The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-12-15

ened the spirit in which twas then prosecuted.
They are perfectly aware that great changes
have taken place since this road was common
ced. They know that many who were stran-
gers to us then are now, and must be, active
agents in its completion, and that the State
which is to be benefited by the trade which it
must bring embraces among its citizens thou
sands who, when it was conceived, could scarce
ly have taken an intelligent interest in its pro-
gress but the Board cannot understand why
this should affect the zeal or energy of those
who really love their native State. Whatever
may be the change in her political condition,
those great laws which regulate the concentra-
tion and distribution of national wealth are
still at work, and upon the adaptation of these
laws to our industrial energies must our mate
rial prosperity depend 1t seems to the Board
too clear for argument that the growth of a
great seaport in South Carolina can only result
from the concentration at some harbor within
her borders of that West Indian and South
American trade which demands, in exchange
for its own produce, the -four, the corn and the
bacon of the West, and that no such concetf-
tration can be effected until such harbor is
put in direct communication with the great
produce markets of the West To-day corn is
dull in Knoxville at 40 cents per bushel, wheat
at rs cents to 81, flour $6 per barrel, pork
cents gross, per pound, and hay Is cents per
cwt. Compare these prices with the rates at
which the same articles can be sold in COlum-
bia and Charleston, and then suppose this road
completed, add its freight, and who can doubt
that the margin of profit would add untold
wealth to the business enterprise of the State.
Indeed, the tribute which the people of this
State pay to the enterprise of others in excess
e. .-lk &c of ,fo
in every five years would furnish the means to
complete this road. But to make this enter
prise a complete success, and to improve the
also, direct connection with Chattanooga, the
great focus of Southern railroads. A practical
Bile route is offered US, and a due regard to the
commercial interests of this State imperatively
demand of us to secure at once that connection
which puts our people over the shortest line in
direct communication with the great cotton
belts, with st. Louis and Chicago, and with the
Pacific railroads, now and soon hereafter to be
in operation. They do not propose, however
to repeat the argument as to the advantages o1
this road. All the past legislation of the State
has been based upon conviction of its reality
and they only ask that those whose foresight
perseverance and enterprise inaugurated this
work should not now relax their efforts OF
abandon hopes nearer to-day than they ever
were to realization. They must say, Also that
they have been painfully annoyed, and the
work on the road seriously embarrassed and
retarded, by a series of law suits, which the re-
peated decisions of the courts warrant them in
calling pretensive-not intended to vindicate
any principle of right or protect any real in.
terest of the State, but simply calculated to
delay the progress of the road, and to disheart-
en- those who look forward to its completion as
the commencement of new and vigorous pros.
perity of the whole State.
Respectfully submitted.
]. w. HARRISON, President.
Nov.=17, 1870. a;