Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-21
IOUDON TENNESSEE DECEMBER a. 1854

4th, That rail roads are now in progress
through Kentucky to meet u.s. to which that
State would give no aid in 1886, and that these
rail roads will connect our State, by the Blue
Rail Road, with the innumerable rail roads
from Cincinnati, louisville, Evansville, &C., d.
verging othe Lakes and the Upper Mississippi,
none of which were finished in 1896, and few
only projected;
9TH, That the completion of certain rail roads,
and the certain completion of others, must ex-
clude us from portions Of country adjacent to
US, diminishing our trade, which the Blue Ridge
Rail Road would prevent
Looking to these facts, is it not beyond doubt
that passage across the mountains, is in our
day, measure of necessity? that the reasons
for 'his necessity are fourfold, compared with
what they were twenty years ago? and if ac-
cording to General Haynes declaration in
1885, "lhat the time had then arrived when this
work could no longer be delayed without Grim
inal supineness, and a fatal disregard to our own
country, as well as the duties we owe to pros.
teritg;" shall lse not Ge more recream to The
great duties pe ore to ourSeIres, to our STATE,
and to those aeFo are to succeed as; IF ,cs yield
mo,c to .tatoI hmi2ity, or By divisions and local
jealonsies among o,rSsIges, permit this great
,cork to 6edcf6atod7
1t viii be objected to the Blue Ridge Rail
Road, or the route by the valley oc the Little
Tennessee, that after minute and accurate sur
veys, the Butt Mountain Gap and the valley of
the French Broad, were selected by the Louis
vile, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road
Company, as the best and most practicable
route across the Alleghanies. 1t must be horne
in mind, however, that the surveys III 1885 were
confined to those States only, which had grant.
cd charters, and through which the road would
necessarily pass. No survey was ever made of
the route from Pickens, through Rabun county,
Georgia, and the Rabun Gap, or that now adop-
ted by the Blue Ridge Rail Road Company: be-
cause Georgia had granted no charter The
route from Pckens, passing into North Carroll
ma by the valley of the Teukasege, down to its
junction with the Little Tennessee, was exam
ned and found impra cticable. It was also ex-
amined by Mr.. LrTHGoE before the present 10.
cation across the Stump House Mountain and
through the Rabun Gap was selected; thinking
that better and shorter route might be discover
ed, avoiding Georgia altogether; but it was
found impracicable by him also. The Butt
Mountain Gap and the valley of the French
Broad River furnished the be It and only prae-
ticable route within the charters granted to tie
LousxiiIa ncInIlaf anu CHarEe sIUu rtvsa-
Company; but recent surveys
the passage from Pckens through Rabun coun-
ty Georgia, the Rabun Gap and down the Lit
tie Tennessee, is equally as practicable and
more desirable. They show that the noun
tain country of this State and Georgia can be
crossed in l9 miles-by Butt Mountain in a.
Sc miles Rabun Gap is 2O73 #. above the
sea; Butt Mountain Gap, 2l6S it.; the elevation
above their respective planes S about the same.
The descending grades of the Blue Ridge Rail
Road do not exceed 10, and the ascending 60
feet to the mile. The surveys Of the Louisville
Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road show
60 #. grades both WAYS. which sa point great
ly in favor Of the former, as the freight dpscen
ding will be the heaviest. Nor would the Butt
Mountain and French Broad Route be much,
if at all shorter, assuming always that the con
neXion between the Greenville and Columbia
Rail Road, at or near Newmarket at point
near Aiken on the South Carolina Rail Road
will be effected. OF this, there cannot be a
doubt entertained, as the necessities and wants
of the country demand it, without reference to
the Blue Ridge Rail Road; and a charter has
consequently been granted to the Greenville
and Columbia Rail Road Company to make
the connexion. From Charleston to Knoxville
by way of Aiken and Newmarket, would be
402 miles; by Columbia, Butt Mountain and
French Broad, it is claimed to be 800 miles: a
difference of three miles only in favor Of the
latter. The distance from Charleston tn Gin.
cinnati and Louisville, beyond Knoxville,
would be the same; as from Knoxville, the
roads pursue the same route direct line
from the French Broad to the Cumberland Gap,
was abandoned by the Louisville. Cincinnati
and Charleston Rail Road Company, and could
not be adopted now. Owing to the extreme
Of this line, which have been more
than confirmed by recent survey, Knoxville
must be made point on the route. Notwith |
standing, therefore, that a charter has been or
ganised to pass through the Cumberland Gap
to the waters of the French Broad, no subscrip
tions have been obtained. and there is not the !
remotes expectation that the road will be at !
tempted. Besides, there exists no charter for /
that portion of the road that must necessarily I
pass through North Carolina, and, in view of /
the policy recently established by that State in
her Rail Road Improvements, it is extremely |
Doubtful whether her Legislature will grant one.
Nor has any charter been granted by Tennes-
see for Rail Road down the valley of the I
French Broad to Knoxville, should the difficult
les of the Cumberland Gap compel las they
nust) the adoption again of Knoxville as
point to be reached, with view to Wheeler's
Gap, or Big Gap, which have been as
,ertained to be the best passage across the
Cumberland Mountains. Could, however. a =