The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-28
THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR SCOTT
Gentlemen of the Senate

Gentlemen of the Senate
and House of Req resentative, 1:
In nv inaugural Message expressed the
intention OF submitting to your honorable body
plan for the early completion OF the Blue
Ridge Railroad. In accordance Herewith, l
now invite your earnest consideration OF the
subject, and invoke such action by you as shall
speedily achieve this great result.
For more than forty years the importance OF
uniting the West with the South Atlantic coast
has been urged by the leading intellects OF the
country; and many of the railroads constructed
dur1ng that period, on both sides OF the noun
talns, have been built with q view to their di-
rect OF tributary connection with this great
national highway. Roads from Branchvile to
Columbia, from Columbia to Greenyile, Abbe-
Vile and Anderson, from Columbia to Spartan
burg, from Columbia to Charlotte, and from
Charlotte to Statesville, Morganton and Asne-
vile, and the several roads extending from
Cincinnati and Louisville towards Knoxville,
aad from Knoxville towards the Blue Ridge,
are all but the offshoots Of this great enter
prise. Even as early as 1886, when delegates
from nine States assembled IN railroad con-
vention at Knoxville, it was declared to be the
most magnificent and important public work
projected in our country.
After mature deiberation, and critical sur
vey by the most distinguished engineers, it
was decided to locate the route between Auder-
son. s. O., and Knoxville. Tenn, the distance
being only 195 miles. The total cost OF the
undertaking, it was estimated by Col. Gwln.
the chief engineer in 1860, would not exceed
81. SIS, GIT. The work was commenced under
the most favorable auspices, and energeticany
pressed forward until 1860, when operations
were suspended by the war. At this time
thirty-four miles Of the road had been complet-
ed and we're in running order. Much OF tho
grading and masonry in the remaining terri
tory of South Carolina, Georgia and North
Carolina was also finished, 80 that the WORK
NAV now be said to be more than half COM
pleted. In this connection il is proper to state
that the grading in South Carolina alone ia
nearly equal to the whole grading in North
Carolina and Tennessee; the bridge and arch
masonry in South Carolina Is nearly equal TO
all the bridge and arch masonry OF the remain
der OF the road; while the tunnels in South
Carolina exceed nearly all the tunnelling on
the rest of the line.
The sum expended upon this gigantic work
is SS, ,2S7, ,258- about half the estimated cost OF
the whole road; and there has been incurred
debt of only $3.50. 900, besides interest, which
is secured by an Issue OF first mortgage bonds.
The State has su6scrl6ed and paio IN sIate
bonds 81, ,310, 900. The City of Charleston has
subscribed and paid IN City Scrip 81 ,049,0 30
that the State and city are in: :erested in the
fortunes Of the road to the amount OF about
S., ,OO0, ,OO0 This estimate cludes unpaid in
terest which has accrued upon the bonds. The
railroad company likewise own seventy thou
sand acres of land, and have the promise from
Citizens iil living along the route, OF three hun
dred thousand acres more as soon as the work
is resumed. This land will, on it's completion,
become very valuable. Is it wise financial pol
lev for the State, by withholding the further
aid required, to hazard sale OF the assets OF
the road by the trustees under the first mort
gage bonds, and permit some rival enterprise
TO enjoy ths benefit 40 nearly within our reach?
The advantages of the Blue Ridge Road over
sny other that has been projected are manifest.
lat. It is the shortest line through the noun.
tains from the seaboad to the Ohio River. 1t
must therefore always command both trade
and travel. The great West exports corn,
wheat, -four, bacon, lard, tobacco, whiskey,
lime, salt, mules and cattle. These ind an
outlet through New York and Baltimore on the
one side, and Mobile and New Orleans on the
other. At the present time bacon may be.
found in Anderson which was shipped from
Cincinnati to Wheeling, thence to Baltimore,
thence to Charleston, and thence to the inte-
rior-a distance Of more than fifteen hundred
miles. We're the Blue Ridge Railroad complet-
ed, the distance from Anderson to Knoxville
would be only one hundred and nlnety-hye
miles. and from Knoxville to Cincinnati less
than three hundred miles, making total OF
Sour hundred and ninety-ive miles, and saving
in travel and expense one thousand miles. 10
illustrate this item Of expense, corn, Whlch IN
Columbia before the var cost one ooilar uusn-
ell, could be bought just across the mountains
in Tennessee for twenty cents.
I'd. During the winter months, Northern
roads are frequently obstructed by snow, and
business is seriously interrupted. At no time
is such a casualty likely to occur in the softer
climate Of these Southern States. Our ports
will always be an outlet through Whicn tne
West can supply the markets Of the world and
receive in return not only the wealth OF dis
tant peoples, but the rice and cotton
Of our own fertile fields. Terminating,
as the road will, upon our coast at Charleston
and Port Royal, it has further ma
nate upon the Gulf of Mexico. Here the freight
ed ship may proceed direct to sea. There she
must round the capes of Florida, and encounter
the increased difficulties and dangers OF navl.
eatlon, consuming time, and swelling the cost
of transportation and insurance.
Sd. The Blue Ridge Railroad passes through
a oonntro rich in resources OF eYerv kind. The