The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-04-27

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The Blue Ridge Railroad and the Athens
Extension.
The following letter from General Harrison
appears in the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel:
New YORK, April lS, 1871.
GENTLEMEN accidentally saw an article
in your paper of the 11th instant, copied from
the Athens Banner, in reference to the Blue
Ridge Railroad and hasten to explain the con-
dtion and policy of this company, to prevent
any possible erroneous impressions which might
be produced by this article For the last two
years competent corps Of engineers has been
kept almost continuously in the field, revising
the location and estimates, resulting in short
ening the distance between Anderson and
Knoxville at least fifteen miles, with proper
tionate saving of cost of construction. By a
change of location in South Carolina, all the
tunnelling in that State has been avoided, with
a cheaper and shorter line leaving but one tun-
mel OF any length on the whole line, viz: Dick
Greek Tunnel, near Clayton. -,5e -
The policy of the company has been to con-
fine the work to this tunnel-its completion re-
quiring the longest time. That work is now SO
far advanced that it is no longer an obstacle as
to time, but the whole road can now be made
in eighteen or twenty months
The unsettled state of affairs, and the general
low prices of Southern securities, have deferred
this company from forcing their bonds, guaran-
tied by the State of South Carolina for $4,000
600, -four million dollars), OIL the market.
Again, the war in Europe has prevented an adj
vantageous sale in that market, and the COM
pany has thought prudent to await events and
only keep such work under way as would en-
able the contractors to finish the whole line in
the time stated above.
The assets of the company, it is believed, if
judiciously and economically administered, will
be ample to secure the ultimate completion of
the road, but it will, Of course, require longer
time, having to rely perhaps upon second
mortgage or aid from other quarters
have alway; regarded connection from
Clayton with the interior and Southern Geor-
gia, by Athens, or some other point, as most
road, Notwithstanding the fear and apprehen-
sion expressed by some that your State, by such
branch, would tap and draw off much of the
traffic and travel.
1t must be apparent to all rejecting persons,
from glance at the map, that without this
branch no part of the traffic or travel from East
Tennessee, or points in Kentucky or Ohio, in
tended for the interior, or Northeastern portion
of Georgia, would ever pass over the Blue Ridge
Railroad, but would follow the present route
through Atlanta. But with this connection
made at Clayton, the people of Georgia would
become valuable customers to the Blue Ridge
Railroad, finding shorter and cheaper. route
to the valleys of North Carolina and East Ten
nessee and points beyond.
Having confidence in these views, and being
opposed to monopolies and improper restric-
tions on trade have long thought that if the
people of Georgia desired to secure their full
proportion of the advantages offered by this
connection by rail, at Clayton, with the Blue
Ridge Railroad, they should be jointly interes-
the people of South Carolina bear the whole
expense of this road to Knoxville it is but just
to them to see that no part of the benefits of
such road shall be diverted which can be re-
tanned by the usual restrictive policy of railroad
corporations.
But have no doubt if the Georgia Railroad &
Banking Company or any other railroad cor
poration in Georgia, will aid in the work be-
yond Clayton to Knoxville, such company or
companies can obtain voice in the manage
ment of the road, between these points, COM
mensurate with their aid, and such as will for
all times secure mutual advantages and privi-
eges leaving the commercial advantages re-
sultipg from this road open only to proper
and generous rivalry between the people of
South Carolina and Georgia.
The means of the Southern people being
somewhat restricted, and the necessity for the
development of our great resources most ur-
gent, would it not be wise for the Georgia Rail
road & Banking Company, the Augusta and
Hartwell Company, and the Macon and Knox
vile Company to agree to connect with the
Blue Ridge Railroad-South of the mountains
say at Anderson, Pendleton or Walhalla,
thus saving the heavy expense of the pass
through the Blue Ridge, dangers and losses of
short parallel lines generally devouring each
other, and at the same time secure sll the bene
fits of the connection, by expending the amount
saved towards the construction of the Blue
Ridge Railroad.
Very respectfully,
J. w. HARRISON,
President Blue Ridge Railroad Company.