Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-07-19
GEORGIA RAILROAD CONVECTION.
Meeting OF the Directors Of the Knoxville
and ChRfIcston Road.
Remarks OF Major CampbeII .wnllacc.


The Board of Directors of the Knoxville and
Charleston Railroad met yesterday morning at
the Board of Trade Rooms, President Thomas
O Conner in the Chair, and Mr.. II. II. Camp
bell, Secretary.
Being informed of the presence of Major
Campbell Wallace, Messrs. G. NJ McGhee, II.
|. Wilson and w. A. Walker were appointed
a committee to invite Major Wallace to attend
the meeting which invitation was accepted
The Directors having signifed their desire to
obtain information in regard TO the talked-or
connection with Macon, Georgia, Major w.
was called on to give his views on the subject
He stated that the line of the proposed road
was through q rough but wealthy country, ex-
tending from Macon to Athens and thence to
Clayton, connecting with the Blue Ridge road.
The proper course TO pursue would be to inter-
est the Georgia Air Line and Central Roads in
its construction, each to have equal privileges
regarded using the line as a trunk. There
was apparently conflict of interests but they
could and would be harmonized, and no be-
lieved that, whatever was the result now, the
road would ultimately be built.
But money and effort would be required to
complete IT, The time had passed when rail-
roads could be build with straw, but State aid
was not desirable f; in fact he believed they
could be built better without than with such as
.istanee. Solvent subscriptions were necessary
for a firm basis.
What was wanted was competing lines with
roads already built The entering wedge should
be made with the Georgia Air Line Road-they
had charter and would endeavor to build
branch, or feeder, to their line, commencing at
Gainesville, though that was rather low down,
and then form a shorter and more direct line
between Knoxville and Atlanta.
The speaker stated that he would rather build
this road than any other now spoken Of The
line would be in competition with the Western
and Atlantic and East Tennessee Virginia and
(rpOrpia thOnpb what taken
passenger travel on the corner end of the latter
road would he made up by increased travel on
the other 1t was possible that the Knoxville
and Charleston Road might be purchased by
either the South Carolina, the Georgia, or the
Air Line Road and completed but if bought by
the first and finished TO the Blue Ridge the Air
Line would carry its branch to Clayton.
There was n general interchanging of senti-
ments, and the President was of the opinion
that the correct and most feasible plan was to
offer as favorable terms possibeto get the road
completed to the Blue Ridge, which would re-
lieve the State Of South Carolina of that much
work.
TWAS probable that Col. Steers, the contractor
and Messrs. Cameron and lnmnn-the former
Charleston fnancier-would take the bonds of
the road and complete it to the State line, build
ing three feet gauge instead of four and n
half feet
The road from Macon to this city, spoken of
by Major Wallace, we. are told, is not the same
as that represented by Mr.. De Graffenred, who
was in Knoxville some time ago different
charters being granted to each.
The opinion was expressed that the sooner the
| non-paying short lines were disposed of to par
| ties or corporations who would finish them the
| better it would be for the State and the roads
themselves. The Louisville road would, it was
| thought, come to Knoxville, and this would be
a great inducement to complete the Knoxville
and Charleston Road.
No action was taken by the directors ycster-
| day, and after a vote of thanks to Mai. Wallace,
the meeting adjourned until Monday, the 24th
| instant