Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-05-26
The Blue Ridge RAILROAD.


people. This is to some extent true with us,
In the action of the Convention In tho matter
of the Blue Ridge Railroad. We think tho
resolution Of Mr.. TnEscorr, asking that tho
committee of legal gentlemen, charged with
investigating the validity of the ,late Legisla
ture as tu the Grcenyile aud Blue Ridge
railroads, should make out and publish their
| report as soon as practicable, should havo bcon
adopted. 1t was nothing more than just
and fair request The bonds are now signed
and ready for negotiation. Will tho action
of the Convention merely deprcciate their
value or totally prevent their sulc? IF the
latter, no harm other than the abandonment
of this great and dearly cherished enterprise
for the present can result. IF only the for.
mer, then both the State and the work is in.
jurcd. We believe tho report should be rem
dored and published at an early day. We
would like to sec the road built, and feel sure
its benefits would soon be felt throughout tho
State. The surrounding corruption has cast
shadow on this enterprise and the legislation
fayoring it. Whether this is just or not, We
cannot say, but VIC can see nc. outward marks
of fraud or dishonesty in 'theSp0iccrs of the
road Whatcyc. of corruption or bribery
may have been employed in securing the cx-
listing legislation, we must admit that no uu-
fair advantage has been taken of it, that no
sacrifice and squandcring of the bonds issued
for it have been brought to light. With full
power through a period of two years. to sell
the bond, under cover of commission, aud
with full power, without restriction, to soil
at any per cent, since the adjournment of the
last Legislature, they arc still retained and
under control of the corporation. Some have
been hypothccatcd for loans to carry on the
work in anticipation of rise in their value,
but the bulk Of the bonds arc still free. This
certainly shows an honest disposition on the
part of the corporation to regard the true in
tercsts Of the State and the road, and no in
tcntiou Oh their part to abuse the powers con-
ferrcd on them. The work has progressed
slowly for the simple reason that the bonds
could not be sold for such prices as the cor.
porators werc willing to take. The contrac-
tors are not paid for time employed, but by
the cubic yard Of work done, so that delay
solves itself into this, Should We create a
State debt in aid of railroads? Generally,
we answer no; but, when we consider the
vast Importance of this road, the amount OK.
pended towards its building, has not the point
of discontinuance been passed With an
honest, economical administration Of the gov
crnmcnt, the aid to this road would scarcely
be felt. When completed, it would prove
the inlet of wealth and prosperity to tho pco.
pic of the entire State. 1t would, by direct
nnnnn"tio" with tho grain ngd mnat rnginn
promote the establishment of manufactures
and the utilization of the vast water powers
OF the up country; while to the people of the
middle and lower country it would enhance
the profits of cotton growing There are
times when the demand for economy cannot
be too rigid, and we believe this is one. On
the other hand, there arc enterprises in which
apparent economy becomes dcporabc ex-
travagancc, by the injury resulting from their
neglect and defeat. Is not the Blue Ridge
Road such an enterprise With honesty and
energy in the work, the completion of the
road will become source of wealth and credit
to the State. Cannot these be obtained with :
out abandoning the work? If there has
been fraud or misappropration of the State
bonds issued for the aid of this road, let it be
exposed and the guilty parties punished -
If none can tc discovered. let the work pro-
gress. We are not willing that the bad con
duct of any officer Of the corporation should
work tho defeat or prejudice of this great en-
terprisc, nor are VIC ready to admit that the
alleged sins Of tho President are Intentionally
criminal and objectionable. While reckless
disregard Of the interests of the State con
trolled in the land business and other Jobs.
such has not been the case in the mananen,cnt
of the Blue Ridge enterprise. Whether or
not the President used improper means to in
duce Legislation necessary to a continuance of
the work, he has certainly not converted the
funds appropriated to this end to his own
personal emolument, nor has he pitilcssy sac
rifced them. Granting there have been i'm
proper influences brought to bear upon the
Legislature in the interests Of this road, We
are disposed to look lenicntly upon them, as
proceeding from an error Of judgment, rather
than of integrity Wo know tho stong per-
sonal interest the President of this road has
felt in its completion, both from its impor-
tance to the State and the strong local inter.
csts of the up.country; we know with what
tv ond nnorou No lobo,oJ 10 .o..;..o H. .