Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-08-27
l. NJ, st. John, Tunnel Hill, S. c.
WAccAMAw Beach, llth August. Is

WACcAMAw BEAcu, lth August. 1859.
Gentlemen 1t would afford mo much
pleasure to unite with the citizens of Pick
ems District on the 10Th inst in exchanging
congratulations upon the substantial pr0s.
ress which has hitherto been made by the
managers of the Blue. Ridge Railroad l
find myself however, prccluded from such an
indulgence.
| offer you my own hearty congratulations
and encouragement for whc they arc worth
Living on the shore of the great Atlantic it
will AFFORD me sincere qualification to know
that the well-proportioncd Tunnel has been
completed and that the company is pressing
the work forward into Tennessee. [ deem
the completion nf the Road due to the Inde-
pendence as well as the interest of this com
monwcalth, rs may be inferred from what has
been said by inc in public capacity.
] own no stock in this or any other Road,
except few shares in the South Carolina
Railroad, about to he transferred to another
enterprise nearer home. Here it is due
that | should say that this is owing to no
distrust of the utility and benefit of railway
enterprises, hut to tho fact that | have mn
funds 10 invest. All that am worth lios in
South Carolina, and is invested in lands and
negroes--tlis annual income from all which
is pledged before it is roalined: and / haa no
hand dinprojccting theBluc r. Railway. unloss
indeed the suggestion made in Nashville, in
1900, may have given some direction to tho
entcrprising capitalists of the day 1t oc-
CURED thus, and / mention 1T to show i'm
What light of importance to the State have
ever regarded the completion of this Road
since its first commencement:
1t happened that l was present at the
meeting in Memphis, when the Memphis &
(Charloston) Chattanooga Railroad Company
GNtn ,nl ~
pointed thereby to apply for Il Charter to the
Legislatures of Tennessee, Mississippi and
Alabama. vcnturcd to sagges. that those
Committees be authorized to enlist the infiu-
ence of those States with the State Of Georgia,
to obtain license for the South Carolina
Railroad to cross freely the Savannah River,
and unite with the Georgia Railroad Mt Au-
Snsta; else they could not he sure of reach
ing CA'rleston without impediment In
the year succeeding. namely. in June, 1856.
learning while at Nashville, that the I.egis-
iasure of Georgia had shown no favor to tho
application on this bohalf, ] expressed my
opinion of the policy which should govern
the communication by Railway of Tennessee,
with Charleston, in these words, "Turn the
Savannah River" j. G., 60 around tho main
stream.
Certainly suclr design seems to mo to
have influenced IN part. tho projection of tho
Road through the Rabun Gap, though Its
first Western terminus DO ncarer.to Knox
vile than to Chattanooga In any event,
let all who can. give it a lift forward. AS
withoutit, the Inhabitants Of Carolina arc at
present dependent on the interests of the
Georgia Railroad for q passage to the West.
All persons who arc familiar with the history
Of the South Carolina Railroad, will romem.
bcr what distractions it used to meet Mt tho
Savannah River ncar Augusta, and how
heavily the Company has been taxed for the
privilege of it's own viaduct--a privilege
NSlich,they never succeeded in Negotiating,
believe. until tho ground was broken under
your Charter. 'st.v
BE assured, gentlemen. of my earnest de-
sire to see your great work carried on to sue
ccssful completion. AT the soin9 tinio ac-
cept my Acknowledgements Of your eivility,
togother With nay best wishes for the agFeea-
BILE success Of the occasion which prompta
yop. I am, gentlcmen, with great respect,
YOur pbedient servant.
= R.'F. w. ALisroN.
To Messrs, VI st. John, WIN. S Grisham,
VIM, Ilunter, y G Pulliam, FN Garyin,
Committee,