Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-01-21
sImKINs, DURIsoE & CO., Proprietors.

two other individuals, had raised the sum of ff-
ty-two thousand dollars, when preliminary con-
tracts were entered into to build road one
hundred and ninety-fve miles long, through Il
mountain country the whole way, which is to
have thirteen tunnels and thirty. two bridges,
VARYING from one to six hundred feet long, and
in some instances to be ninety feet high. They
employ inexperienced engineers to perform work
which requires all The science the present age
can bring upon it, and then to cap the climax,
they enter into contract with irresponsible men
to build railroads through mountainous coun-
tries, which had not been explored in order 10
ascertain The nature of the work. They bargain
with these contractors to import iron without
stipulating the price in abort, put themselves
in the hands Of men whose intentions were 10
swnde them. Is it not strange that our Legis-
lature could be led so far estray under such cir.
cumstances, as they were in 1852, when the
State proffered its aid and support, and offered
a loan of one million two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, (l,250,000D and at the same
time refused to loan the Greenville Railroad one
hundred thousand dollars.
Then in 1854, when the Blue Ridge Railroad
affairs were in such utter confusion, under in
competent managers as Mr.. Gwynn's report will
show, and what was worse, in the hands OF
swindling contractors, TO see our Legislature
commit the State for aid to the amount Of S2,.
100000 10 be expended on work q large por-
ton of it out of the State, and that, too, in what
is equal to ready money, and then offer such pitt
full sums to useful internal improvements as we
have going on in our State, TO be paid in depre.
ciated stocks when I witnessed all this think
had right to draw The conclusion that our
aLegislalure was little wild, and wandering
from their path of duty to the State.
But it is moi my object to impugne the mo-
,ives of the projectors of the Blue Ridge Rail.
road, nor to cast reflections on the past acts of
this Legislature; but to show that as set forth
before this body, the Blue Ridge scheme is in.
complete, and calculated 10 mis!ead the State,
and put her in position which will require the
Legislature to do more than the people Of the
State ever expected to do.
In the name OF common sense, where is the
capital TO come from if The State does not as
sumo the whole work, and undertake to supply
the means Independent of the State, the only
resources can find in the Presidents report
which regard to be reliable, are as follows:
City of Charleston subscription -. 81 ,049,o0o
Private subscription in Charleston $4,000
In Pendleton ................... $4,000
In State Of Georgia .............. $500
North Carolina. Observation-Disclosures. 30:4UU
Tennessee NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $50 600
To begin a work which, according to Mr..
Gwynn's figures, will cost S8,69l GIT; and to
which would add $5O0000 for additional ma
chinery and according to my estimates for addi-
,ional work which will be necessary before the
work can be useful to the State. $4,500,000
more for road from Anderson to Charleston
giving US the round sum of Sl3,69l,677.
In the name of common sense, gentlemen, let
me ask you where is all this immense sum to
come from? Then again let me ask where this
great trade is TO find channel of communica-
lion with Charleston if The work is 10 stop at
Anderson!
lis advocates have eloqnently set forth the
immense commerce which is to be set in motion; !;
the State is to be flooded with cheap western
products. The seas are 10 be whitened with the
commerce that it is TO give 10 Charleston. The
wilderness swamps in the vicinity Of Branch
willie and down 10 Charleston, that have slept
under the sound of the engines whistle for
twenty years, are 10 be walked up. The body
polite is 10 be cxhilerateu, and South Carolina
is 10 wipe off The reproach Of Rip Van Winkie
slOth by Il hearty cooperation in this work.
Lei US not deceive ourselves, but in sober
earnest, set TO work as men of business and men
of capital would do for themselves, were they
engaged in such an undertaking. The first in.
quiry after surveying the ground and making
iio a. unifo nj In nj of ho
would be, how is tie trade which will be re-
qurcd to pay expenses on this work to get away
from Anderson? A road which has cost nine
millions will require very large business TO
even pay its expenses and make good the wear
and tear Of road and machinery, 10 say nothing
about interest on capital.
ask the question again, how is that vast
amount of Western produce TO get away from
Anderson!
Will the GreenviIle Railroad be able to do it
1t is absurd to talk about it. But We will pass
on little further and suppose the trade TO have
reached the South Carolina Railroad at Colum-
bia, or any other point you choose 10 name.
Can that Company add to its present enormous
business the trade which will be necessary to
support 100000 road, drain the vast country
which it is 10 penetrate, when it gets beyond
the Cumberland mountains, and furnish trade
which is to make Charleston the queen city Of
the South?
Admit that the South Carolina Railroad Com.
pany will set about ut once to prepare for such
a trade, by building double track Will it do
The business on such liberal terms rs to enable
the Blue Ridge Railroad Company 10 pay cx-
penses Ii we draw our conclusions from the
experience of the past, we will be bound 10 come
to The conclusion that the last proposition is MS
absurd Us the first.
ANY man who looks ut all into The subject is
bound to come 10 the conclusion that the Blue
Ridge Railroad Company will stand in the same
re!ulon to The South Carolina Railroad Compa.
ny that the people Of The Stale now do. 1t is
said their interest, if not Identical, will be mu-
tua. So it was said with regard to the Green
vile and Charlotte Railroads.. But what are
the facts of the case? That great Company
which monopoliscs every thing has dictated its
own terms to railroads and individuals, and will
continue to do so, in reference to the Blue
Ridge Railroad. If the South Carolina Rail-
road Company do not kill the goose for the
golden egg, she will at least put it on short
allownnce.
Look at the past history of that enterprise ;
look al the present state of things: The Coum-
bin people building steamboats,, and applying to
you to open navigation that they may haye a
froc outlet for GreenYills and Charlotte Rail-
road cotton. The people Of Newbery, hauling