The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-06-03
INTERESTING REPORT AS TO THE ADvANTA-
GEs OF THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.

able and exhaustive report from MIR. JOHN Is. La
r1rrE, one of the delegation from that city in the
recent conference ut Cincinnati, addressed to
Mayor PILLsBuRY. giving concise history of the
various interests urged upon the people OF Gin
cinnati, and clearly setting forth the advantages
to be derived from the completion of the Blue
Ridge Railroad. We make the following extracts
from this report:
This report has already greatly exceeded the
limit had proposed when commenced, but the
subject is one of vital Importance to our city and
State, and l make no apology for extending 1t
still further, in order TO show to our people the
absolute necessity of completing the Blue Ridge
Railroad without further delay. This can be ac-
compished within two years, and before the lapse
of that space of time we should, and hope will,
be in direct communication with the great West,
and reaping the bounteous reward of years of
persevering efforts TO accomplish that end.
Our efforts to form this connection have been
stimulated 3y desire TO reap the advantages 10
be derived from the trade in their agricultural
products and but few persons in our community
have any conception of the extent of their manu-
featuring industry. Cincinnati has population
of about 400, 900 souls. and is essentially manu-
featuring city. There is scarcely single article
which we now purchase from the Northern and
cannot also obtain from Cincinnati. Their ine-
rior location, with the abundance of oil the raw
materials used, gives them a very decided advan-
tage over the Northern and Eastern cities in most
of the branches of manufacture Black walnut
maple, cedar, hickory, ash, and all other woods
adapted to the manufacture of furniture, vehicles
agricultural! implements and wooden ware are here
found in the greatest abundance and of the best
quality. Cedar is so abundant that it is used for
fence rails.
The value of ready y-made clothing manufactured
in Cincinnati last year, it is claimed exceeded the
value of that manufactured in any other city in
the Union. There are many large manufactures
of furniture one of which has q cash capital Of
50, ,000, 900, and their premises cover more than
six acres of land. Stoves made in immense
numbers, together with every description of cast
inps and hollow ware satisfied myself by actu-
al inspection that in these two last branches they
have the advantage over the Northern Cities both
as regards quality and price. Iron and coal of
the best quality is near at hand, and their mould
ing sand is of une1ceptonal quality, which enables
them to produce castings of unusually fine finish.
Hardware and wooden ware of every description
vehicles Of all kinds, agricultural implements OF
the most improved patterns, are among the lead
ing articles of manufacture. This list might be
extended so as to include almost every article Of
prices, most of the articles examined presented
the appearance of being made more with n view to
durability than those we have been accustomed to
purchase elsewhere, whilst the 6neness of finish is
at least quite equal.
In word, as they manufacture every article we
need, and as we are purchasers ef every article
they make, it would be difficult to over estimate
the amount of trade that must spring up between
US upon the completion of our connecting roads.
~ o1u nf fho
connection with East Tennessee. The advantage
of this connection alone would be worth to US the
entire expenditure needed to complete the Blue
Ridge Road I shall notice but article of their
product to wit coal, and but one article that
they must get from US, TO wit: salt. 1t must not
be supposed that these are the only articles We
should exchange, as that would be to ignore their
rich agricultural products, their iron, copper.
marble. and other minerals which they would send
to u.s. and also that they consume largely of sugar.
coffee, molasses, and other West Indian and South
American products. But the traffic in these two
articles alone would furnish in short time suffi-
cient business to support the road. Coal of the
best quality for house purposes, including genuine
canal coal abounds in East Tennessee, and they
have q bituminous coal so free from ulphur that
il is used for smelling iron without being coked.
This is IN advantage which believe is without
parallel This coal, taking the present rates of
transportation charges by the East Tennessee and
connecting roads TO Nashville Augusta, and other
points upon ordinary platform cars, could, upon
the completion of the Blue Ridge Road, be sold in
this city ut something less than 50 per ton of 224o
pounds The use of regular coal cars would, of
course, diminish she cost of transportation and of
labor.
East Tennessee as we'll as Cincinnati consume
immense quantities Of salt This article Can be
imported here Mt q minimum of cost. The sacks
are of little or no value TO the consumers OF the
salt, and yet add greatly to the cost in Europe and
to the duties here. The cars which bring US coal
could be returned with salt in bulk, and from
careful calculation made, could be delivered IN
Knoxville or Cincinnati at reduction of at least
30 cents upon present prices. Our road would
also have its coal cars fully loaded both ways,
which is an advantage that is, perhaps, not enjoy
ed BY any road engaged in the transportation of
COAL
Largely as our city would be benefited by this
connection, the people of the interior OF our State
would be benefited 10 IN equal, If not grenter
extent Common to choice brands of superhne
-four are now selling in Cincinnati at S4.75 to
S. 25 per barrel. In the interior of this State tbe
same -four is sold at Sll to $3.50 per barrel.
The best clear sides are quoted there at 163 cents
per pound. In the upper districts bacon, not the
best. sells at 25 cts per pound. This is in couse-
ouence OF the bacon and -four having to be shipped
first to New York or Baltimore thence to Charles
ton, and hence to the INTERIOR being burthened
with freight for distance Of more than one thous.
and miles in excess of the distance by the proposed
route, the drayage and other charges at each point
of transhipment, and the profits of two or three
intermediates. The opening of these roads would
cheaper the cost of -four in the interior districts
S4 to SIS per barrel, and of bacon at least cents
per pound If our country friends will estimate
the saving that would be effected upon these and
the many other articles they purchase, they will
see that the entire amount needed to complete the
Blue Ridge Road would soon be returned to them
in the cheapened prices of the articles they con-
sumo.
might continue to expatiate upon the impor.
tance Of this undertaking, to the advancement and
prosperity of Cincinnati and Louisville, and to our
own city and State. until this report would assume
the nronnrtinns of q large prnted volume. without