The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-07-25
ANDERSON COUNTY, S. c.,
Ju1v 9 1870

licitine consignments of cotton, would gladly
ship to your market, but the facilities are not
sufficient. The river is too slow and uncertain.
In these days we can't wait week or two to
ship cotton we must "realize" quickly. The
trade of this country would all 60 to Augusta
if we had the facilities necessary and why the
citizens of Augusta-who are wide-awake,
energetic people-do not make exeltions to get
it, is beyond my comprehension. They have
now splendid opening to get the trade of the
whole Savannah Valley-the counties of FL
bert, Hart and Franklin, in Georgia, and a
large portion of Anderson and Oconee, in
Ridge Railroad ut Walhalla by the shortest
line that can be made to the seaboard. 1t would
be useless to enumerate the advantages of such
connection, as they are obvious to every one.
But there is project on foot now that may not
only take from you this trade, but lose you
what you now get from Elbert and all the
counties adjoining and above. You are aware
that they have railroad chartered from Ell
berton to intersect the Air Line at Dry Ponds.
/ hear that company have made propositions to
the Air Line Company to lay the track and
equip and run the road. If this is done, of
course the Air Line Company will hold the
controlling power and run the road for their
advantage, and all the freight will 60 North.
I hear, also, that it is proposed by the Augusta
and Hartweli Road to unite with that road at
Elberton or Hartwcll. You can see in mo-
ment what the consequences would be. Instead
of getting more trade, Augusta would lose much
that she now has. There is way now opened
for you to push forward and take advantage of
the opening in this country and secure the
trade that if left to seek its own way to market,
will 60 to Charleston or New York. That is,
take hold of the Augusta and Hartwcll Rail
road and run itup the valley of the river to or
near this point-cross the TGgalo and run to
Perryville or Walhslla. If you do this at once,
the Elberton road will not be built, and, Of ne
cessity, Augusta would get all the trade of the
Georgia side, and very large proportion of
the Carolina side of the Savannah would take
that route in preference to the Greenville and
Columbia Road. When you get I'd this point
and cross the Tugalo, all the produce would
take that route, as well as that of Hart and
franklin counties, as it would be the nearest
point for them and possess more advantages
The Air Line Company made grievous
mistake in the location of their road; they see
it already, but it is too late to remedy it now.
They have lost all the produce of Franklin
and Hart counties in Georgia, and Anderson
and Abbcville on this. side, by running too
high up; but it has left fine opening for Au-
gusta, if she will only step in now and take it.
Augusta is compelled to have an opening in
this direction, and sooner or later it aciH be
built, but if she delays much longer, other
roads will be built, and divert all the produce
to some other market. 1t is easy to keep
trade, but very hard to get it back when it is
lost.
I merely make these suggestions, hoping
that you will talk this matter over with your
friends-get up some interest in the matter
and see if you can't induce your city to move
forward and put this important road at work
send out your engineers survey the route-get
up subscriptions, and capitalists will take hold
of it and build the road for you when they see
you are in earnest We have charter for
road from Walhalla to the Tugaloo which can
be used for this road if secured in time, other
wise it may be taken by the Air Line for their
own advantage.
Yours respectfully, 81.
Now, NIessrs. Editors, the points made in
this letter are plain and direct. Our cores
pondent states that time is too important an
element, in these days of high rates of interest
and stringent money matters, to be overlooked.
The river is too slow medium of communlca-
ton, and existing lines of railroads are un-
friendly by location and control, and therefore
we cannot expect them to further Augusta in
terests. Cannot some arrangement be made by
which the control Of the charter of the Angus
ia and Hartwell Road can be made, which will
give confidence in the enterprise? 1t seems to
me that there can be, and am sure that every
Augusta merchant will take little stock to
help tho enterprise.
MERCHANT.