A large force is now at work on the Morristown and Cumberland Gap railroad.

The track for sometime has been completed to the Holston river about five miles from Morristown. At this point a fine iron bridge is being erected and before many days will be completed.

At this end of the line from Corryton on the K C G & L railroad, the track has been laid two miles beyond the Lea Springs depot site and before many days the iron horse will be at Rutledge, the county seat of old Grainger, and from this point Bean’s Station, near Tate will soon be reached. In fact we are assured that the whole line will b completed and equipped within sixty days.

The people along the entire line are very much elated over the bright prospects and rapid progress. And the people of Knoxville will soon be in a position to go with ease and at pleasure to Lea Springs and Tate’s without change of cars. And this new and direct route to Morristown, through the beautiful valleys of Richland and Bean’s Station with the fine Clinch Mountain scenery will prove interesting and pleasing to the eye for a change.

When this important link is completed considerable travel will undoubtedly be secured from the Carolina’s via Cumberland Gap and Middlesborough to the west, also from the direct south in connection with the K C G & L railroad.

Knoxville Daily Journal — Tuesday, September 1, 1891

Transcribed by Robert McGinnis and used by permission.