The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-19

is clear, and the proximity Of tho sea-and OF the
West Indies NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. an open door
to the produce which will come hore for sale or
shipment" 1t would thus pass through different
parallels of latitude, and bring products to be ex
changed for those of different kind.
The Legislature OF South Carolina in 1885, ap-
pointed the lamented HAYNE, ADRIAN BLANDINa,
Governor NOBLE, and others, Commissioners ITO
cause examinations, surveys, and estimates to be
mado for q railroad betwoon Charleston and Gin
cinnati." They applied to the then Secretary OF
War and obtained the services OF distinguish
ed corps Of United States Typographical Engl-
neers. The engineers reported to tho convention
which met at Knox ville Tennessee, July 4, 1886,
composed Of $50 delegates from nino different
States, to wit-Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tonnes
see, Virginia, Alabama, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia. The committee to prepare
business say, in relation to this report that it is
"found to bo entitled to entire confidence, as we'll
on account of the able manner in which it has
been drawn up, as the skill and accuracy Of the en-
s:ineers who have assisted in making the surveys.
''Frcm this report it will appear that within tho
chartered limits of the company there is no prac-
tieable pass through the Allegheny Mountains,
but the valley of the French Broad River; and,
most fortunately for the undertaking, the general
direction of this river within tho mountain region
comedies with a straight line, drawn from
Charleston to the branching point in Kentucky;
and what recommends it moro strongly for adop-
tion is the fact that its headwaters rise in level
plain, which begins at the summit Of the Blue
Ridge and stretches to the northwest in an open
valley, without any descent perceptibe to tho eye
for 80 miles, to short distance below Ashville, in
North Carolina, and for the next GO miles it has
very regular descent to the point where it issues
from the mountains; which descent in the whole
distance averages only 13 feet to the mile, and in
only one mile is there descent of As feet. This
committee have no hesitation, therefore, in de-
claring that this must be adopted as part of the
line of our road and that it is perfectly practical
ble."
This report was unanimously agreed to by the
whole Convention, and ordered to be published to
the world in their name and behalf" At subae-
quent meeting, the stockholders came unani-
mously to the conclusion, after patient investga-
ton, that the passage of the Blue Ridge at the
Butt Mountain Gap ola the French Broad River,
"was decidedly superior to every other to be
found within the limits Of their charter, or indeed
in the whole extent Of the mountain ranges di-
viding the Atlantic from the Western States"
MoNEILL and WILLIAMS, distinguished topo-
graphical engineers, who ''were almost contnu-
ally occupied during an entire period of four
years" in surveying this mountain region, decided
in favor of its superiority over all others.
Governor HAYNE, in his address before the
Knoxville Convention, says: @Now we would ask
whether the mere existence Of such a passage
through the mountains, in the general direction of
line drawn from Charleston through the centre
OF South Carolina, and leading nearly in straight
course across an interesting and valuable portion
OF North Carolina, and through the very centre of
East Tennessee to Lexington, and from thence to
the Ohio River, does not mark out, as with the
unerring hand of nature this as the great channel
OF communication between tho South and the
West" There is difference in distance of 81
miles in favor of the ''Spartanburg extension" yia
French Broad and Cumberland Gap to Cincinnati
over the Blue Ridge route ola Knoxville.
The difference in cost is proportionatey greater,
and according to the report of DR.. NJ. CAnR1aER
it is shown that the cost of the Blue Ridge and
Knoxville and Kentucky Roads to be $3.50, OPT 81
more, or over double the cost of the Cincinnati,
Cumberland Gap and Charleston, and the Green
vile and French Broad Railroads, extending from
Cumberland Gap to spartanburg O. H.
The total amount of unfinished road is greater
on the former than the latter by forty-six miles.
With such superior advantages in favor of the
EteaeH t9fodo FoHte, Inc inquiry very naturally
occurs to every one, how the Blue Ridge road OBJ
tanned such prominence. SIN 1862 there was a
yexatious controversy between the South Carolina
Railroad Company and the City Council Of Angus
ia, Georgia, about the right Of the former to
establish depot within the corporate limits of
the latter" 1t was suggested to build railroad
from Anderson to Knoxville via Rabun Gap, to
avoid supposed Unjust determinations. An ensi.
neer was appointed, who made reconnaissance
ofsthe route. In his report he says '"The dis.
tance Of the new road projected will be about one
hundred and fifty miles-forty eight miles lying
in South Carolina, twenty-five miles in Georgia,
fifty miles in North Carolina, and twenty.seyen
miles in Tennessee These distances may not be
exactly apportioned; ; the total, however, can be
relied on. have no hesitation in estimating that
81 1,750, 900 will build this road in q permanent
form, with rail weighing not less than ffty-fve
pounds por yard; but it will be entirely safe to
assume s2,oOO,OOO."
With this estimate, the city Of Charleston
entered heartily into the enterprise, and subscri-
bed million Of dollars. Extraordinary infiu-
ences were brought to bear upon the Legisla-
ture. and the State was committed to the enter.
prise in the amount OF several millions.
When we consider the great exertions which
have been made to induce corporations and