The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-11
OUR RAI1RO4D CONNECTIONS.
Other Facts and Figures with Reference
to the Extension Of the Spartanbu
and Union Kailrond.
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE NEWS.

AS far back as 1886, the leading spirits OF
south Carolina were interested in Locating o
line of railway from Charleston to the North
west. Accordingly the services Of General
Mcneil, with twelve brigades OF engineers, were
engaged to reconnoltre the several gaps
through the Blue Ridge, and to report the re-
snlt of their surveys and Investigations. Ihls
work was performed with much deliperatlon,
anil after @ minute reconnaissance or oil she
principal gaps OF the Blue Ridge range, from
VrginIa to Georgia, it vas decided that the
Butt Mountain Gap afforded by far the most
practicable pass through which to construct
ralIoad. The prime object OF the first movers
m this grand enterpr ,e being to ascertain the
nearest and cheapest ine upon which to con-
struct q ralroal that would unite Charleston
and Cincinnati, 1t was agreed that the pr!ncl-
nal poluts should be Columbia, U0lon, Spar-
tauburg, Ashevllle, thencc down the frehcn
BroId Valley, &c.
II NAV be remarkable that never, from that
day to This. has there been 80 thorough, so
complete and 80 scientific an investigation
made in regard to this matter. lt Is wen also
to bserve that all the States Interested III the
construction Of this grand national highway
have. from the dato OF this general survey to
which I have alluded, been locating and build
ing their rolds with reference 10 the line then
established. The Spartan3urg and Unlon
Road. 10 it's present terminus ut Spartanbnrg,
follows that line, varying fretn 1t only ID this
| The original survey Was made on clio opposite
side Of the B;oad River, from where the ROAD
was finally located. Norh Caroliua i, build
| ING her road down tho valley Of the French
| I.ruau to Pam. Rocx. East Tonnosscel Is build
ing hers from Paint Rock to Morristown and
| Cumpe per,and Gap, thence to Lexington and 70
| on To Cincinnati. Subsequent to this general
survey uf 1886 the French BroaI RLllroad
Company. III 1859, employed the services OF
| Mr. r. McCalla, one OF The most distinguished
civil engineers in tho United States, to resur-
wy the liue from Asneyille to Spartanburg. via
| Bntt Mountain Gap, and to make all estimate
of the cost of building tue road between these
| two points.
The result of this latter survey vas even
moro satisfactory than the former. 1t was es--
tlmated by Dir. McCalla that the entire road
fron 6partanburg to Ashcville couli bo built
| at cost of ono million three hundred and
eighty-seven thousand nino hundred anu
olyhty-ivo dollars (S13S7 1857. And to show
| tho confidence that was placed IN the correct
ness of this estimate, company OF respect
| abu and wrulthy citizens Of North Carolina
ngreed to contract for the building OF the road
| az .hs estimate uf its cost, and to give boud
| OF ono IN lion dollars Tor the speedy and filth
| tul perform lnce uf the work. Had 1t not been
| lor The war the eutre rold would doubtless
|
sery that this road when completed, WILL be the
nsunmatioll, 30 FL u, South Caro- ina Is con-
crrIrd. OF tho grand projcct that was cohcotS-
| ol and conm3uced 1T least thrtS-Lnrec ears
ago. o. co,sLlu u.ling Il Continued chain OF rail-
} Q ID from Charleston TO CIncinnatl This road
wnun completed, wall evor % prominently u
/ q NTH O ,ro ila institution. There Is no point
On the cnliro lne .h;.t can 10 tapped oy ,her
roads that Gun in any way diyorI the traffic oi
! tie NAL trulk. But, Un the contrary, every
other road that may come II connection with
tbs nusl bo auxiliary to its prosper,t'..
A hoyl.e should nov be tbs gr.at objective
uojut OF our raj rad ambition to reach wuioh
we might affold 10 strain our credit. Let us
not ia uk t., ono moment of standing idle ano
of pc mItslng Nurtn Carolina to transport the
uuiod ire .sures Of the great Northwest to hsl
far distant seabuard, passlus almost in sigh
OF our own doors; adding TO her prospor,ty
building mp her resources. and enriching bel
people, wnlle we stand idle. suffrr our day
o. grace To pass aw4y uuimprovel, and fDall,
perish in poverty. May We not ho.,e that tht
Legislature will think and act i'll this impor
| tnr lYGFR,