The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1860-08-23

tor VIII inevitably result, not only--as
nave before shown--ln q CONNECTED line from,
lCharlestonefo Chattanooga, through tho Rs
bun' Gap, but skorter line than the route
over the Westerp and atlantic Railroad. /
have before me the lates: edition of Distur-
nelps Railway and Steamship Guide, pub-
ifshcd for March, 1864. 1t is doubtless as
reliable as any wesk ofthe kind can be, and
certainly sufficiently accurate for the pur-
rose IN hand, According TO this work, the
distances are as follows From Charleston
to- Gclumbia. It Is l2s miles From Co
inmbie to anderson, tits 127 miles In a
right line from anderson, by Clayton and
Cleveland. to Chattanooga, h Is I60 miles.
80 that from Chattanooga to Charlestop, 'by
the South Carolina sroute, IL s4l5 miles.
1 from Charleston to Augusta, II is 81 miles.
From Augusta TO Atlanta II is III miles
and iron, Atlanta TO Chattanooga it is 1855
miles, making from. Chattanooga to, Charles
ton $40 miles By. The Georgia line, showing.
difference In distenee of 81 miles in favor
of the Charleston route by way of Clayton
and Cleveland. -.
This comparison Il based upon the sun
position that tho Sorth Carolina route viii
run from Charleston by Columhia, Anderson.
Rabun Gap, and Cleveland, to Chattanooga.
IL Will however, be shortened by the pro.
posed road from Aiken 10 Anderson, Tins
70 The Western and Atlantic Railroad. ] Go
feei that there is nothing to warrant us thcs
to pnt an jeofaYdy this great road, built ut
suclan immenec cost hy the common trca-
snry oftiiopeople. As the guardians ofshe
peoples welfare. we are hound to protect
this valuable State property from destruc.
tieR- II the South Carolina line were equal
to- or even a little longer than, the Georgia
line, we should be compelled to reduce ihe
Rates of freightto pniut which would leave
but n small margin for net profits. How
then, can we bear tire competition Of q
shorter line? Shall we invite H. by onrle-
gis'ation, when we have it in our power to
prevent 10 forepcr2 ... ...r
FFnfn thedirection which public opinion
II Stsking in Georgia, in reference 10 the
4 Western and Atlantic Railroad, it is prohs-
.b,e that at no distant day our successors will
soife.. = for sale. Six millions of dollars is
FnoS the lowest sum for which any man pro-
poees 10 sell e.; in n few years it will he
worth, and will bring. $4,000 900, If you
will not fetter it with embarrassing legis,a-
tion, or build up a great rival for the hene-
fit of other States. But what will Il COM
msa,d IN lngrket ifyop allow n shortsr line
70, Charleston by the way Of Cleveland and
Rabun Capt
7 -. If the construction Of the Hiwassee
Road should not defeat all our contemplated
roadA IN Northeastern Georgia, it wifi GER
stsiuly give wrong direction to the devel-
opSneutof The resources of ihnt section In
my Judgment, II must inevitably do the one
or the other. You have chartered road
from Athens 70 Clayton, but where would
be the inducement,to Co complete the North
eastern Railroad lts.stock would he value
lees IL would command no freight from
East Tennessee and Nor, h Carolina it would
be diverted 10 Charleston. You have char
tered railroad from the conpcr mines, to
Marietta, or some point between Marietta
and Calhoun. But what would be the in
|duecment to build the Ellijsy Rosdi The
sene remark Is applicable 10 the road which
you have chartered from Clarksyille through
the Hightower Gap. to the copper, mines,
and Indeed every road contemplated in that
whole division Of the State. "-
g But suppose it should not have thi. ef-
feet upon those enterprises; suppose that
some Of them should lie completed, and that,
through tbeir instrumentality, Northeastern
Georgia should be developed-what then
might we eSpcctf Iusvf.abIy that region
of the State, instead OF being tributary 70
Georgia, would transport the great bulk of.
its predictions ty the South Carolina route.
The interest and welfare of North. eastern
Georgis does not require legislation which
win lead to such results II may be, to cay
the ieast, as well protected by a policy in
harmony With the systcin aud design Of our
scheme OF internal improvements.
: 8. The construction of the proposed FIJI.
wassee Road would inilicL serious detriment,
not only upon the immense amount Of capi-
tai invested In the Western and Atlantic
Railroad. but also upon our great lines that
either directly or indirectly connect with
ik The Stefe Road has cost about $6,00O.-
II Ia N - lfna a1as. al H.
Raiirond, which has cost q. 600 600; to the
waynesboro Road. which hns cost abont
81, l00,0 600; 20 the Macon aud Western Road,
which has cost about $f.1o0,o0o; and to the
Central Road, which has cost abont s., ,OOO,-
900; go that we have invested in these
works, IN round pumbers, gle. zoo, 600. Our
people have laid down their money in good
faith for the construction Of these roads
They hayesopernted most benefieislly upon
the wealth apd prosperity Of the Stale. and
plaeed her in advance Of nll her sister Som
thern ststes: Now, II the contemplated lii
tsmassee Road womb tend still to advance the
stinterests Of Georgia, it would be soune
compensation FOR the injury il would do to
these great enterprises, and would furnish
como Justification for thersanction Of this
charter But inetead Of this, ii would di-
vei$ 10 tlle South Caroliaa route much the
| larger portion Of the freights on which these
heavy investments are. dependent, and la
naentabiy depreciate their value. ! have TOO
much respect for the Intelligence Of the Gen
| eral Assembly TO advance an argument TO
shew tisatnny act of legislation Is n,wise
whiefi will.ppt. IN jeopardy si6.200,00o Of
The espital OF tho people, IL i. eIHaiiy mn
Enecessaty 70 advance any proof tIat what
lever would eripple she efficiency Of ihs roads
EcoBstnictcd. .cn tho idea Of legislative con-
siefsnov and rood faith would he N great