The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-09-05
OUR RAILROAD SYSTEM.

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OUR RAILROAD SYSTEM.
An article from a correspondent, which
appeared lately in this journal, recommend
ing the connection Of the Charleston and Sa-
vannah Railroad at Station No. s with the
Georgia Central Road, thereby placing this
city in close connection with Macon, Colum-
bus, and all points beyond, is attracting some
attention in Georgia. The great value Of
this enterprise cannot be questioned, and if
charter can be had from the State Of Georgia
of liberal character, and the Georgia Cen
tral Railroad be willing to place the Charles
ton Road on system of equality with their
own road in their freight and passenger
charges, the enterprise should be pushed
through without q moments delay. This
line would give us the nearest route to Ma
con, Columbus, Montgomery and Tuscumbia.
At this last mentioned place it strikes the
tennessee River OF point where it is at all
times navigable, which fact renders con.
neotion at Tuscumbia greatly more advan-
tageous than one at Nashville, the Cumber.
land River below Nashville being very
uncertain At Tuscumbia steamboats, ply to
all points in the treat West, and were this
route managed with skill and business tact,
it would soon attract all the freight from the
Great West which now comes here Uio Balti-
more and other points by sea. In addition,
it gives Charleston the best possible route
through the great cotton belt of Georgia, and
penetrates part Of Alabama which is full
of RESOURCES We commend this enterprise
to our business men, and annex the comments
Of the Columbus Enquireron the subject:
This iy proposi.ioli Of interest not merely to
Charleston, butto Columbus and other parts OF
Georgia. and it's adoption ought greatly to inter-
eat Charleston in other works IN which Columbus
is also interested. II eoM bring Charleston at
most as near 10 as as Saoannah, and ut the same
time will notin the least interfere with our COM
muncation to Savannah. Thus: From Charles
ton to Consawhatchie 81 miles, Coosawhatchie to
Millpn 1874; Mlllen to Savannah 79-showlng
difference in distance OF only Is mllts in favor OF
Savannah. This would give our merchants and
shipperS OF cotton u ChO1ce or nlafReIs uetWeeA
Charleston and savannah, and we might reasona.
by expe,t tuat the competition between those
two cities for the trade OF this section would
keep fre,ghts at moderate rates.
Should this change be made, it would lmmo--
dately interest Charleston in our proposed road
from Opehka tn Tuscumbia, because the compile
tion OF both roads wonld give Charleston shorter
and better communication with the markets OF
the Great West than she now has. 1t would
bring Charleston nearer to Tuscumbia than she
now il to Nashville by rail, and the advantages
of Tuscumbia over Nashville as point from which
to receive Western products are too manifest to
need particular mention here. We compare the
distances:
PRESENT ROUTE
harlGston to Augusta. 15l lhlles
Augusta to AflnnsA. ......llL
Atlanta to Chattanooga l3f ~
Chattauooga to Nashville. ..................... III -
- Total .....oto
PROPOSED ROUTE.
Charleston to Millen n....................0 o. miles
Mtjen ta Macon. ........ll
Macon O Co lmht8.
Columbus to Opel1Ra. 2o
Opehka o TuBcumola.
@IOtS .ot' 49,
This consideration ought to have $ influence
in determining the question OF the change Of
ronte from Savannah to Millen; and Charleston
ought to have representatives at the Macon Rail.
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