Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-02-13
THE EDGEFIELD AND AUGUSTA RAIL
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under Charter obtained during the last Session Of
the South Carolina Legislature. The first of these
articles was over the signature Of Observer" the
second over that of " Enterprise" They both ap.
peared originally in the Augusta papers, and were in
point of fact addressed arguments The people Of
that City. lfthey have been regarded in that quar-
Ter as they should be, we have little doubt of results
highly favorable TO tile new project.
1t does TO us an almost seevident proposition,
that as between the scheme here held "rh another
which stretches its cumbrous length alcng tile Saran.
nah valley there is no light of comparison in which
the advantages do not clearly fall on the side Of the
former Without recapitula,ing the varied views Of
the writers to whom have alluded, it should be
enough for the people of Augusta to know The one
single fact that by road they must secure all the
benefits possibly derivable from the Valley Road, and
rerv many more rhich that road could in ,cise ob-
tain for them 1t requires only that any sensible man
look a. tile map of Western and North Western Caro-.
lina 10 be convinced of this truth. Locate Rail
Road from Augusta to New Market, and where must
the whole trade Of the Savannah Valley goif it be
not either to Augusta or across that Rail Road? The
latter being an absurdity, the former is of course the
true alternative. To Augusta it would certainly go.
The effect would be very much that of dam thrown
dagonalIy across large stream, we will say 10 turn
the full power Of its waters upon set of splendid
merchant mills. The whole country of the Savannah,
including almost all of Edgefed, and Abbeville, An
derson and Pickens, is that streamonr Road is 10 be
the dam-and Augusta is The site OF the splendid ma
chincry 10 be put in motion. Add to this (what OBJ.
seryer and Enterprise have both well set forlh)
,ha, our Road must, and will, draw to Augusta q
noble trade from Newberry, and Luurens and Union,
and Spartanburg, and Greenvile, and the old State
of Buncombe," and the conclusion, in our favor, II
certainly Irresistible. This, we say, is, or ought TO
be- enough to determine the people Of Augusta on the
side of the new project 1t will work not only we'll for
them, but lin old General WALKERS language on a
certain occasion) " most elegantly by the eternals"
The truth IT, the matter is SO plain that there is no
discussing 1.-THE question has really but one side.
], may possibly be urged :or the Savannah route, that
il will pass directly through superb section Of coun-
try, which shall empty its forever and day
into Augusla's lap if Rail Road be built TO develop
its resources and secure its custom. We have no kind
Of ohis ,on to admitting the fertility of tile Savannah
Valley although really think that even this might
be overrated But let it be rich as the grounds
on Red River, Augusta must and will always com.
mand its patronage from the very necessity oil the
case First, there is the River, an easy natural hg'-
way aud the planters convenient to it will continue
to use its facilities they have always DONE Second.
ly. should any determine to haul to Abberille or TO
Anderson, and 10 ship their produce by Rail Road,
they will find themselves, New Market, twenty-five
miles nearer Augusta than Columbia. And when
ia ,llt
that Augusta and Hamburg together make up one
Of the very best markets in the Southern country OF
course the nearer pon, will always have the prefer.
ence.
We again remark, that there is scarcely single
point of view in which does not exhibit man.
ifest superiority to the one sought to be mp the
Valley 1t will permeate presently prosperous and
rapidly improving scope Of country. 1t is the most
practicable Road BY odds. 1t is the cheapest ny hun.
dreds of thousands Of dollars. Its prospective chances
towards Chester and Ashville) have nothing TO match
them OIL the Savannah SIDE And even as 10 the dis.
tance between Augusta and Anderson, the difference
in favor of the Valley Road is hut three miles at ie
outside BY actual survey; willie the Edgrfeld and
New Market line has every other conceivable advan'
! age.
Ia, lest the Edgefeld and Augusta Road (if built
might be tapped by road from Aiken. In tie name
of common sense, might not the very same Thing hap
pen 10 the Valley Road Or might not a direct con.
necon be made between the Greenv.lle and South
Carolina Roads, via Louis, in competition with which
the Savannah Road could do little nothing as tC
the Charleston trade But let us huild our road, and
let US connect with the Greenvie Road at New Mar
ket or neighborng point; and what would be
the result, even supposng we were tapped at the
| Pine House! The future trade and traffic thai
might be brought from the mountains whether by
the Rahun Gap Road or the proposed Grcenville and
Ashville Road wonld then pour ont its manifold
advantages upon the EdgcGeld and Augusta Com
pany in as large measure US could be desired. Oul
track would bear all the freight intended for Charles
ton from our upper terminus 10 point at least a.
low down as the Pine Hous, which would form nc
mean item in the profits Of the road. Bit firmly
believe that the trade flowing to Augusta alone would
make this stock equal 10 any Rail Road stock in the
United States and We confess TO some astonishmen
that any citizen of that place should hesitate in the
matter on the ground Of being tapped Mt the Pine
| House. Let it be done, and Augusta will still hold
her hand with the proudest cities Of our interior
Her have the energy, talent and wealth 10 place
| her lin respect to the whole country that is 10 be
drawn upon by The Edgefeld and Augusta Road) on
the vantage ground over any uther market, not ever
excepting Charleston. The peculiarly fortunate fact
of her having Rail Road communication of the
finest kind with Charleston and both River and Raj
| Road communication with Savannah, makes this
i" assurance doubly sure 1t seems to exag
geration TO sny that under the influence Of the varied
benefits which would accrue 10 Augusta from the con-
,ruclion Of ,hi, Road she would spring into city
thirty thousand inhabitants in ten years time. We dc
not believe that any thing Of the kind would follow
in the wake Of the Valley Road, for the manifest rca
son that Augus,a would attain by ii no panters.trade
which shc does not already get. We leave the Rabur
Gap trade out of the consideration here nasmuch al
there scarcely probability of that inlet being open
ed up within the next decade.
We trust that Augusta will forthwith embark ir
this great and we'll grounded scheme. If she does
her prosperity is fixed fact. And when that sleF
shall be taken by her. we trust to see every man lr
Edgefied, who is 10 be benefited landing his cheer
full aid to the enterprise We trust 10 capitalists
who are in search of safe investments, grnsping the
golden opportunity And We trust 10 see the work SC
directly on to completion.
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THE sANDiTHEIR WEALTH
On our first page is an extract thus desi gnned, tc
which we invite the attention Of every reader. The
| late BARON RoTHscHILp was certainly one OF the
greatest and hest Of his day, or Of any day. Il
| is only great who can amass wealth as he has
dons-only good man who can use it with his beni
fcencc. Many there are, the world over, whose mi