Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-05-27

adopted: ~ j.,
Resolued, That we, the membsrs Of, The NE
Willing Democratic Club, feel ourselves in duty
bound to support tho nomination fors District
officers made by the Central Democratic Club at
EdgcGeld G. IL. f ,sa' q
b. BoUKNIGHTSssc'ry. ":
For the Advertiser.
Mr.. EDIroR.-It was with pleasure I noticed
your recent editorial advocating the construction
of Brarch Road to connect Edgefeld C. II.
with the " outer world by means of the Colum-
bia and Hamburg Railroad. Instead however of
limiting the design TO the purpose mentioned in
your article, it would rebound far moro to the
interests, not. only OF the District but the
/ State generally, to make it u. part of q much
larger scheme; one which would ina few years
reduce the price of bacon and corn to the cotton
planter and mechanic, which would attract immi-
grants from abroad, and which would place the
District on tho great highway and thoroughfars
of the produce from the tceming plains of the
West to the Atlantic Coast Cincinnati and
Louisville are now pushing their Roads towards
Knoxville, Tenn, and efforts are being made to
revive tic Blue Ridge Road, on which tho State
| has aireaLy lavished her millions. Sooner or la-
ter this Road must be built to afford an outlet for
the Western products, even if the capital needed
has to be provided by the Western merchants,
Unless proper measures are adopted by tho
people of this section, the immense advantages
which will be afforded by those Roads, will be
lost, In fact, steps are now. being taken by o
powerful combination to open line of communi-
cation from Port Royal to tho West by another
Route. Application has already been made to
Congress to subsidizo tho Port Royal Railroad
Company, directed by Northern men, and strong
hopes aro expressed of success. And project il
on foot, to construct q Road from the termination
of the Port Royal Road at Augusta, Ca, to the
Blue Ridge Road, thus avoiding this section alto
gether.
The advantages of the Route via Aiken aud
Ninety-Six on the Greenville Road are so superior
to that by the Savannah River Valley, that
should we allow the other Road to be constructed
first, it will be our own fault. The interests of
the City of Charlestor--of the South Carolina
Road and of the Greerlyille Railroad, are mani
testify in favor of the Aiken and Ninety Six route
for should connexion be mado at Augusta, q
largo portion of the traffic would find its way to
the Ocean via Savannah, to the detriment Of our
own Roads and City,-in.the prosperity of which
every citizen of South Carolina is interested.
| At the head of the competing enterprize are
shrewd men, with capital and influence at their
command; md Augusta, approaching the i'm
mense value of such. o trade passing through her
corporate limits, will strain every nerve to force
1t that way. However could We got the start,
manifesting proper spirit and determination to
construct the Aiken and Ninety-six Road, then
the Port Royal Company might be induced to
form their connsxion with the West by this Route,
and thus the influence of that company, might
be brought to assist in our project.
In this view Immediate and energetic action is
imperatively demanded. Itis worse than folly
to wait for better times, when by waiting, We
may loose the opportunity of enlisting the assis-
tance of the parties interested in building the
Port Royal Road. The depressed condition of
the country is one Of the strongest arguments in
favor of action, for success in this enterprize
would increase the value of our lands and their
products it would create business whore now
employment is needed,-it would attract immi-
grafton, and thus assist in reviving our former
prosperity. Should the people of Edgefeld take
hold of the matter in earliest, assistance might be
expected from some if not all Of the three Rail-
road Companies referred to, as we'll US from the
State and City of Charleston. For such short
Road-less-th 50 miles long-over country
snailya sradsil,- -and-TIthoas a-.inslo Stream to
cross, the outlay would be comparatively light.
Within five miles of the line of road are over
300, 900 acres of land, which at an average in
creased value of So per acre would amount to
$500 ,oOO,-more that half the probable cost Of
scribe one.third the quantity of land owned by
them near the line, and make money by the op-
GRAFTON, even if they never received one cont Of
dividends, for the increased value of the balance
would moro than compensate them for the portion
subscribed.
In Alabama the value Of property in four
counties having Railroads increased 70 per cent
from 1853 to 1859, whilst in four counties, without
Roads, the increase was only 10 per cent.
At present land when sold docs not bring one
quarter its intrinsic value, and thousands Of acres
are lying useless and unproductivo. Building
this Road will create demand for lands which
otherwise will lay for years untcnantcd and desc
late. In the far west, lands lying near Rail-
roaxx. 4ppreciate mort rapidly in value. The
efforts that arc being made to induce immigra-
tion to this State from Europe, and the recent
severe winters at the North turning the attention
of the residents of their rigorous climate to the
SUMMER fields of the South, will cause tho tide of
immigration to turn this way. Nine -tenths of
the immigrants who may come, will locate on
or near Railroads. AS practical men, we should
exert ourselves to dovelope the Natural Resources
of the favored sectionin which our lot has been
cast, and one of the first steps should be to con-
struct Railroads. The completion of the Blue
Ridge Road will have similar effect to that
brought about by building the Georgia State
Road-now in one Of the most prosperous Sec |
tions of that great State-making the lands along
tho connecting Roads sought after, and appre-
ciated.
No doubt it will be extremely difficult to arouse
people, depressed as every one Isl to take action
in any enterprise; not promising immediate re-
turns. But the effort should be made-an inter-
est should be aroused if possible-and if the |
means to build the entire Road cannot be raised,
then The Branch connecting Edgefcld Village
with the Columbia and Augusta Road should be
located with d view of forming link in the
through line. PROGRESS.
@r A lady was urged by her friends 10 marry