The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-16
THE CINCINNATI RAILROAD.
Am Interesting Lettcr from tho HON
George "A. Trenholm.


George "A. Trenholm.
We have received permission to publish the
following private letter from the Hon.
George A. Trenholm, in which is discussed
with great clearness aud ability the whole sub
ject of tho advantages expected to be derived
by Cincinnati from her proposed railroad to
Chattanooga:
FLAT ROCK, N. c., June 8, 1869.
John B. Lgyf.te. Esq: .y
MY DEAR SIR-Your report to the Mayor
on the subject OF our railroad interests out
ton. It is lucid exposition OF the advan-
tages offered by the connections we propose
and recommend. AS to the immediate ques-
Cincinnati in her projected Southern Railroad
shall go to Chattanooga OF Knoxville never
have entertained doubt and do not indulge
one now. Cincinnati is obliged to get to Knox-
vile; she cannot do otherwise. The consider
ations urged in favor OF Chattanooga are for
mida Die in appearance, but IL is in appearance
only. 1t is said ''that there are $500 miles Of
make It the centre Of trade % IN the t SOUTH That
it is IAN air hne to Pensacola, which Is only
18 hours run from Havana" That by con-
nection ..e with VT pensaco,a, ,ySncinnati ought to
trade Of Brazil That s'within ten years (by
the Chattanooga conneotion,) she ought to
command the trade OF the Gulf of Mexico, al
aud the trade of South America"
These brilliant expectations appear to me
devoid of any substantial or practical founda.
tion. The advantages Of Pensacola as fine
harbor were as we'll known and appreciated
nearly half century ago as they are at tho
present day. But, for the obvious reason that
it las no long tributary rivers, 1T never has had
any commerce. Now it is proposed to substi-
trade to it-raill Dads. whose chief design
and Office it is. at the present day, to overcome
the DISADVANTAGES ofcarrying to the Cult those
vast productions Of the West that are des-
tined for the Atlantic coast. With the two
great cities OF Now Orleans and Mobile already
on TT 9 Gulf, possessing every thing in the way
ct railroads that is proposed to be done for
Pensacola, and possessing, besides. what never
can be given to Pensacola, the finest rivers in
the world, what use is there for another city
on the Gulf? 10 say notkirg oithe vassness Of
the enterprise and the apparent impossibility
it's utter inability condemns it. Pensacola has
no population, either in or around IT.; it has no
return IN the way Of trade to offer. It is to be
the creation of Cincinnati, and place
people. Why should this remote popu-
elation carry their commerce to the
Gulf Of Mexico Nine-tenths of all that is car
sive voyage to get out OF it. crosses again the
latltudes from whence it came. and on IT'S
way to market passes ports on the Atlantic
nearer to Cincinnati than either Pensacola,
0lOu
not to promote, buAto prevent these circuits.
Why should q merchant in Cincinnati, having
q cargo destined for New York, Boston. or
Liverpool. send it by. railroad t. Pensacola,
instead Of sending it to Charleston, when
Charleston is nearer to Cincinnati than Pensa-
cola is, and nearer bv fifteen hundred miles of
ocean navigation to New York. Boston and Liv-
NewOrleans and Mobile are already complaining
of the decline of their commerce. through the
powerful diversion towards the Atlantic ports,
caused by railroad transportation. What eff ct
will another city on the Gulf have in arrestlng
this powerful and natural current
But it ts said, that possessing the port OF
Pensacola. Cincinnati would coutrol the sugar
trade OF Cuba. Who controls it nowp Old
ital and extensive credit in New York London
and Hamburg. They make advances to the
planters, and take mortgages not Of their lands
and negroes alone, but OF their growing crops
as we'll. The sugar crop is thus brought en-
tirely under the control Of these houses, and it
is sent to New York, London, Hamburg, &C.,
IN obedience to financial and commercial laws,
the laws Of nature. How the control OF this
commerce is TO be taken out Of such hands,
and drawn away from it's oaturel channels, it is
difficult to conceive. Nor is 1t any more obvi-
GUS how the coffee trade OF Brazil is to be con-
trolled. But il to be done, why from Pensa-
cola Charleston and Savannah are both fully
two hundred miles nearer to Bio than Pensa-
cola, and besides, on leaving them ships are ct
there are at least thirteen hundred miles of
intricate and dangerous navigation before the
broad Atlantic 10 reached. @
1t will be said dthat the claims of Chattanooga
do not rest on the merits OF Pensacola, and
are not impaired by what is said. admit
this but cannot admit that Chattanooga is to
become great centre Of trade by reason
OF it's extensive railroad connections. The
mere conveyance at Chattanooga OF rail-
roads that Connect remote regions of
country with each other and facilitate their
exchanges, mustsnot Re mistaken for system
OF railroads growing out Of or contributing to
the commerce OF Chattanooga itself. She hass
no trade and, hemmed IN by mountains. never
can have any. Look vt Atlanta, on the con-
prosperity; it is such places as these that Gin.
cinnati is desirous Of reaching by her Southern
railroad. Chattanooga has no ADVANTAGE to
offer. but the superior facilities for leaving 1t.
But even in this respect 1t is not superior to
Knoxville. It must be borne in mind that
Knoxville has direct communication with
Chattanooga by railroad; all that Cincinnati
ey he
OF 70 miles in the distance. namely: 5M
Cincinnati to Chattanooga via Chitwood ). 1853
Cincinnati to Chattanooga via Knoxville. .8Se
Difference. ...........,.... 28
~ This appears to be the only substantial ad-
vantage offered by the Chattanooga route.
Let us CONSIDER what it win cost:
The distance from Cincinnati to Chatta-
nooga las already stated is, 1853
OF thus there is already constructed and in
operation. the road from. Cincinnati to
Nicholasville. namely. ................. .112
Leaving Of new road to be built -. 1. :. .248
But in going to Ohattepooga. hyf way Of
Chltw0oi, you leave Knoxville % miles on
your left, and connection with Knoxville
Z being admitted on all hands as indisper-
sable, q branch must be built from Chit
wood to that place. ........ as
sl
Total ....................2 1853
To reach Chattanooga then and Knoxville
both, by the direct liIe as 1t is called, You
must build 269 miles Of new road. Let us now
to reach Knoxville. and obtain thereby per-
feot connection with Chattanooga also; 28 miles,
howavar lonoar than fha other