Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-04-28
The Blue Ridge Railroad and the Athen
Extension.


The Blue Ridge Railroad and the Athen.
Extension
The following letter from General Harrison
appears in tho Augusta Chronictc and Sen
ttnct of yesterday:
NEW York, April 1S, 1871.
To the Editors Of tie Aayustu Chronicle
and Sentinel:
ENTAEMEN Il accidentally saw an arti
Gle in your paper Of the llth instant, copied
from the Athens Banner, in reference to tho
Blue Ridge Railroad, and hasten to explain
tho condition and policy of this company, to
prevent any possible erroneous impre ssons
which might be produced by this article =.
For the last two years II competent corps of
engineers has been kept almost continuously
III the field, revising the location and csti
mates, resulting i'll shortcuing the distance
between Anderson and Knoxville at least fiji.
teen miles, witt proportionatc saving of cost
Of construction by Il change of location in
South Carolina, all the tunueling in that
State has been avoided, with cheaper and
shorter line, leaving but one tunnel of any
length on the whole line, VII: : Dick Greek
Tunnel, near Clayton.
The policy of the company has been to
conline the work to this tunncl-its complo
ton requiring the longest time, That work
is now so far advanced that it is no longer an
obstacle as to time, but the whole road Gan
now DO made in eighteen or twenty months.
The unsettled state of affairs, and the gene
raj low prices Of Southern securities, have dc.
tered this comrany from forcing their bonds,
guaranteed by the State of South Curoliua
for 81, 100000 Qour million dollars Oh the
market. Again, the war in Europe has pre-,
vented an advantageous sale in that market,
and the company has thought prudcut to
await events and only keep sucn work under
way as would enable the contractors to finish
the whole line i'll the time stated above.
The assets OF the company, it is believed
it judcously and economically administered,
Will be ample to secure the ultimate compile
ton of the road, but it will, of course, require
longer time having to rely perhaps upon
second mortgage or aid from other quarters.
l have always regarded y connection from
Clayton with the interior and Southern Gcor.
gla, by Athens, or some other point, as most
important and valuable to the Blue Ridge
Railroad, Notwithstanding the fear and apprc.
hension expressed by some that your State
by such branch would tap and draw off
much Of the traffic and travel.
1t must DC apparent to all rejecting per-
sons, from glance ut the mlp, that without
this brancirno part Of the traffic or travel from
East Tennessee, or points in Kentucky or
Ohio, intended for the interior, or Northcas
tern portion of Georgia, would ever pass over
the Blue Ridge Railroad, but would follow
the present route through Atlanta But
With this connection made ut CLAYTON, the
people Of Georgia would become valuable
customers to the Blue Ridge Railroad, finding
a shorter aud cheaper route to the valleys Of
North Carolina aud East Tennessee and
points beyond
Having confidence in these views, and be
ing opposed to monupoIics and impropcr res
trictions on trade, have long thought that
II the people Of Georgia desired to secure their
full proportion of the advantages offered by
this connection by rail, at Clayton, with the
Bluo R'iHo Roilrood ,hoy should Le joint
" Interested i'll tho line beyond to Knoxville
For If the people of South Carolina bear the
whole expense of the road to Knoxville. it is
just TO them to sec that no part Of the benefits
Of such road shall be diverted which can be
retained by the usual restrictive policy of
railroad corporations.
But have no doubt if the Georgia Rail.
road Il. Banking Company, or any other rail.
road corporation i'll Gcon.ia, will aid in the
work beyond Clayton to Knoxville, such com.
pany or companies can obtain Il voice in the
management of the road, between these points,
commensurate with their aid, and snch rs will
for all time secure mutual advantages and
privileges, leaving the commercial advantages
resulting from this road open only to proper
and generous rivalry between the ncople of
South Carolina and Georgia
The means Of The Southern pcople bcins.
somewhat restricted and tie necessity for
the development Of our great resources most
urgent, would it not be wise for the Georgia
Railroad q Banking Company, the Augusta
and llartwell Company, and the Macon and
Knoxville Company to agree to conmcct with
the Blue Ridge Railroad South Of the n.oun.
tains-say at Anderson, PcndIcton or Wal
halla, thus saving the heavy expense of the
pass through the Blue Ridge, the dangers
and losses Of short parallel lines generally dc.
vouIing each other, and at the same time Sc
cure all the benefits Of the connection 10y cx,
pending the amount saved towards the CON
struction of the Blue ltidgc Railroad
Very respectfully,
j. w. HARRISON,
President Blue Ridge Railroad Company.