The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-08

Ridge Road. The real difficulties Oh Inc
Chattanooga Road commence at Chitwood's,
ss from that point to Chattanooga it traver-
ses q mountainous country, and at least
four years will be required to complete IT;
but in that portion of the road we have no
interest whatever.
1t will thus be seen that, so far as we are
concerned, the disadvantages of the Chat
tsnooes route, as recommended by the Com
mon Council Of Cincinnati, are limited to
an increase Of distance by one route OF
twenty-five miles, and by another Of thirty
nine miles, both of which will be built, while
We shall make small gain in the distance
to Louisville.
The additional cost of the road to Chat
tanooga, including the branch from Chit
woods to Elk Gap, will exceed 81 1000, 600,
aud it will require over four years to com
plete the road to Chattanooga. These are
serious disadvantages to Cincinnati, but
they in no way affect US.
In confirmation Of these views, we print
the following extract from letter received
by gentleman Of this city, from an old
aud highly respectable and intelligent mer-
chant of Augusta, Georgia: '-- -. a.
81 last night read with much pleasure the
report to the Mayor Of the good old city, rela-
tive to the Blue Ridge Railroad. am per-
suaded that the true interest OF Carolina is. to
push on to early completion this road, and to
build 1t to Knoxville on as nearly an air-liDe as
the character Of the country will admit; this is
the last hope Of Charleston. I am in hope that
the Ohio people will conclude to come direct to
Knoxville, and ifnot now they will ultimately.
Charleston, think, is entirely Independent OF
them, and they will only seek that outlet
(Charieston) because it is to their interest to
do 90, and this they will find out sooner or
later. y
'My object in writing is this: The people OF
the West are great up'n Gulf port outlet
10 the great Gulf Of Mexico, to command the
trade Of the West Indies and South Americl;
and I suppose they are honest in the opinion
that through Mobile or New Orleans this would
be the case. You and I know quite the con-
trary, and this idea wish you to elaborate
to them. Charleston is much nearer to all the
West India ports than Mobile or New Orleans;
the future value Of the West Indies being, as
think, in the islands, other than Cuba. Phe
French and English possessions are vastly
progressive, and under well regulated system
Of Coolie labor, there is no telling what their
product may be. British Guiana alone is capa-
BILE OF making SUI ar to the extent of million
of hogsheads yearly. Now. suppose you wish
ed to shlp one thousand barrels Of flour from
New Oflesns 10 Jamaica, Barbadoes, Trinidad,
or Demerara on the main, or any other island,
except Cuba, or to any port on the South
American coast, you have, after leaving New
| Orleans, to mike the coast Of Cuba then CROSS
there the Gulf stream north OF Cape Florida,
| then stand away to strike the trade winds, and
your passage to Barbadoes is say twenty-six
days; from Charleston it would be SIX, not
more. You, or rather they, will say, steam
must be used; well. it is too costly. 1t is true,
q smart vessel might beat to windward, say
south Of Jamaica; by this she would be say
sixteen days. Ask some of your old captains
about this; 1 think the point worthy of being
mentioned"
In our opinion then the whole result may
be summed up in few words. Cincinnati
acknowledges the commercial necessity Of
q connection with Knoxville by proposing
to build the branch road from Chitwood's
| to Elk Gap. Louisville is in q position to
strike down ataoncs and give US the same
connection with that city that we should
have had ifKuoxville had been taken as the
terminus of the Cincinnati line. Louisville
can readily obtain the money to make her
connection with Knoxville; Cincinnati will
be able to complete her road to Chitwoods
and the branch to connect her with Knox.
Vile in two years though it will require
four to complete her road to Chattanooga:
80 that by the time we can complete the
Blue Ridge Road, we shall have the short
est possible connection with Louisville, and
| connection with Cincinnati only twenty
two miles longer than if Knoxville had been
chosen. .-
This is enough for u', and proves the
necessity Of going to work at once to com
plete the Blue Ridge Road, as railroad
connection that will, more than any other
| Industrial undertaking, build up our city
| and State. Our position is, impregnable
and We are prepared to meet any srgu
ments that may be advanced against it
What we contend is, that the Knoxville
route is the best for Cincinnati; but that
whatever route may be adopted, South
Carolina must reap an immediate profit,
and secure trade whose value in q few
years will be many millions of dollars.
THE NEw YORK HERALD cons,rues the
recent letter of Chief Justice Chase, on the
occasion of the memorial celebration over
+ the graves Of the Federal dead at Magno
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