Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-27
Railroad Extension--.T Road from Athens
to CLAYTON to be Bnilt.

the extension of the road from this place to
Clayton. We are indebted to our esteem I'd
fellow-citizen, Col. Stevens Thomas, Zone
of the Directors), for a copy of the resolu-
ton, which was adopted In response to a
communication from Col. NJ. G. Fulton,
chairman of the committee appointed for
that purpose by the railroad meeting held
here last fall. The following il the resolu-
tion as unanimously adopted by the Board
of Directors
" "Resolpe1, By the Directors of the Geor-
gio Roiiro0d and Bd,,ki,tg COMPANY, That
whenever they are assured that road from
Knoxville to Rabun Gap will be built, they
hold themselves pledged to construct a
road from Athens to Rabun Gapu
Now, this is clear and explicit-there is
no room for doubt or equivocatiOn. 1t is
not proposed to wait until the road from
Knoxville is finished, but the Georgia Di-
rectors pledge themselves to extend their
road whenever assured " that the other
will be built.
1t may be said that railroads cannot be
built with resolutions. While this is true
in the main, it is also true that they cannot
oe built without them. While it is true
that the resolutions of mere public meet
ing, which do not bind individuals, NAV
fail to build railroads. we would remind
those who are disposed to doubt the final
success of this great work, that the resolu-
ton above is not the empty resolve of a
public meeting, and therefore a mere eX-
preston of opinion, but the solemn obliga-
ton of powerful corporation, of unlimit-
ed credit and vast resources, able at any
time to do the contemplated work. No
one has heretofore questioned the ability of
the Georgia Railroad to make the proposed
extension, but many doubted its desire to
do so. The resolution adopted at the late
meeting leaves no room for doubt now. 1t
is true that the pledge is based upon con-
tingency-the building of road between
Knoxville and Clayton-a portion of which
is now in actual operation and other por-
tions graded. They cannot be any reason
able question as to its early completion.
Indeed we have seen the announcement
that work is about to be resumed.
In view of all these facts, then, il may be
considered as fixed fact" that the Geor-
gia Railroad will ere long establish its
Northern terminus at Clayton--thus open-
ing up the most direct railroad line between
the Great West and the Southern Atlantic
ports, as well as the most direct commune
cation between the granaries of the West
and the interior of the Cotton States
Cincinnati made great mistake in Sc
lecting Chattanooga as the objective point
OF her Southern Railroad, and the Ken
lucky Legislature by refusing the right of
way, has presented a favorable opportunity
for recovering for this false step Knor-
ellie is the proper objective point Because,
being connected by rail with Dalton--a line
which is actually twelve miles shorter than
the so-called "air-line" or "Chitwood -
route, gives all the advantages, so far as
southern interior trade is concerned, that
could be secured at ChattanOoga-while by
the new line from Knoxville to Port ROYAL
via Rabun Grip, Athens and Augusta, the
shortest line to an Atlantic port is secured
And not only does this open the most di-
rect line to the Atlantic coast, but the in
terror markets of a large section of Georgia
and the Carolinas.
Whatever Cincinnati may finally do, one
thing is certain, there will be great rail-
road highway between Knoxville and the
Great West, the Blue Ridge Road will be
constructed, and Georgia is compelled, in
self-defence, TO construct a road to % tap"
that road at Clayton. 1t will be built by
somebody-if not from Athens, from some
other point. The Georgia Railroad has the
inside track y in this matter, and we are
gratified to see that her able and intelligent
Directory have been equal to tho occasion,
and solemnly pledged that powerful cor
poration to do the work.
And right heartily do we congratulate
the people of Northeast Georgia in view of
their prospective brighter days in the near
future. The early completion of the air
line road and the Northeastern extension
OF the Georgia road will open up to them
career of prosperity which will exceed the
most sanguine expectations.
The above we clip from the Southern
IVdtchm0n, published at Athens, Georgia.
1t is gratifying to know that so much in
terest is felt in project as important as
this to East Tennessee and to Northeast
Georgia. The Georgia railroad company is
just the corporation to put this measure
through. The company is one of the rich
est in the South, and does not indulge i'm
idle resolutions or empty speculations.
The prospect for the early completion of
the Rabun Gap road is good, and when
done, according to the above, insures our
railway connection with the sea-board at
Augusta, as well as Charleston. The peo-
pie of Northeast Georgia are becoming
aroused on this subject. A large and en-
thusiastic meeting was held at Monroe on
the 18th inst, at which a number of gen
tlemen delivered speeches in favor of a
railroad from Knoxville TO Macon. Knox
willie and East Tennessee generally are vi
tally interested in this movement and we
hope our citizens will show the people of
Georgia and the Carolinas that they thus
feel. If we ever make the progress in East
Tennessee we should make, it must be