The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-05
TIE WAY TO THE WEST.
+. Word for the Ashevillc Route.

We are permitted to make the following ex-
tracts from letter addressed to us by citizen
Of Hendersonville, N. c.:
Could have any faith in the good Intentions OF
your Legislature would like to suggest to them
the propricty OF extending the railroad from
t;reenye or Spartauburg to Ashevllle, N. c., six
ty miles, which would I'll up the remaining gap
from your city to Cincinnati, Ohio. The cars now
run 10 Big Creek Tennessee forty-1ve miles from
Ashcville, and the remainder Of the road Is under
contract to Asheville, which ought, and perhaps
will be, finished the incoming year. Then II tfe
Crcenville and Spartanburg roads were extended
twenty miles to the foot OF the mountain, anu
make a Joint effort for the remaining forty miles
to Asheville on single roud, the work w0ufl be
completed, and train start at charleston anu go
by Greenrie or Spartanburg through 10 Inc rem
nessce roads and on to Cinclnnat from thirty TO
fifty miles nearer than the Rabu Gap route would
be. if ever finished. But marx the prediction.
THAT Rabun Gap road will not be finished in five
wears, and doubt il 1t can he done III fifty.
know good portion OF the country It passes over.
and am not mistaken when say 1t Is too big
lob for the times. Had half the money already
expended Oh that work been jldlciOusly c1pend-
ed on the Ashevllle and French Broad route, the
cars would have been running 10 Gincinnati oe-
propriated by the late Legislature OF South Caro-
lima to the Blue Ridge Road would complete the
entire road by Asheville, OH the French Broad
route, with the connection both to GreenVlle ana
Spartanburg In less than two years rein today.
But none SO blind as those who refuse to see.
Why the City OF Charleston will tax her people to
poverty's brink for money to build the Blue Ridge
Railroad, to the exclusion OF the French Broad
routc, Is hard for an up-countrJ man to under
stand. To say nothing OF the expense, which
wonld be at least four dollars to ene the State OF
Georgia would OF course tap the Blue Ridge ROAD
within her own borders, and long before the road
was completed would be ready to invite the North
ern trade and travel to her own seashore at the
expense Of Charleston, after she tCharleston) had
built the road. 1t is the shortest sight nave ever
known your sharp people to take In business
transaction or Improvement.
The restriction In gauge has been removed by
the Legislature OF South Carolina from the char
ter of the Greenvile and French Broad Railroad,
which Is about oil that can ever be hoped Tor from
the South Carolina Legislature as 1t Is not TO the
interest OF South Carolina to extend the road
from Ashevllle south. But will South Carolina
and the City OF Charleston hide their eyes from
so favorable an opportunity OF splicing In
the last link in the grand chain from
so easily welded In, by taking hold OF the present
oppOrtunityp There Is not single tunnel re-
ouircd on the route, that know OF, ana poor as
our people arc, have no idea but they could and
would subscribe land and money enough to build
the road from the State line to Asheyihc. South
Carolina has ability to do the balance, and 40 IL
Mt once, without materially interfering WIN tne
Blue Ridge enterprise. lfyour people Will stop
to think, they can but see the advantage that Is
now offered In filling up this last gap In that great
iinc of railway SO ably advocated by the lamented
Hayne Of your State, who would, had ne veu
few years longer, had that road completed long
since He, above all other men or she South,
SCENE to comprehend and appreciate the value
OF that enterprise. Have you no master spirits
among you now who can and willinveStigate thlS
subject and present 1t to your people according 10
its true merlts9 1t needs hut single thougnt 10
see It's practlcability and necessity, more 80 to
your State and city than any Others, except SIN
gle county through which 1t passes In North Car
olina, and that may be rcmedied some day by the
extension OF one or the North Carolina roads 10
lhis section. But now Is the time for South Caro-
lima to move in the matter, If she desires to avail
herself OF an advantage seldom ouereu TO any
ncople Tic North Carolina Railroad will hang
lire IL long time ut the Swananoa tunnel, Which
fear will prove stumphouse mountain affair. 1t
will take them years to get through, II they ever
do. In the meantime South Carolina could NIL
up this gap to oAshevlle and have all the trade and
travel for years II not forever IRON the Norhn
Road Is ever finished, they will hardly ever De
able to compete successfully with the French
Broad route. 1t being more central and direct,
MS well as better and nearer route to the Allan
tic, must always have the preference and be more
easily kept up. and be q better paying road to the
stockholders, and pour all Its wealth In the lap OF
South Carolina; whilst the Rabun Gap would
divide her patronage with Georgia.
inatlon II you think as do on the subject, and
have any hope that your immortal Legislature
can be reasoned with on the subject, or that the
capitalists OF your city and State can be induced
to move In the matter call their attention to 1t.
Surely II they will investigate the matter, and de-
sire the prosperity OF your city and state, they
will avail themselves OF the advantages now OF.
fered them. Some succeeding Legislature OF
North Carolina may better understand the inter
ests OF Eastern North Carolina and repeal the
amended charter Of the Greenville and French
Broad Railroad, or place some other obstruction
or restriction that would prevent Its being so ad-
vantageous TO South Carolina as the present CHAR
ter as now amended.