The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-20
From the Cincinnati Railroad Record.
Blue Ridge Railroad.
COLUMBIA, S. c., June %, 1877.

Blue Ridge Railroad.
COLUMBIA, S. c., June %, 1871.
Hon. T. W.ightsdn, Editor Railroad Record !:
After many vexatious delays; occasioned main
ly by the peculiar condition of the finances of
this State; and the distrust of capitalists to in
vest in Southern securities, the Blue Ridge
Railroad Company in South Carolina is again
in condition. 1 hope, to press the construc-
ton along the line more vigorously: A new
company, composed of capitalists in South
Carolina and New York, is now forming, who
propose to complete the road in q short time
on certain conditions. This proposition in
cludes the issue of preferred stock for 3 OOO,-
900, bearing 7, s or 10 per cent until road is
completed, after completion to have same pre-
ference over stock now issued. The new COM
pany to hold or retire old stock. The company
in this State and in New York propose to sub
scribe at once for one-half Of this preferred
stock. With the S2,000,00O of preferred stock,
and the S4,O00,00O mortgage bonds endorsed by
the State of South Carolina, this road can be
completed in two years from this date.
The advantages of this direct connection be-
tween Cincinnati and the nearest Atlantic port
have been demonstrated for the last thirty
wears, and are being strengthened and fortified
by the experience of each succeeding year.
The excess of freights paid on your produce
and manufactured articles by the consumer In
the Southern States, by the way of Baltimore
or New Orleans, would pay for the construction
of this road every three or five years, to say
nothing of the profits made through direct
trade with the South, West India Islands and
South America.
The connection by way of the Blue Ridge
Railroad is deemed so important by the people
of Georgia, that no less than four roads have
been recently chartered with liberal State aid
viz, $4,000 per mile the Augusta & Hartwell
Railroad to Clayton; the Athens & Clayton (;
the Gainesville & Clayton, and the Macon &
Clayton or Knoxville Railroad Company. So
that you will perceive that when once in con-
nection with Knoxville you will have the most
direct and cheapest communication with North
Carolina South Carolina and almost all of
Georgia.
With great Difference I would suggest that
the true policy to be pursued by Cincinnati, in
endcavoring to establishclose railroad conmu-
nication with the South is SO clear as to render
argument or demonstration almost unnecessary
1t is, in q word, to make use of the road al
ready constructed from Cincinnati to Paris,
and thence to build road via London, to con-
meet with the Knoxville & Kentucky Railroad
at the State line-a distance to build of $50
miles, at q cost of say S5,000,OOO; or, following
the road already built little further, to Mich
olasville, complete the connection to the Ken
lucky & Knoxville Railroad, by constructing
40 miles of road at about the same cost.
1t would seem that when returning reason
calls the people of Cincinnati from following
the IGNIs FATUus of the direct road to Chatta-
nooga, scheme which looks to others as if it
had been devised mainly for the purpose of
finding a place to spend ten. millions of dol
lars, to accomplish an object that could be
gained more quickly and easily by the expen-
diture of half that sum, they will turn their
attention again to their first project viz, q
connection with the Southern section via Knox
vile, which offers all they need at SO small
comparative cost.
But pardon this digresson. What we now
propose is to appeal to the citizens of Cincin-
natl, either as a corporation or as individuals,
to come to our aid, and subscribe at least one
million of dollars of this preferred stock. The
State of South Carolina, city of Charleston,
and individual stockholders, have already paid
in and expended on this road nearly three
million of dollars. We propose now to retire
this old stock and permit new parties to come
in with r2,O00,000 preferred stock, and by the
use of S4000,000 mortgage bonds guaranteed
by the State of South Carolina, build the road,
and own it after it is completed. Surely the
people of South Carolina are in this giving
sufficient guaranty of their great desire for
this western connection. And if after more
than 80 years advocacy of this road on the
part of your people, they should decline now
to aid to this small extent, we may well doubt
their sincerity, or the importance of the con-
nection to them.
have addressed you on this subject, because
1 know your great desire, and have read your
constant appeals for this great enterprise.
Please place it again before your people, and if
likely to be successful, the Blue Ridge Railroad
Company will aid in any manner which may
be suggested.
have for the last four years devoted my
time to fostering and encouraging this enter
prise, and now feel that the road may be Sc
cured beyond doubt, with q small amount of
aid from your CITY, But if we should fail in
the end, the people of South Carolina will
always remember with gratitude the unccasing
efforts YOU have made in q common cause with
them. Yours very truly,
]. w. HARRISON.
Prest. B. r. r. r. Co.