The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-18

Tho seyeral Committees Of the City Council Of
Charleston, tho Blue Ridge Railroad Company, OF
The Charleston Chamber of Commerce, and
the Board of Trade of this city, the subject OF
the Blue Ridge Railroad, and in reference to tho
railroad connection with Cincinnati and Louisville
uta Knoxville On tomorrow we will publish very
able paper on the subject of the Charleston and
Cincinnati Railroad uia French Broad Both arc
matters Of great concern to our people, and we
are sure will be Of interest.
REPORT.
To the Honorable The Mayor and Aldermen Of The
City of Charleston the Board Of Directors of he
Blue Ridge Railroad Company, the Chamber of
Commerce Of Charleston, and The Board Of Trade
of Charleston.
The several committees appointed to proceed to
Cincinnati and to other western cities, to repre-
sent tho condition, and advance the interests OF
the Blue Ridge Railroad, having agreed to unite
in rendering account OF their mission ask
leave to submit the following
REPORT.
The several committees, though consulting to-
gether, had not adopted any settled views, before
their departure from Charleston. They did not
consider themselves authorized to make any
specific proposals, nor were they sufficiently in
formed of the views entertained in the west, or OF
the works in progress there, to determine the
character of such as they should make, had they
been clothed with that power.
There had been some agitation in Cincinnati in
relation to tho connection by railroad with the
South Atlantic States, and subscriptions had been
made in aid OF the proposed undertaking; but no
specific scheme had been announced
From Louisville, Ky, nothing had been heard
publicly, though it was not unknown that she was
urging on with vigor the construction of a branch
Of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, in
the direction of Danvillc.
In New York, somo members of the committee
met Mr.: Q. NJ: McGehee, the enterprsing .Plresi-
From him they learned that this work was actu-
ally under construction, aud that tnree-fourths of
the capital necessary for its completion had al
ready been secured.
Arguing from these premises, they inferred
that the people of Cincinnati and of Louisville
would unite their respective roads at Danville,
ninety miles from the Tennessee line), would
combine their resources for the construction of
common trunk to the Tennessee line, where they
you'd be met by the Knoxville and Kentucky
On their arrival in Cincinnati, however, they
learned that considerations of weight, having re-
two cities, and others arising out Of the agricul-
turai and mineral resources OF the country to be
penetrated by the respective roads, had led to the
branch road from Louisville, Ky. (oalled the
Lebsnon branoh), starting from the main trunk
ut point about thirty miles below Louisville, had
six miles south OF it, and not through it, as had
been expected), and had reached Grab Orchard,
IN Lincoln County, distant eighty miles from the
junction. The road is actually in operation to
that point. Cincinnati, on the other hand, had
pushed forward the Oovington and Lexington
foai, as far as Nicholasville, and within twenty
iour miles IN straight line of Danve, or within
thirty miles Of the Lebanon Branch Road, which
Danvilie ''"'i %
The Louisville Road will be carried forward
without interruption to London, in Carol County,
southeast Of Grab Orchard and distant from it
about thirty-three miles.
The Cincinnati people, on the contrary coptem-
plated the projection of their road after reaching
Dsnyile, on line nearly due south, to intersect
Ten Ths fha iSi the at
views entertained by the two cities.
=, Your committee are persuaded, however, that
The Cincinnati scheme will not be carried out.
They have the best authority for believing that
there is no practicable pass for railroad through
the mountains west Of Wheeler's Gap. This gap
nearly parallel with the Louisville Road and to pass
alonIgslde ,Io,,I Of it. through the gap This alone
to this, the Louisville Road will, probably, be at
London, before they reach the point of intersec-
tion with it, near Danyille.
=, At London, Louisville will be practically within
thirty-seven miles Of the complete railroad con-
nection with Knoxville, for London is but thirty
seven miles from the Tennessee line. By adopt
ing the Louisville road, therefore, as common
to Knoxville as Louisville, and avoid besides the
expense Of constructing one hundred and twenty
miles Of road through amountainous and difficult
country.
The earnest determination Of the Louisville
people to accomplish the construction Of the road
TO Knoxville, is best exhibited in the resolutions
adopted by their Board of Trade since the de-
psrture Of your committee from their city. A
copy is annexed to this report and is respectfully
referred to-
In Knoxville an equal spirit prevails. The
length OF this road tfrom Knoxville to the Ken
tucky line) is sxty-four miles, the cost is esti-
mated at 81, 75O 000 and 81 250000 OF the capital
is already provided. Their first aim will be to
reach the coal deposits on Coal Greek, in Camp
bell County, distance Of about thirty four miles
This vas, doubtless the chief incentive to the un-
dertaking; but til President of the Company, Mr..
McGehee, a most practicable and reliable man,
pledged himself ut the meetings held in Cinciu-
natl and Louisville to accomplish his part of the
work, and to meet the Louisville Road at the State
line.
What will then remain to be done to effect the
ng-sought connection between the Northwest
and the South Atlantic, will be simply the compile.
tion OF the remaining one hundred and sixty four
miles Of the Blue Ridge Railroad. This will then
become a matter of absolute necessity. To leave
1t in it's present unfinished condition, when the
great and expensive works, now in progress shall
have been completed, will be to bridge the stream
and stop short OF the shore; to win the race, and
neglect to take the prize.
.,- The chief object in coming to Knoxville would
be to reach the South Atlantic seaports; the pl O.
ference given to Knoxville, in the effort to accom-
pliBh this purpose, must have been determined BY
the superiority Of the advantages offered by the
Blue Ridge Railroad for surmounting tho inter
mitteo are more persuaded than ever, has beer
wisely made.
The Blue Ridge Railroad is one hundred apt
ninety eight miles in length; the grade eastward
is fortyfye feet; westward, sixty feet. Thirty
four miles have been built substantially and com