The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-09-23
MISCELLANY.
From the Charleston Mercury.1
Blue Ridge Railroad.

Blue Ridge Railroad.
The interesting communication below is
from one Of the first citizens of East Tennes-
see, and not only his statements arc thor
oughly reliable, but his opinions come with
all the authority of experience and high in
tclligence.
70 the Editors Of the Mercury: It can
not be expected that, in the selection of a
route for railway of such vast consequence
to the commerce of the country as that must
be which will unite the seaboard at Charles
ton with the valley of the Ohio and tile
great Northwest, no conflicts of interest or
Judgement are to arise. These conflicts pro-
ceed from various causes, some of which the
greatest skill in civil engineering, or the
most enlightened reasoning, cannot obviate {;
for it is impossible lex gr.) by either to 81
lence the clamor Of those, who, for any rea-
son, no matter what believe or insist, that
such line of railway should be located
through the district in which they reside, or
by their Court House. The time was when
such considerations controlled railroad com
panies, but that day has passed, and tho max
i'm now is "recta Iinensa optia."
These reflections have been suggested by
the perusal of lengthy articles to which my
attention has been called, as appearing in the
Spartanburg "4Spartan" of the oath and
sist ult. That journal, by the errors into
which it has fallen, has prompted me, as a
Iennesseean, feeling some solicitutde with
reference to the enterprise proposed to be
achieved by the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany, Of your State, to say few words in
reply to its facts and arguments.
The chief error into which the Spartan
has fallen, arises from the statement of the
editor that the Blue Ridge Company pro-
pose to construct their Road to Knoxville. as
the only point in Tennessee, and thence to
Louisville and Cincinnati, a railway connec-
ton is to be provided. This is not tile fact
While this is one end to be attained by the
construction of the Blue Ridge Road, ano-
ther, equally important, is a connection with
Nashville, and Memphis, and points beyond,
which will enable Charleston, and South
Carolina, to command the products concen-
trating at these points, ,oithout paying trib-
ute to the Railaoays Of Georgia. At pres
ent, freig hts from Nashville to Charleston,
or any other point in South Carolina, must
pass over the Western and Atlantic Rail
road, (owned exclusively by the State of
Georgia, and so managed as to subserve es-
pecialLy Georgia interests,) distance Of one
hundred and forty miles; and 80 soon as
the Memphis and Charleston Road is COM
pleted, the same may: be said of freights
from Memphis to Charleston. Thus; It is
that Georgia may, notwithstanding the City
Of Charleston has large amount of stock
in both the , Nashville and tChattanooga
Road ii and the Memphis and. Charleston
Road, discriminate, as las been the case,
against. Charleston. and ,in.sf of: points
in Georgias This difficulty could not be
obviated in the slightest degree. by adopting
the route proposed by thei Spartan, and at
the same time defeating the construction Of
the Blue Ridge Road. The, Nashville and
Chatatnooga, and the Memphis and Charles
ton Roads, may be said TO have their South
eastern. terminus at Chattanooga. From
Chattanooga to Cleveland, q point on tho
East Tennessee and Georgia. ROAD, !, means
are provided, and CONTRACTS will soon be
made to construct 9 railway, the distance be-
ing about thirty miles. From Cleveland
or any other point which may, be deemed
best op the East Tennessee and Georgia
Road, to stch point as may be selected on
the line Of the. Blue Ridge Road in Tennes-
see, arailway IS proposed to be constructed,
| a charter has been obtained, the Company
organized, and the work viii Be commenced
SO soon as The construction Of the Blue
Ridge Road Is ID such state Of forward.
ness as will justify il. So that from Chat:
tano6ga rs scih6o tie point already
selected as the point 8 Of junction. with
the Blue Ridge Road, ha distance win mol