The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-11-04

| and apparently wholly uno0ns5i0us OF
her pYeeept or future. iimportAnce. et TIE
great white Sbsuks oisfog, so beautiful
aud imposingen az Of old come. e.Tolling
through the Rabuns .Gape land aowind
Ground Che nsighb boring m6udtains every
morning, as regularly as the sun fiaes.l
Old, Screameri atapds ont the same per,
fent cone, ono mass Of green, her huge
oaks,' chesnht,r walnut and Locust trees
orowdinR each other, a perfect mine OF
wealth one Of these days, all untouched
by senyor axe; andt the people them
selves, all seem waiting for the shrill
whistle OF the locomotive, the active
fore runner Of enterprise and usefulness,
TO wake them mp from their long dream.
The oldest inhabitants says that The town
was located st this point because public
roads crossed here, North and South.
East and West. A very good reason |;
ana We conjecture that long ago Indian
trails crossed here. the fore-runners of
roads; and long. long. before that, ma
ture herself had arranged her mountains,
and valleys, and streams, unerringly in.
dicating this unpretending locality as
great outlet between the West and the
South. No one can carefully observe
the formation of this mountain country
without being surprised and impressed
at Its adaptation, from time to time, to
the wants and requirements Of each sue
cessive sSe. Here. We And, many long
years ngo, few far-seeing citizens Of
Charleston eagerly securing the charter
OF the Blue Ridge Railroad, through
Rabun Gap;i (the charter having been
granted by the Legislature of Georgia.
almost i'll jest. it is said, to crafty Gen.
Coffee. then Senator from these noun
tain Counties,) because it was known
that this gap was the lowest depression
in the Allegheny range from Maryland
to Alabama, and furnished the people of
South Carolina the most eligible route
to the great West. As science advances,
and the wants and demands Of commerce
increase, other enterprises are inau-
gnrated and their practicability most
generally demonstrated. Now, look at
what nature has done to indicate and
forward such great improvements, even
in this modest, retired spot. The Sticcoa
Creek rises at the Rsbun Gap, almost on
level with the little Tennessee, flows
from North to South through Clayton;
Just at this point, sending out lateral
branch due East, to meet and almost
touch the waters of the Chatuga in the
direction OF South Carolina and Charles
ton; whilst on the West another branch
goes of, to meet and almost touch in
successive valley and wafer course the
Hiwassee, in the direction of Duoktown.
Cleveland and Chattanooga-th main
stream flowing Southwark towards Au-
gusta and Savannah. No one of these
passes affords obstacles Of any import
ance to the construction and operation
OF the many railroads chartered and
under way. The Blue Ridge Railroad,
literally from Charleston to Knoxville:
and thence to Louisville and Cincinnati,
the pioneer, he's. after yeare of difficulty
and delay, approached to such point
as to ensure suocess-the work having
progressed in Georgia, at the rate Of
$lO, 600 per month. to such an extent as
the whole road can be completed in q
reasonable time. Then we hear of the
Northeastern Railroad, from Athens to
Clayton, with its State aid, and careful
surveys and estimates. Then from Au-
gusta to Clayton. also with State aid,
and energy and go-aheaditiveness. Then
road from Macon to Clayton or else
where. Then road from Calhoun or
Dalton rid Blairsville to Clayton OF some
point in North Carolina; and last, though
not least In importance, the Hiwassee
Railroad, from Clayton to Ducktown,
OtosoAoh0 od0 OudLtbuOORa. NOW,
whilst it is generally advantageous to
particular localities oracentres to have
ali the railroads possible built, YET is il
wise and consistent with true economy.
to build railroads to compete with and
finally eat each other mp. Some COM
promise, it seems to as, should be made
between the North. eastern and Augusta.
Hartwell and Clayton Railroad Compa.
MES. The trade and commerce ooncen-
traiing at Clayton will doubtless be large
and remnnerative, bat certainly not
enough to employ one main road in
South Carolina, and two or four in Gsor.
gia. Railroads are great blessings gen
orally, but every dollar expended in
rival or unnecessary roads is 80 much
loss to the general wealth of any coun.
try, apd snch expenditure should be
avoided and used in the development of
other fesources.
With great and prosperous future
before them, we venture to advise the
people ct Clayton and owners Of PRO
perty thereabouts, to induce immigra-
tion and settlers among them, by selling
their real estate at fair and moderate
prices, and not deter them by the exor-