The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-04-15
Condition and Prospects of the
Blue Ridge Railroad COMPANY.

.
General J. W. Harrison, President Of
the Blue Ridge Railroad Company, has :
just published in pamphlet form an ad- ].
mirabe letter which he addressed to Gov. :
Orr setting forth the condition and pros
poets Of that Company. The following
reply from Governor Orr contains sum- .
mary of the contents of the pamphlet, and
fully embrace the points made therein:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, S. c.,
COLUMBIA, 23d March, 1868. -.
Gen j. W. Harrison, President Of the :
Blue Ridge Railroad Company:
DEAR SIR: l have received and read
with very great pleasure your commune:
cation addressed to me on the subject of.
the Blue Ridge Railroad.
Your history of the enterprise is ex-S
ceedingly interesting, and recalls many Of
the incidents connected with the incep-
tion and progress Of this great work which :
have passed from the memory of the ole,
and which are now for the first time
brought to the attention Of the younger
members of society. The Importance of
a railroad connection with the Northwest
to all sections of South Carolina, is not
exaggerated by you, if her people intend
to develop her great resources and keep;
her up with the progress making by our
cnterprising sisters.
The estimates submitted by skilful and
reliable engineers show that the work
may be. completed at less cost than any
other trans-montanc connection heretofore
made, and that the successful completion
OF the road may be certainly effected in
two or three years, with but slight addi-
ton to the burthen of taxation on the
people every oneof whom is to- be COM.
mon recipient of the rich blessings it will
pour upon the State =,
Tile debt of the company is small now,
but small as it is, the company is unable.
to liauidate 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 Charles
ton afford to see the mortgage bonds sued !;
on tie judgement, and the road sold to.
raise less than $250,0o0 and the work
done, together. with the franchise, pass
into other hands, when their united inter-;
est in stock alone, exceeds 100000, and
especially when the;competion of the en-
tire work will take less than $500, 900?
The amount already expended BY the
State, city and private stockholders is2
over s3,250,000 Although we are sur.
rounded with political and financial trou-.
b.cs, is it possible that with the work half
completed, its abandonment can be fora
moment contemplated by the tateand
the city of Charleston, and the $3.50 600
of their money absolutely lost
Surely wiser counsels will prevail, and.
whatever may be the opinion OF individu-
ais as to the wisdom OF the policy of en-
barking in the scheme originally, 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 in
sure the early completion of the truly
great public work. -
j trust that your communication may
be laid before the public, and l doubt not.
that its facts and deductions will arouse
the attention OF. the people of the State.
and incite them to such action as will en-,
able you speedily II resume work, and,
ere long unite tho great West with the
Atlantic coast of our State with arms Of
iron. am, sir, very respectfully, your.
obedient servant,
JAMES L. ORR.
Governor S. c.. j.