The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-09-11
Fer the anderson Intelkgencer.
ABBEv1LLE COUNTY, s. O., |

IttGGttyCfECSTs
ABBEvILLE COUNTY, s. G.,
September 1st, 1873.
DEAR HoYT: We parted with the htslzigea-
Ger about twelve months ago, the absence Of
which we have too often felt. So come along
again and tell us how the railroad rings are
working, and what the prospect for getting the
Chicago and South Atlantic Railroad by your
place; and what route from thence to the Az
lantic-whether by Abbeville, Edgefeld, Aiken
and to Port Royal, or by Dorn's Mine, Angus
ia, and thence to Port Royal.
From what we can gather from the Augusta
papers, the citizens of that place are anxious
to shake hands with the citizens and city Of
Anderson, and connect the two places by rail
road. We are aware, however, that this route
will meet strong opposition from good por-
tion of Abbeville, Edgefeld and Aiken. This.
however, is not strange or new to railroad en-
terprises, as every town OF neighborhood must
have the road run by or through our town or
neighborhood or not have it at all. Thus the
many must be deprived of the benefits of q
railroad for the good of the few. Just so with
this, the greatest of railroad projects in South
Carolina, and I for one would be glad to know
that there is public spirit and capital enough
still in the land that cannot be compromised by
sacrificing the good of the many for that of the
few, or from prejudice or fear that Augusta
will be benefited at the expense of Charleston.
Not so, however; it is not that we love Charles
ton less or Augusta more, but that the people
of the upper Counties have long felt the effects
of the monopoly exercised by the G. & G. Rail-
road in the carrying trade, and the want of
competition in markets to buy and sell in.
Consequently, we are in favor of the Augusta
route, via Dorn's Mine, not only because of the
competition in the carrying trade and markets
of Augusta and Savannah, but because it is
the cheapest and as short route as can be had
TO the Atlantic, as shown at the Abbeville Con-
vention, (where distance was only compared.)
know, sir, that you are familiar with the
country from Anderson G.. H. to Rocky River
Church, a distance of 18 miles. By keeping
on the west side of the Flat Rock road, I doubt
very much if there would be cut or an en-
bankmentS feet high or deep to Anderson. At
or near Rocky River Church, you have natu-
raj gap through which to cross the ridge, half
o mile from Rocky River; keeping down the
side of the hill, you can run to the waters
edge or bank Of river on bluff 1S or 20 feet
above water, or by elnbankment on west side
of river $50 yards long. You have just as good
bluff on the east side Of the river, and hill
side along which to run, and another natural
gap through which to get out from the river
on to the ridge between Rocky River and Jor-
dah-or as it is known on the map of the State,
McKinley's Creek-where you have another
stretch of is miles, equal to Or better than that
on the west side of Rocky River, which will
carry you down into the fat-woods country,
which everybody knows to be beautiful, level
country, reaching to or near Little River, at
any point where it may be desirable to cross in
making the route to Dorn's Mine.
We do not claim this as being all the advan-
tages or inducements offered by this route.
Take, sir, the map OF the State and look at it,
and You see that you run parallel with and at
no point more than 4a miles from Rocky River
in running distance of 80 miles, which, as
you know, bears its true name, for no stream
in the State, of the same magnitude, can boast
of better water power, which must sooner or
later be brought into use in the manufacture
of cotton, -four, lumber, wooden nutmegs &c.
At or about the distance of 30 miles from An
derson, you necessarily commence a slight
curve in the road, else run into the Savannah
River. Mr. James Edward Calhoun owns
seven miles of as fine shoals on the Savannah
River as there is in the world for manufactu-
ring purposes; thus, by making this. slight
curve in the road, you run parallel with and
within to miles of the Savannah River for
a distance of 10 to IL miles, depending upon
where it would be practicable to cross Little
River; thus you will bring into notice IS to 40
miles of water power, which may not long lie
or run idly by if this route should be adopted,
which is not only practicable one, but is al
most an air line for 80 miles, running directly
south from Anderson.
Push on the work, and send me the lntekli-
qencsr. DIAMOND HILL. !