Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-06-04
Friday, Juno 4, 1869.
The Blue Ridge Railroad, and the Gin.
cinnati Connection.

prises which has over engaged the at
tention of our people, is tho project
tor connecting Charleston with the
cities and valleys of the North West.
Inaugu,utcd by the wisest and most
patriotic Of our statesmen, and ever
since the cherished object of their
hopes, it derives it's claims upon ourrc-
gard as we'll from tho discussions of
moro than thirty years Of maturcd
wisdom and well-directcd thought,
the large expenditure of capital which
has already been bestowed upon its
construction, and the incalculable ad-
yantages which must result to the peo-
pie of our State from it's completion.
In carrying on this great work to
completion: we will be only pcrfccting
that which was inaugurated in the
great railroad convention of 1886,
and which after occupying the
thoughts, and enlisting the support Of
the prominent men Of South Carolina,
Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, only
failed of SUCCESS from the inability Of
Cincinnati (from prohibition in it's
charter) to lend its aid, as q corpora
tion, in the construction Of the road.
A recent act Of the Ohio Legislature
has removed this prohibition, and
should the Knoxville. connection be
adopted, and Cincinnati do its part,
we may soon see realized the cherish
ed hopes, and see demonstrated the
profound sagacity of those wise
projectors, who more than thirty years
ago selected this very route, and took
tho first step to its accomplishment.
Besides, South. Carolina has al
ready expended large sums in build
ing up her system of railways, in
furthcrance Of this Western conncc-
ton. Her railway expenditures to
this end already amount to 81, 100000,
and tho State at it's recent session
pledged its credit to the Blue Ridge
Road to the amount of $4,00O,OO0
Without any aid from Cincinnati, we
can build the road to Knoxville, and
easily finish the work in fourteen
months, and the completion Of only
one hundred and forty-eight miles OF
railway by that city will accomplish
the long desired connection. We
thus render available the vast sums
already expended, and reap the natural
and legitimate fruits of the work al
ready done.
The advantages Of the connection
are incalculabIo Cincinnati is one OF
the largest manufacturing cities in the
Union: and among the leading arti,
cles of manufactures, are furniture Of
all kinds, stoves in immense numbers
every description Of castings and hol
lowware, hardware and wooden ware
of every description, vehicles Of all
kinds, and the best agricultural imple.
ments. Besides the rich valleys and
fertile meadows Of Tennessee, Ken
lucky and Ohio, would supply US with
nm immense amount Of cheap grain
would cheaper -four 81 to IS per bar
rel, and bacon at least s cents pei
pound. In return for these and fol
its coal and other mineral products
we would send to the West, salt, sugar
coffee, molasses and other tropica
fruits from the seaboard and our owl
great staples frem the interior.
But whilst Cincinnati fully arprc
eiates tho advantages of a connee t: or
with the rseabnard, she hesitatts be
tween the Atlantic coast and the Gull
of Mcxico-between the routes by
Knoxville and Chattanooga. At the
recent meeting Of the Joint Commit
tee Of the Commo On Council and iBoar
of Trade, the advantages of the Knox
vile route were pressed by President
Harrison and Chief Engineer, Low, O
the Blue Ridge Road, by Directors
and Chief Engineers of tho Eas. Ten
nessee Roads, and by Governor Scott, O.
this State and others. These advant
ages are thus briefly stated in the re
port Of J:'B. Ladtte, Esq, to the City
Council Of Charleston ), .,-~,
"The distance from Cincinnati. t1
Nnoxgille via Paris, London, Elk Gap
and other minor points, is 274 miles
OF which 511loars completed and, lit
actual soperations and :. l5 amore arr
graded and ready for the isen, leaving
only 148" "tailes rof7 r6ads1o 6 be- built
The roads already built can be,fpur
chased alta noderste price; certainly
not exceeding whatsitwoutd cost t.
construct them, aaad Gincinnafiwoult
thas.own and ,eoatrol ,ti,s, entire linI
to Knozyhle, though owned hyathrs.
distinct corp ratiopsawoaldihe Yirtu
ally controlled BY ono. and the ssam,
interest, and -thes,.entira line from
tCharlestan5 TEL Ciaseippati swoplds o
necessity be anesated With that han
imonY whjjsh q, aa necessary 10 pro
mote the interests of All aenoerned, -,