The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-07
Condition and Prospects of the B1ue
- = Ridge RaiIrohd Company.

of the Blue Ridge Railroad Company,
has Just published in pamphlet form
(for a copy Of which he will accept
our thanks) an admirable letter which
he addressed to Governor Orr, set
ting forth the condition and pros
poets of that company. The follow
ing reply from Governor Orr contains
O summary of the contents of the
pamphlet, and fully endorses the
points made therein:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, s. c.,
COLUMBIA, 23d March, 1868.
General J. ". Harrison, President
Blue Ridge Railroad Company.
DEAR SIR: I have received and read
with very great pleasure, your COM
munication addressed to me, on the
subject of the Blue Ridge Railroad.
Your history of the enterprise is
exceedingly interesting, and recalls
many of the incidents connected with
the inception and progress of this
great work, which have passed from
the memory of the old, and which
are now for the first time brought to
the attention of the younger mem
bers Of society. The Importance of
q railroad connection with the North
west to all sections of South Caro-
lima, is not exaggerated by you, if her
people intend to develop her great
resources and keep her up with the
progress making by our enterprising
sisters.
The estimates submitted by skillful
and reliable engineers show that the
work may be completed at less cost
than any other trans-montane con-
nection heretofore made, and that
the successful completion of the road
may be certainly effected in two or
three years, with but slight addition
to the burthcn of taxation on the
people; every one of whom is to be n
common recipient of the rich bless
ings it will pour in upon the State.
The debt of the company is small
now, bat small as it is, the company
is unable to liquidate it, and the
bond-holders will soon exhaust their
patience, and bring the road to sale
under the sheriff's hammer, unless
steps are taken promptly to push
forward the work to completion.
Can the State and the city of Char
lesion afford to see the mortgage
bonds sued on to Judgment, and the
road sold to raise less than $3.50, 600;
and the work done, together with the
franchise, pass into other hands,
when their united interest in stock
alone, exceeds $4,000, 900, and espe-
cially when the completion, of the
entire work will take less than
S3,500,000? The amount already
expended by the State, city and pri-
vote stockholders is over So, 25O, 900.
Although we are surrounded with
political and financial troubles, is it
possible that with the work half
completed, its abandonment can be
for n moment contemplated by the
State and the city of Charleston, and
the So, ,250,O00 of their money abso.
lutely lost?
Surely wiser counse!s will prevail,
and whatever may be the opinion of
individuals rs to the wisdom or rpolicy
of embarking in tho scheme original
ly, all must concur that the State is
now too deeply involved to retreat
from the undertaking. But one
course is left, to save the present
large investment, and that is to give
the company such aid and facilities
as will insure tho early completion
of this truly great pu blic work.
L trust that YDur communication
may be laid before the public, and 1
doubt not that its facts and deduc-
tions will arouse tho attention of the
people Of the State, and incite them
to such action as will enable you
speedily to resume work, and ere
long unite the great West with the
Atlantic coast of our State with arms
of iron. I am, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,