The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-06
The Blue Ridge Railroad.

ago, the direction of the Blue Ridge
Railroad Company authorized the
President to obtain subscriptions
and donations of land along the line
of the road, to increase the credit
and resources of the company.
About 10000 acres have already been
subscribed in South Carolina, Geor-
gia and North Carolina, and the
quantity can be increased to several
hundred thousand acres, if the peo-
pie along the line can be assured
that the road will be completed.
These lands are wild and unsettled.
but situated in beautiful and healthy
country, and capable of great devel-
opments for agricultural, mineral
and manufacturing purposes.
The railroad company can use
these lands either as basis of credit.
or for colonization, or, which would
be better, rs means of procuring
permanent laborers, by offering in
small lots to laborers on long leases.
or on sale, ut fair prices, to be paid
for in work upon the road. In this
way, the local business of the road
would be promoted, the lands i'm
proved, and the general prosperity
of the people enhanced. In Pickens
District, or now Oconee County, i'm
mediately on passing the tunnel
through Stump House Mountain,
immense lime quarries are ap-
preached, which would give employ
ment to large number of laborers,
and be of inestimable value to the
agriculturalists of the State. Lime
would be furnished at such prices as
would be within the reach of every
one. These lands are now being
sought after by capitalists, rs the fol-
lowing letter will show; and it be-
hooves the people of this State to
secure their prosperity by prompt
action and aid to this great railroad
enterprise.
j. w. HARRISON,
President Blue Ridge Railroad Co.
AUGUST 3. 1868.
10 General Harrison, President of the
Biue Ricige Railroad Company.
DEAR SIR: In passing through the
Western Counties of North Carolina,
l was informed that large tracts of
lands are being subscribed to your
road, and, from the experience of
the Northwestern States, L know
that immigration and railroad build
ing go hand in hand, and make
prosperous any country where they
are encouraged. The State of North
Carolina has made no provision to
encourage immigration into her bor-
ders, further than to grant charter
to the American Agricultural and
Mineral Land Company, with a capi-
tai stock of $1,000, 600, for the pnr-
pose of turning the tide of emigra-
ton to that State. This company
is now fully organized, with Will
liam Frazier, of New York, rs Presi-
dent. General Tochman, of Vir-
ginia, is its European agent to pro-
cure suitable emigrnnts to settle the
lands of the company. General
Tochman will start for Europe,
shortly after my return to Rich
mond, and the company confidently
expects to embark colony of emf
grants, upon its own vessels, to be
landed at Southern port next fall.
With these preliminary remarks, I,
rs agent for the American Agricuitu-
raj and Mineral Land Company, re-
spectfully submit the following pro-
position:
Tracts of land, of 10, 900 acres or
upwards, on the line of your rail-
road, to be sub-divided into 200 acre
lots, at the American Agricultural
and Mineral Land Company's ex-
pense. This company will purchase
alternate lots, at their assessed value
for taxation in 1860, or as ascer-
tained by two disinterested parties,
paying for the same in the compa-
ny's stock-the company obligating
itself to place bona tide settler upon
every 200 acres so acquired, within
three years; or, failing to do SO, such
lands unsettled to revert to the orr
glnal owner-said owner to retain
possession until the land is settled,
believing that. by the placing of q
suitable class of emigrants upon those
lands, they will greatly increase the
value of the lands retained by the
railroad company, and develop the
agricultural and mineral resources of
the country, thereby increasing the
travel and freight upon the road.
l. reSpectfulIy ask vour co-ocero