The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-11-11
THE RABUN GAP ROAD-A WORD
TO OUR CITIZENS.


TO OUR CITIZENS.
1t is a conceded point that, whatever route
the Rabun Gap Road may take through the
mountain, McMinn county will receive the
benefit of its location through her borders.
The main object of Charleston in the con-
struction of new route such as this, is to
arrive at Chattanooga, and thus to secure
over her own road, and to her own market
the immense amount of cotton and other
western and southern produce that will
eventually concentrate at that point. Ano-
ther object is to reach central Kentucky and
the Ohio river, by the way of Knoxville
Two passes have presented themselves to
Charleston by which she may reach the East
Tennessee and Georgia Railroad-one by
the Hwassee or Ocoee, and the other by the
Tennessee Gap. Her desire, first is to pass
through by the Hiwassee or Ocoee river, if
practicable. This will secure to her a route
to Chattanooga forty or fifty miles nearer
than the one by way of Atlanta and the State
road, while by a connection with the East
Tennessee road, to Knoxville, her object will
be accomplished in reaching the Ohio river
But the charter of that portion of the road
lying in Georgia requires tie Company to Sc
lect the Rabun Gap as the pass through the
Blue Ridge, which throws the North Carroll
ma portion of the road upon such ground as
will make etmpractcSblo o come down the
Hiwassce or OcOee river. An amended char
ter from Georgia would avoid this difficulty,
and would save many miles in the aggregate
length of the line TO Chattanooga. Should
this route be adopted, McMinn county has it
in her power to receive the benefit Of it,
From Athens to the point where the road
would strike the Hiwasscc Gap is about six
teen mics-by the construction of which
through the best portion Of McNIinn county,
distance Of twelve miles will be saved in
the route to Knoxville from Charleston
The other route contemplated by Charleston,
and the only available one under existing
charters, is that by the Tennessee river This
route is more favorable for the Ohio river
connection, and will answer the purposes of
the Chattanooga interests, though not so
well us by the lower, or IIwassee Gap. BY
this route the distance from Chattanooga to
Charleston is four hundred and forty-two
miles, while the distance by Augusta is 446
miles. But the great and overwhelming ad-
vantage to Charleston, is in having an indie
pendent road the entire distance, under her
own control and avoiding all the annoyances
of the various connections through Georgia
Should this route be the one finally adopt
ed, it will necessarily pass through Monroe
and McNlinn counties. The distance from
Chattanooga to the North Carolina line by
way of Athens, (Which has been explored by
an engineer Of the Nashville and Chattanoo-
ga road) is one hundred and five miles
which is the most available line to the Ten
ncssee Gap.
Then, in either point of view McMinn
gu" tilS bONll vi htICuo arc ldlSCIN
interested in the success of this great enter
prise, and ii miH be expected Of her TO build
that portion Of The road through her ljmis.-
Whether the Hiwassee or Tennessee Gap is
selected, McAlinn county must grade and
prepare the timbers for fifteen miles of road
Is she prepared to do it! In view of the
great advantages to be derived to her citizens,
we unhositatingly answer, yes. What is the
grading of fifteen miles of road to such a
population as this! Seventy-fve thousand
dollars at most will be all that will be re-
quircd of her, for the State, in pursuance Of
her liberal policy, will furnish the iron.
We hope our members of the Legislature
will look to this great interest, and see to it
that proper provisions are made for its ad-
vanccment. Charleston is determined to
build the road to the Tennessee line, but our
own State must raise the means for the COM
pleton Of it to Chattanooga and Knoxville.
s%5H The New York Herald, of the Ist
instant, contains Card from Duff Green, in
which the General walks into Old Bullion
pretty extensively. He saws his object il to