The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-05-27
THE GREAT SOUTHERN ROUTE AND TIE AIUE
RIDGE RAILROAD.

posed routes for their great Southern connection
Our readers are familiar with the action of the
Legislature of Ohio. authorizing Cincinnati to bor-
row $4,000, 900 and construct the contemplated
road. The point is and has been. what route will
be chosen, and further what connections will be
made. The prominent connections are with Chat
tanooga and Knoxville. The latter, if determined
upon, will ensure the early completion of the Blue
Ridge Railroad in which great enterprise our peo-
pie have an abiding interest. Delegates from the
chief railroad centres have visited Cincinnati, pre-
sented the claims of their favorite routes, and
urged the advantages to be gained by that city 10
accepting as the other terminus either Ohatta-
ns6ga, Knoxville or some otherp point. These mat
ters are laid before public meeting, composed OF
the railroad committees of the City Council, Cham
ber of Commerce and Board Of Trade, and the sew
eral meetings already held have excited public in
terest to a considerable extent. On Saturday,
18th instant, was the largest meeting that has yet
occurred in connection with this question, and
among the gentlmen present we observe the names
of Gov. SCOTT, of South Carolina; j. B. LAFirrE
and s. G TRorr, of Charleston Gen. j. W. EAR
RIsos, President, and Col. ]. p Lowe, Chief Engi-
neer of the Blue Ridge Railroad Several of them
made speeches in advocacy Of the route to Knox
vile, to form direct connection with the Blue
Ridge Railroad and the city of Charleston but our
limited space will only admit the publication Of
Gen. HARRIsoN's remarks, which we find reported
in the Cincinnati Gazette:
He spoke of the evidences of prosperity that he
saw in Ohio. The business, the railroads and
shipping of Cincinnati had far exceeded his e1-
pectations. He alluded TO the early efforts to get
q connection between Cincinnati and Charleston.
There was then mutual understanding between
nine States on the railroad question. There were
Inducements that entered into public transactions
that could not be disregarded. He could not
charge Cincinnati with bad faith, if she failed to
make the road to Knoxville, but certainly South
Carolina had gone on with her system. upon the
supposition that Cincinnati could meet them.
A railroad connection had been made with Co.
lnmbia, at cost of SS,0OO,0O
Besides this the State has expended S2,5O0,OOO
OH other roads with the same ultimate purpose
making in all 81, 100000 of railway expenditures
hoping TO reach Cincinnati and the inexhaustible
resources of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys.
Had we sufficient reason 10 hope that could We
reach Knoxville you would meet us theres Will
you now turn back upon US!
He then spoke of other railway connections south
and southwest of Knoxville and described the great
mineral resources of the valley Of North Carolina.
He spoke of the railway meeting at Augusta,
Ca, held within few days, that resolved TO build,
at once, connection with the Blue Ridge road
This will afford route for Cincinnati to Atlanta
shorter than any other.
The State of South Carolina has built and pro-
iected Perfect net work of railways, that give
Cincinnati direct communication with Charleston
and Savannah.
The speaker said that instead of attempting to
fell Cincinnati what benefits she will reap from the
Rockville connection, he would say something of
its benefits to his own people. They had expected,
for a generation, to enjoy the advantages of your
grain fields and green pasturage. We have plan
ted cotton and rice expecting 10 be fed from other
sections. We have been compelled to transport
provisions two thousand miles, and have lost more
in freights from the immense roundabout distance
than would build the road from end to end. Ap-
plause.
We cannot, as things now stand, raise rice, cot.
ton tobacco and sugar, without also raisEg large
portion of our provisions. If you will bring us
within FIVE hundred miles of your corn fields, We
can plant all our lands in such products as will
grow most naturally with US, and exchange with
you to the mutual advantage of yourselves and US.
[Applause r..
Of things in the South. For example, we now
need stove in every house. Before the war it
was not 80. The South wants O million Of stoves
to day. Would you not like to supply US?
We are now compelled to use machinery in ag-
riculture. Do you not desire this patronage for
your shops? Very little that is used the farm is
made at home We have 10 look abroad for these
things but We cannot afford to pay freight on
wagons. buggies. &c.. for 1000 miles around.
In timber We have the finest of walnut, cherry,
&c., to offer you. The engineer said that in sur
yeying the road from Walhalla to Franklin, it was
not rare thing to sec black walnut thirty feet in
circumference aud seventy feet to the first limb;
also cherry equally tall without q limb. These
trees would be worth something in your'market.
The capitalists of the Southeast are waking up
TO the ocean trade. They cannot see why the pro
ducts of the West Indies should all be carried past
the best Of harbors at Port Royal TO Baltimore.
New York and Boston, to be thence brought back
to US. A change will be effected in this regard.
Many of us will live TO see the day when the rich
est trade ofthe country will he from South America,
Spain and the West Indies. through Southeastern
ports.
Port Royal will. at no distant day. be great
naval Station which will vastly aid us in attracting
that trade which, by the laws of nature. should
come to us instead of passing by US to Baltimore
and New York. If you, of Cincinnati. will come
TO our aid, great revolution will be speedily
wrought ie this regard.
The State of South Carolina has loaned its credit
to the G!ue Ridge road to the amount of S400o,,
D00 This will enable us to push it 10 Knoxville
in fourteen months could million of mai erial aid
from Cincinnati and another million from Louis
sille be procured. lie thought that he could so
present the argument that private capitalists of
Cincinnati would al once subscribe n million.
1t may be that il you don't make Knoxville your
Southern terminus. We shall be discouraged. Gin
cinnati is worth more than the whole State of
South Carolina and yet our State has expended
$500, 900 on railways, and has given her credit
for $4, 900 more.
With such aspirations as the people Of Cincinnati
have in reference to her future greatness. how
she neglect to extend some material aid to the
great universe about her from which she expects