Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-12-18
State RaiIroads,


Augusta Railroad will soon bo puzzled through to
completion.
The papers inform US that an energetic North
ern man, living at present if We mistake not, in
Beaufort, has been elected President of this road,
and that two thousand laborsrs have already been,
or will very soon be, put to work on the lie.
And in addition to this ne learn from reliable
private sources that certain capitalists in New
York (among others Commodore Vanderbilt,
whose enormous wealth and great experience and
energy in Railroad matters are proverbiaI have
taken this roat IN hand, and intend to have it in
running order in ono year from this date.
The road, as is known, has already been graded
well nigh from beginning to end. During the
greater part Of the war, We believe, this work Of
grading was in progress. We have stood often
upon its bed at Pocotaligo, by which place it
passes directly, and In Imagination followed its
course as it stretches away, Northward, through
the pine barrens6f Barnwell District, and, South
ward, through the once fair and inoxhaustibe
rice fields of Beaufort to the ocean, connecting
Augusta, and thereby tho Northwest and South
lin fact sapp'ng ut that city the great net work
of railroads Of tho United states) with Port Royal
Hnrbor.
Port Royal, it is we'll known, has, among other
local advantages, one of the finest harbora in the
world; indeed it is aaid that the fleets OF the
whole world might safely ride in its spacious bay
And It is equally we'll known that the immediate
country, stretching from Charleston to Savannah,
which would bo trbutaryto Port Royal, ia the
most fertile, and ine1haustible in resources, of
sary portion Of our State, or, perhaps, of the
United States.
We undertake to soy, judging from the capaci-
ty of the harbor, which is not equaled by any
other on the Southern Atlantic coast, and from
the o. RENE fertility and productive capacity of
this coast country, as also from other apparent
causes too numerous to mention here, that Port
Royal will soon bo thriving city, and that the
6shorman's hut by the wild sea wave, will soon
be transferred into the stately warehouse.
Above all it gladdens our heart to think that
that portion of our State which has suffered so
much, and whose sons and daughters have heroi-
cally braved, endured and lost 30 much, will be
so materially benefited by this crest measure Of
internal improvement
Indeed we write with unaccustomed spirit when
we turn from the offensive cess-pool Of politics to
tho contemplation of this new line of railroad
shortly to ) in running ord i In our State, and
so near our immediate District.
And now, too, that tho legal disabilities are re-
moved, the Columbia & Hamburg Railroad is
being pushed on to completion, and will, We are
informed by officials Of that road, be in running
order, by May or juno next, from fifteen to tuen
ty miles in each Direction beginning at Its termini.
The lands Common piny woods lands) six to ten
miles from this toen, directly along and contigu-
ous to this road, are already selling ct from 9lO
to SIS per acre; 1herSss the lands, in other parts
of the District, better In every other respect save
in the advantage of lying nssr railrosd, will
not command at present third Of that prico.
And NO read further that Col. Harrison, of An
derson, ono ofsths ablsss end most proc ticslly
energetic mon of ou, up.country, has been elected
President of tho Blue Ridge Railroad. The
-ss,ooO,OOO already invested in Chs magnificent
enterprise, cannot it seems to us, in the very ma
ture of things, remain as lost; and We do not
venture whom no say that measured are already
en- train whereby this great Artery will yet pull
safe 9th life and vigor and that too before very
many years. And whichever way this road may
run, our District will be sapped by it.
Who shall say than that property must not ap-
preciate in old Bdgeaelda Tho South Carolina
Road already enrichss it. The Colunbia and
Groenville Road runs through its NorthOrn por-
lion. Tho Columbia & Hamburg Road almost
divides it. Tho Port Royal Road will only have
to be extended few miles, over level piney-
woods country, to nterssct this last named road,
thus afording us immediate and direct communi-
cation With Port Royal; while the Blue Ridge
road will bind US up in tho magnificent destiny Of
the great West.
We think We may say, after all this, to our fe-
low citizens: Bo Of good cheer. Do not emigrate
hold on to your lands, and adhere bravely and
hopefully TO tho now broken fortunes of your
State. The present is the time to show your
fortitude and your patriotism. We honestly be-
lieve that prosperity will crown those who now
possess and practice these annobling virtues.