The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-05-13
THE RABUN GAP RAIL ROAD.

The RABUN GAP RAIL ROAD.
We spent two or three days of the present
week at Madisonville, Monroe county, and
were pleased to find the people fully alive to
the importance of the Rabun Gap Railroad
and determined that no effort shall be want.
ing on their part to secure its construction
Monroe has deep interest in this work, us
much if not more than any other county in
East Tennessee. She has rich and fertile
lands, boundless mineral treasures in her hills
an industrious and enterprising population
and with the advantages which the road in
question would give her she would take fore.
most rank with her sister counties. When
the subject of this enterprise was first agi-
tated, no one, not even the most sanguine
ever believed that it would or could be built
on the contrary, the universal opinion prevail
ed, that it was simply piece of policy Of the
Charleston people to secure n crossing of the
Savannah river at Augusta. Subsequent ac-
ton, however, has demonstrated the fact that
the people of South Carolina were in earnest
about the road-and that it could and would
be built if they could secure the hearty CO.
operation and assistance of the people of
North Carolina and Tennessee. The route
has been surveyed TO our State line and found
practicable-the State of South Carolina in
its legislative capacity has guaranteed large
amount of the means necessary to its con-
struction, and the city of Charleston itself
has subscribed million of dollars for the
same purpose-North Carolina too is fully
awake to the subject, and nothing is now
needed but the efficient action of our own
section TO secure the construction Of this
great enterprise. Monroe county is moving,
and with an unanimity and energy that au-
gurs well for success, and conyinces us that
they regard it, and correctly too, as more i'm
portant than all other questions, and are dis
posed so to treat it. For our own part. and
we have given the subject some considera-
ton, we deem the enterprise the most i'm
portant of all Others, and that if it fails for
want of proper aid and assistance on this side
of our State line, it will infct loss upon
our people from which they will hardly ever
recover. And in this connection, there is a
fact that it is very important should be cor
rectly understood. The large subscriptions
by the State of South Carolina are con-
ditional, that satisfactory assurances be
given that if the road is built up to our
State line, it will be carried through. But
there is no occasion to multiply words" upon
this subject-every one who has given it the
least attention, must see the great importance
of the work, to our own State as we'll as to
our Southern neighbors, one that concerns
our deepest interests, and ought to receive
our earnest and unremittng efforts until its
construction is secured beyond all contingent
cy. We said we were pleased 1.-THE interest
manifested by the people of Monroe-they
are evidently in earnest about it now, and we
trust they will let no questions of minor con-
sideration draw their attention from it.
sV- We met with gentleman of upper
East Tennessee few days since who gave
very encouraging accounts of the progress of
the work on the East Tennessee and Virginia
Railroad. He informed us that some eight
hundred hands were at work upon different
parts of the line-that all the heavy grading
was under contract, that in few days large
force would be put on that part of the line
between Knoxville and Strawberry Plains,
and that the intention and expectation of the
Company is to have it ready for the iron
BY the time the East Tennessee and Georgia
Railroad is completed to Knoxville. Such
Intelligence was more gratifying to us, be-
cause we were fearful at one time that the
Directors and managers of that road were
pursuing IN unwise policy, rs we had under
stood from different sources that the lower
md of the line was to be left until the balance
Of the work should be finished. This we
Knew would be ruinous to the interests of
nv So"pahy, "ha We WOiO iuOI0 tiIdu RIuti-
led to learn that, if they had ever entertained
'uch short sighted policy, it had now been
'bandoned, and that there is fair prospect
or an early completion of the work. The
Cast Tennessee and Virginia Railroad is, like
,ur own, a work of too much Importance,
INVOLVING too many great Understanding a
ink in the great line over which all the travel
between the South and Southwest and the
North must pass-to be retarded or turned
side to subserve local or sectional interests,
nd it seems almost impossible that any one
laving the public prosperity at heart could
oppose it under any circumstances.
rB- Tho Washington Republic says that |
etters have been received in Washington
rom Mexico which announce that Santa An.
IA has informally declined giving his appro-
'ation of the treaty lately concluded with
;ol Sloo g. Co., for the construction of n
QUITE across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
nd further that he declines receiving the in
tallments of $4,000 which were to be paid
Monthly by Sloo & Co.