The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-06-08
The County Suhscriptionfp the Air Line
Railroad.

e. The citissnpf Anderson eo,tnty are requesr
lfaed; TO asssmhls In the Court House on Tuesday
next 18th of June, to consider the prepriety Of
making asubscrip iption. to- the capital stock of
the. tlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway
Compau9 LISA practical question, and is to
be determined BY the citizens. Hence, every
man interested in the future welfare and mate
rial interests of this county should give the
benefit of his advice and counsel as to the pro-
|priety Of making this subscription. None
should be deferred from making known their
views and opinions, whether favorable or un-
favorable to the proposed action, The meeting
sheeld be largely attended, therefore, as it is
the entering wedge to project, in whicheyery
property-holder especially is deeply interested.
II is,useless to say. that we are heartily IN
favor of the County making liberal sabscnp-
ton to the capital stock of the Air Line Rail
road. have labored too long and earnestly
towards securing this Road and its benefits to
our people, to relax any effort at this impor-
tant juncture, when .there:ista strong probabili-
|ty that vigorous and united action at this time
will bring to our doors this great arterysof
communication between the commercial world
/ Of the Northern States and the fertile valleys
and rich productions of the Southwest. -
/ But let us examine the connection of the
people Of Anderson with This grand. enterprise,
and. glance briefly at the prospect of realizing
the expectations SO long entertained by many
leading citizens at the completion Of this inl-
portant line of railway Twelve For fifteen
years ago, the plan originated to connect the
city of Atlanta and the town of Anderson by
direct short line, which would become the high
way between. New York and New Orleans
The energy and public spirit then manifested,
aided by a'desire to fully develope this region
of country, soon obtained charter for the
stAir Line Railroad in South Carolina" from
Anderson Court House to theIsavannah River,
to connect with, the Georgia Air Line Rail-
road, !" from Atlanta to the Savannah River.
Under this charter, il was contemplatedto to con-
struct railroad upon an aair ineo between
the points named; and when the road was
completed TO. anderson, either to combine with
the Greenville and Columbia Railroad, anduse
Its, track from this place to Newberry, and
thence construct road direct to Chester, tor to
build a road from Anderson in the direction of
the North Carolina line, somewhere above Co.
lumbia, along tho route of the Charlotte Rail
road. tLiberd subscriptions to this enterprise
we're obtained i'll this State and in Georgia.
Officers were elected in both States, and sur
yeys were made between Anderson and Atlanta.
When the war began, the prospects Meree fat.
tering that the Air. Line Railroad would be-
come . fixed fact But the struggle Of efoar
years efaeed every effort in this direction and
completely stopped its progress. Ia .fsitrgszdts
Shortly aaef ihe war closed, probably within
twelve Or eighteen months after its termination,
the citizena of Atlanta we're urged By certain n
Northern capitalists to revive this project; and
fendeaver to complete Road destined to- play
so important part N .transp porting passengers
and freight from one section to the other of the
United States. The Southern people were too
ipoor and bqoken in, fortune to- attempt this OBJ
iect alone, and united with certain gentlemen
|lof New York city to carry out the original de-
sign. cit became necessary, however, to ask as
;sistance Of the State of Georgia 5; and in order
Ito secure the influence of Northeast Georgia in
1.-The Legislature, st was determined to. abandon
so;much of the original idea as adopted an "air
tlinep for the reute.i In this way, The st6wn Of
lsGinssyille was selected as one of the points TO
|Ibe touched, since twas stipulated that State
laid aid Wouid:be given. upon condition that the
RaaE would located by that place. I'm this
arrangement, olr Georgia friends acqpiesced.
1.-THE control of the charter in South Carolina
had been surrendered previously to the North
fern company, and the location of The route to
|fGainesyilIs vas made Soon afterwards Some
three OF four, years ago, the charters again
changed hands, whenthe Richmond and Dan
IIviIle Railroad becameslargely interested III its
|;control, The President Of the Road just men
Itioned became the President Of the Air Line
tlRailroaasc .AR amended charter Vsas obtained
From the Legislature. Of fsSouth Gasolfnain 1858,
(which authorized The subscription Of lands by
and of money by towns and coun-
Eties to the capital stock. Other towns and
fcounties began. to discuss their chances of Sc
Ecaairiinng iing the, Road by ginducements inthe
way Of subscriptions, asprosiaed in the amend
Fed charsen ;Spartanbarg and Greenville sub
Escribed each $3.50, 600, and secured the location
|iof the route through their market towns
iPckens FIJI subscribed 500, ,OOo, and oconee county
kpledged sl500o0 more. aii .7i.
Under advice ofrom certain quarters there
was no.elfort mads 10 obtain like subscription
|,from Anderson County twas deemed prena,
ture to- take such action simultaneously. with
other counties, and consequently the matter
was delayed. In September, 1862 al the lar
gest public meeting held in this County since