to a restructuring of the company under a new name: the Cherokee Railroad.
The involvement of Governor Bullock in issuing bonds related to the Cartersville and Van Wert Railroad triggered legislative action in 1877. Under Governor Alfred H. Colquitt, an amendment was added to the Constitution of Georgia that barred payment on what were termed "bogus bonds."
References
- Wilber W. Caldwell, The Courthouse and the Depot: The Architecture of Hope in an Age of Despair, Mercer University Press, Macon, GA, 2001, ISBN 0-86554-748-3
- George W. Hilton, American Narrow Gauge Railroads, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, 1990, ISBN 0-8047-2369-9
- Robert C. Jones, A History of Georgia Railroads, The History Press, Charleston, SC, 2017, ISBN 9781467137775
- Defunct Georgia (U.S. state) railroads
- Predecessors of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
- Railway companies established in 1866
- Railway companies disestablished in 1870
- 5 ft gauge railways in the United States
- 1866 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- American companies established in 1866
- American companies disestablished in 1870