The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-06-08

which time-the Road has steadily gained in
importance and value to the commercial world,
and isnow regarded as one Of the chief links
in an immense trans continental Line of rail-
way, from the Northern and Eastern cities to
the Pacific eeast. If it was desirable to con-
struct this road as short line, in the first in
stance, how much greater the object Of being
placed on direct thoroughfare of travel from
one end of the continent to the othef-
: Now, ,.can the Road be brought to Anderson
by liberal policy upon our part2 We believe
it not only possible, but highly probable, that
prompt. action will again make 1T certain that
Anderson is to be an important point upon the
Air Line Railroad. Fhe location of the route
to Greenville, on the one hand, and Gaines.
vile, on the other hand, throws this, place, off
"a direct line ;but reliable information induces
the belief that route sufficiently practicable
between these towns touching at Anderson,
can be found without much trouble, and which
would not exceed other routes in cost per mile
,or lengthen the Road more than seven oreight
miles. If this can be- demonstrated by an
actual and careful survey, there is no doubt
that the disposition of the authorities is to give
ius the Road. Having, by the location already
made, been thrown off the directroute, it must
mot be expected that the Road would volunta-
.rily seek the route BY Anderson, unless there
is corresponding effort to induce its location
here. ;.3 f '.' -
But, suppose that present eaorts will result
i'm. locating the;the Road through this county
and to this slplacs what advantages areto be de-
rived thereby, sufficiently compensating to the
people generally that they should invest 80
largely in this stock? In answering this ques-
ton, it is unnecessary to point out the great
advantages of Railroads to any community,
since the general benefits thus accruing are
well understood and appreciated, and that
class of persons disposed,to question the actual
profit of railroad communications cannot be
convinced By argument, if their minds do not
grasp the immense advantages already felt in
this community from this very source. Its too
late to argue for OF against railroads in the alb.
stract. The mighty developments and progress
of this American people during the past twenty
years can easily be traced to the rapid means OF
transit. and communication furnished by rail-
roads, It has developed, enlarged and increased
the commerce of this coantry to so great an
extent that it would be difficult to comprehend
the full meaning Of ftits2success- Taking it for
granted, then, that this much is conceded,
and that theiordinary advantages Of railroads
are not pnderrated by the citizens Of Anderson
generally, let us examine into the details OF the
proposed measure for orsubseribing to the capital
stock. of the Air Line. It is suggested that thai
Anderson comfy take e,stocka by issuing bonds
in payment of her subscription. Until the
Road ii completed, theinterestupon these bonds
viii be raised by taxation After the entire
line has been opened from Charlotte to Atlan-
ta say within thenexttwo years, the business
of the Road is obliged to become immensely
profitable. It's local traffic through an unde-
veloped region. will daily increase, while its
through business will1as once compete with the
oldest and bestpaying corporations in the
South. AS the shortest line from North to
Sopth; the travel will necessarily flow in this
direction and standing without q rival across
the upper part of Soath Carolina, and through
Northeast Georgia "a section of country une1-
ceiled for climate, variety Of soil and .produc-
tions, and every natural advantage -trasersing
this valuable area Of ;territory, the Ai5 Line
Railroad must become the grandsst success of
!of any route yet opened in the South. These
are Just expectations, based upon;as knowledge
of the country through which the Road will
pass, and moderate calculation Is tothe busi-
ness it 10 destined to absorb. If this proves
correct, then it is matter of absolute certain
lty thas The stockholders will receive handsome
dividends upon their Investment. In that
event. the stock would. be kept at par, and the
dividends would pay theointerest upon our
bonds, without single dollar estaxation. But,
! with less favorable view Of the case, suppose
Anderson county should subscribe 100000,
/ and receivein return therefor like amount OF
stock, which would fall below par. The. in
6creased value Of property, and the constantly
increasing development Of our resources, would
amply compensate for the additional taxation
necessary to1,ay the interest upon our bonds.
Can this last proposition be doubted? Take
away railroad, facilities to-day, and wha5 would
be the result Property would depreciate at
once, business Become stagnsted, and every
man in the county would suffer thereby Then,
increased valuation must necessarily affect eve
ry man in the same proportion, and the burden
of taxation be made correspondingly lower. OF
course, it is well known that only the interest
/ Of the bonds must be provided for until the .n
bonds fall due, say thirty years from this time
Should the stock become profitable, as is conf
IDENTITY expected, then the interest would be ex-