The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-01
CHI A RI ES ON.
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 1, 1869.
Our Western Connections.

The report Of John B. LATTE, Esq, the
representative Of the City Of Charleston,
before the City Council of Cincinnati, is q
clear and comprehensive summary of the
arguments in favor Of q railway connection
between the Queen of the West and the great
seaport Of South Carolina. And while it
shows conclusively that the most advanta-
geous terminus for the proposed Southern
road is Knoxville and not Chattanooga, it
gives US the encouraging assurance that
whatever route may finally be adopted, we
shall have o connection with both Louisville
and Cincinnati, by the time that the Blue
Ridge Railroad is completed. The Knox
vile route would give Cincinnati o connec-
tion with Norfolk and with the railroad
systems Of North Carolina, Georgia, and
Alabama, as well as with Charleston, but
even If the less favorable route via Chatta-
noega be chosen we shall still be able, by
taking advantage of the commercial energy
of Louisville, 70 reach up into the heart of
the West.
Cincinnati, no less than Charleston, will
be benefited by obtaining cheap and
rapid communication with our seaboard. If
We send to her the foreign produce, the salt
and other commodities that she may require,
the West will send to us the iron and coal
of Tennessee, provisions Of every kind. and
the manufactured articles which Cincinnati
can produce more oheaply than any city of
the East These facts, now for the first
time, of late years, forced upon the atten-
tion Of the people Of Ohio, will have great
weight in determining the manner Of ex-
pending the ten millions of money which
Cincinnati is authorized to lay out in build
ing Southern railroad. And, however,
much private interests may be opposed to
the Knoxville route, it's claims are now 80
strong that they cannot well be ignored.
If Knoxville be indeed made the termi-
mus, the result will be due to the exertions
Of Mr.. LATTE, President Harrison, Of the
Blue Ridge road, Chief Engineer Low, and
the other gentlemen who have 80 faithfully
represented the interests Of our City and
State. And in any event, we may now 60
to work with the assurance chat it rests
with ourselves te, Ieuloe whether the mill
lions already spent are to be thrown away,
or whether by adding to them we make the
whole profitable, and secure that oommer-
oial prize which has SO often eluded our
grasp. .., ~.
Mr.. LATTE is especially foroible In his
statement Of the reasons which should In
duce us to strain every nerve to Secure the
prompt completion Of the Blue Ridge Rail
road. These reasons need not be recapitu-
lated here. But in assuming that the COM
pletion Of tho Blue Ridge Railroad is the
one great object for which to strive, we
must not forget that we have NO reason to
hope for any outside help. Cincinnati and
Louisville already have their hands full;
they will push forward towards our bor-
ders. We must be ready to meet them.
The State Legislature has already au-
thorized the guarantee Of four millions Of
dollars for the completion Of the Blue Ridge
Railroad, and has pledged the faith and
credit Of South Caroline to the puActual
payment of the bonds that may be issued
for that purpose. But the great work will
require about six millions, and it is all-im-
portant that it should not be suffered to lag
for want Of funds. South Carolina has, at
this time, fully $500, ,oOO, 900 Of taxable pre-
perty, and this must be SO increased in
amount by the opening Of the Blue Ridge
Road and tho infiux of new trade and com-
merce, that we shall be able to pay, IL ne
cessary, the whole interest ON the money
to be spent in building the road, and yet be
less oppressed by taxation than We are at
this time. We can give an abundant secur-
ity for all our debt, and as the Blue Ridge
Railroad is for the benefit Of the whole
State, We should be ready to give it assist
ance from the common fund, and % hasten
the coming OF tho day which shall link
South Carolina and Ohio together, and
make each the means Of swelling the for
tune of the other. III
We repeat, that the completion Of the
Blue Ridge Railroad is the one thing to
which we must direct all our efforts. The
State, the city and individual citizens must
never slacken their endeavors until the
great work is accomplished.