The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-21
The Railroad convention and its Results.

the several delegaAlonS, ny when IL was pro-
pesed. to build Il Railroad from Anderson to
Aiken, and theace to Port Royal, making con-
nection with Augusta by the most practicable
route The Convention virtually adopted the
charten Of the Anderson, Aiken, Port Royal
and Charleston Railroad" which was granted
at the last session of the Legislature, the pro-
visions of which will admit of direct connec-
tion with Augusta. Measures were inaugura-
ted to procure meeting of the corporators at
an early day, when arrangements will be made
to open books of subscription at the principal
points along the route. Besides this action of
the Convention, a committee was appointed to
represent the interests of this route to the
corporators of the Chicago and South Atlantic
Railroad, attend any meetings in furtherance
of that project. and supervise the contemplated
survey of the proposed route, south of this
place, together with power to re-assemble the
Convention when it is deemed expedient.
Able and eloquent speeches were made in
support of the various schemes, and it was
evident that the strongest talent had been Sc
cured by our friends below to urge their views
upon the Convention. The compromise effect
ed does not ogree with the plans heretofore
presented by this journal, since it was our ear
nest desire to keep within the scope of the
through line from the Northwest to the South
Atlantic seaboard, and which has designated
Augusta, Ga, as the most southern point yet
named in the scheme. But, strange to say,
Augusta was not represented in the Conven-
ton, and its friends and advocates we're greatly
embarrassed by this failure or neglect on the part
of Augusta. We relied so confidently upon
the, willingness aud anxiety of our neighbor
for railroad connection through Western
Carolina, Independent of any through line to
the West, that we were deeply chagrined and
disappointed ON learning the fact that no dele
gates were appointed to the Convention, and
that the inception of this movement was al
lowed to go by default. Under these circum-
stances, while adhering resolutely to former
convictions, We were obliged to recognize the
apathy or indifference of our neighbor, which
plainly foretoad the result of the meeting, es-
pecially as the friends of the Aiken route were
strong in numbers and influence.
But we must look to the future, in the light
of recent events. The contemplated route from
Anderson to aiken gives us the advantage of a
charter already obtained, and which is liberal
in its provisions beyond anything that might
be secured hereafter. The counties through
which the road will pass are abundantly able
to offer great inducements to the friends OF a
through line from the West to the seaboard,
and as direct line to the ports of Charleston
and Port Royal, the Aiken route possesses ad-
vantage in distance over all competing lines.
With the adoStion of the Blue Ridge Railroad
as connecting link in the great trunk line,
and the completion of thirty-two miles of the
road in South Carolina, together with liberal
subscriptions by the various counties, our
friends in the Northwest might be induced to
retrace their steps so far as designating any
point below Clayton is concerned, and frankly
consider the prospect Of material and substan-
tial aid likely to be furnished on either route
from Clayton to the seaboard.. And this does
not leave Augusta out of the scheme proposed,
for it is expressly provided that there is to be
connection with that city by the most practica-
BILE route, meaning the Greenwood and Augusta
Railroad, or road direct from Edgefeld G. H.
In the absence of any positive assurances from
Augusta, perhaps 1t is we'll the Convention
went no further in that direction, leaving this
point to be more definitely settled as future de-
yelopments night indicate wise and proper.
We feel assured that there is an earnest de-
termination To construct railroad from An
derson to Aiken, by the way of Abbeville and
Edgefeld, which would penetrate one of the
richest portions of South Carolina, and secure
q rich and reIaunerative local trade. Besides
without constructing another mile of railroad,
the up-counsIy would secure a connection with
the city of Augusta by the. Columbia and Au-
gusta Railfoad, and thus obtain competing
line to other markets than those within reach |
through her present railroad facilities. All
this may be accomplished through the energy,
perseverance and united efforts of the people |
of Anderson, Abbeville, Edgefeld and Aiken,
with such assistance as could be secured from
other quarters interested in the project; and
as we have ssid before, the early construction
of such a Road being made evident to our
Northwestern friends, there is little doubt as
to its having an influence upon their subse-
quent action in regard to direct connection
with the seaboard. We cannot afford to be
idle, when there is so much activity in other
localities-the success of whose schemes be-
tokens the complete isolation of this section of
the State.
Carolina Military Institute.
We learn taat Col. ]. P. Thomas, late of the