Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-30
MISCELLANY.
Blue Ridge or Rabun Can Railrond.


Recently we kayc two or three times re-
ferrcd to tli' a;isfsctory progress which is
being made in the construction of this road
and we rccur to the subject again for the
purpose of melting the managers of the
line ofrailway from Knoxville to the Yir-
ginia markets, to greater vigilance ON the
one hand, and those who are directinethe
construction of this road to greater indus
try, if possible, in the prosecution oil their
work, on the other.
AS we have heretofore said. the proigc
tors and friends of the Blue Ridge Rosll
long since saw thatthc completion ~ X roil-
iSsi FsS ne 40 Norfolk, Petersburg and ;Siich-
'S,ss., M $50 Knoxville, A3pldr, Nth Ekillful
Iii Scme9ty, diverteu tl,o pfods.cts of the
.s.ss,' 10y Ehe Tennessee from Charleston,
as,o;, ~, market or as port for exporta.
Sl", az WI only this, but that either
'cSSic or nliJhAsc Virginia cities might and
woaia become ss en importing cities, to large
extc lS hlc co&ptry thus made tributary
to tlEHj5,o 40 mectS this oxigcncy the pro-
sIfon5 ., o'o was reys, yed, mainly through
sc,io,A : OF Heny @,Iourdin, Esq, one of
-. tE arpfis'atng merchants of the city
OF Charleston. He know full well that a
direct railway from Charleston to Knox
vile, and hence to Cincinnati, would bring
these points nearer to tidewater at Char
lesion than they could be brought to any
other Atlantic cities. The advantages
which would thereby result to Charleston
and South Gaaoina, not only politically
but commercially, he presented repeatedly
to their attention. The result was not only
u liberal subscription on the part of the cor
poration of Charleston snA the inhabitants
of the city, individually, but also oflibersl
subscriptions and loans by the State
After the enterprise had been fairly set
on foot, Mr.. Gourdin resigned the Prcsi-
dency, and he was succeeded by Hon. Ed
ward Frost, a gentleman distinguished as a
lawyer, eminent in integrity, and of fperse-
yering and untiring energy, Judge, Frost
has since devoted his whole time aud at,
tention to the affairs ofthc Company. and
it may be said to his credit, that the work
upon the road has not slackencd i'm the
slightest degree, Notwithstanding the re.
cent pressure in the commercial world, un
der whichso many enterprises oflnuch less
magnitude have been suspended, if not
wholly abandoned.
While the peoplco of East Tenaessee may
think the better of their country because
of the large expenditures of money made
by adjoining States to provide channels OF
commercial and social intercourse with
them, they must not suppose that these
States of Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina
and South tJaroiinaj have psojccted, and in
two instances completed, the lines of com
jnunication from their scaboard with us,
without the. expectation of profit or advan-
tagc to themselves. rhey areall interest
c9, otcnIy IN building up and maintaiping
thriving and populous marts npon fheir
coasts, respectively (throngh and bv means
Of which they will hayo read sale fer tIieir
tobacco, turpentinc, rice and COTTON. and at
the same time obtain those Supplies, from
abroad which oa,l cnlyibe procured readily
at such points,, but the plantcrs OF these
States, doyoting theirwhole time and labor
tothe culture of single product, must look
10 this valley for certain and cheap food
Soft is that while these liucs ofgailway arc
ofmuch benefit ous, they are Of still great
er benefit TO the scaboard Statess
Georgia, with expenditunJo of s GOO, 8
900, has constructed the Western and Al
Rsptie Ra;lroad, by means whereof not only
has the growth and trade of SavaanaiI, bnt
of interior towne IN that State, keen greatly
promoted. And the only communication
which gharfestel th0s with The West is
through this chahileI, thus opened by.tbat
State. Virginia, witlan expenditure Of
$4,000 ,00R, has now completed line Of
communication with the Weat, and is stiil
reashing out further west through the Cum
horlattd f14s Nortf Harof;oa hoe tno.,