Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-08-17
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
SAVANNAH RIVER RAILROAD.

the earth from pursuing their proper destiny. In
u,ilitarianisn,, mater.alism, or whatever you may
choose 10 call it, is the cause Of oil this. The pre-
sent unnatural stimulus to progress and develop
ment in mind and matter is attributable very much,
to the Steam Engine and the example Of America
as regards government. Next to the introduction
of sound currency aud uniform weights and mea-
sures, the formation of good roads and bridges
said by all economists to give greater facilities TO
commerce, and to contribute more powerfully to
progress and improvement than any thing else.
No man or neighborhood has any use whatever for
surplus products, nor can any one man, or country
produce all, even half of the articles that he or
they may need. The surplus cotton Of the South
would be entirely worthless to the slave holder and
his surplus ice would be of The same value to the
Yankee, unless such superGuities could be exchang-
ed. Man must be social. Nature, race, SOL, eli
mate, government, in truth God has SO orduined it,
and hence whatever surplus products we may have,
whether of agriculture, of manufactures, of mncs
of the forest, Of the sea OF what not, we must er-
change them to make them at all useful. And TO
exchange them We must transport them, which
cannot be done except BY good roads. 1t matters
not whether these roads are ON water or on land.
Whether the speed and power of transportation
along them, is regulated by pedlars horses, canals,
paddles, sails or steam Engines. they are but roads
still 4 canal is only artificial road, and the
ocean itself is a public highway. The deck of
every vessel it ploughs the deep is as sacred as
the soil of the country to which such vessel be-
longs Production, transportation and exchange
then the three great prerequisites for the pro-
gress and drvelopcmcnt of any country. OF the
three, transportation is decidedly the most impor.
tant. 1t is an easy matter to produce and easier
still TO exchange, but under many circumstances
and in many localities, it is very hard and expcn-
sive task to transport We Americans are well
aware Of this, and our unparalleled progress IS
wealth, population and general prosperity may be
attributed to our facilities for transportation more
than to any thing else. We even now have more
niles Of railway Than all the rest Uf the world, and
yet We have quite as much projected aud building
rs we have in operation. South Carolina, when
the science OF Railways was in its infancy, took the
lead of the world for time. in preparing the track
f,r the Iron horse, but she compelled to desist
from the noble enterprise on account of the hnan-
cial dstresscs Of the country in 1886 and 81.
Since that time her more tardy and cautious sisters,
proiit;ns By her bitter experience, have dashed on
leaving her far behind. But the Palmetto State
ruegau~-so- rceovcrSfrom Tnc crash uf and
about ten years ago, and thanks to cotton, to the
general peace Of the world, to the gold of California
and Australia, our glorious little State is up and
doing once more. She may now excaim I" Richard
is himself again." The panic is gone, and Rail-
roads are ut this moment running TO half the Court
Houses in the State. Say Newberry, Laurens
Abbeville, Anderson, Grcenve, Spartanburg
Unonville, Winnsboro', Chcstcrvl!e, Yorkville.
Camden, Sumtcrville, Marion and Orangcburg.
Various new routs are being projected and some
are actually building. So that perhaps ten years
more will hear the piercing neigh Of the war hrrsc
that cOnqurrs time at every country seat in South
Carolina except perhaps two or three in the n, d.
dy, marshy and unhealthy districts below. But
even Coosawlaicll;c and Waltcrboro, are sirug-
Cling hard for road from Charleston 10 Savannah
with some prospect of success. South Carolina is
at present nersected by six srca, lines Of Railway
that extend from Charleston, in various directions,
nearly to the borders Of the State or quite beyond
them. Though all this is true, yet the Savannah
River Road will also be built. No one can doubt
it, who will pass along the line Of the proposed
road. The route is favorable, the people are wealthy
and never in my live, have seen so much cnthu-
siam manifested in any undertaking Of CONNER
cial character. l was present at Rocky Pond on
Tuesday last, where a Barbecue was given to pro-
mote the building OF this road, and S45, 900 stock
were taken, when the most sanguine did not expect
to get over $4,000 The people Of the Dark
Corner seem to have caught the Georgia feeling Of
working more and talking less, or rather they are
resolved to build the road any how, and pay for it
rs they can. Capt ANDREW HAMMOND and Jos
ABNEY, Esq, addressed the meeting at Rocky
Pond. and both acquitted themselves handsomely.
MIR. ADNEY among many other arguments said that
the bad construction, circuitous route and danger
GUS ucation Of the Grecnyille and Columbia Rail.
road would forever prevent its being able to COM
pete successfully with the Savannah River Road.
Mr.. HAMMOND was copicus in his statistics, as to
the cost, profits and number Of miles of railway in
each State and section Of the Union. He appealed
eloqucntly tothe interest, patriotism and good sense
of his audience, 10 subscribe literally. He, said
that as soon as the charter shall be secured Charles
ton, Augusta and Savannah, will each aud all come
with bendcd knees and offers Of large subscriptions
to aid in the project That we preferred Charleston
and Hamburg, or rather our own State and people,
provided they would do their duty, but that the
friends of this Road, rather than fail, will throw
themselves into the arms Of Augusta and Savannah,
by crossing the River at Fury's Ferry, or near
Col. BAUsKErTs plantation. The charter, as
learn is al; eady secured, and this company which
started but the other day, which has been the OBJ
ject first of ridicife;b now Of vituperation, will
soon be organised and will have the vitality and the
fesli aud muscle of living, moving, active man.
moth corporation. The fright Of way" will be
,heerfuly given by nearly every free h lder
through whose land the road will pass. This will be
III immense saving of itself The prime cost Of
Railroads in England is on the average $l77 ,00Oj
,er mile, and it is S254,OOO in France, mostly on
'ccount of the difficulty of getting the right of
way where population is dense and land is dear.
The scarcity and consequent high price Of mate
ials for superstructure, depots, bridges &C., also
inter into the account The same may be said in