Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-05-14
STRIKING SOUTHWARK. -


w. S. Raymond, President of the In
dianapolis, Delphi and Chicago Railway,
has addressed letter to Mayor Medill, OF
Chicago, on the subject of "contem-
plated air line railroad from Chicago to
Savannah, Ga, via indianapolis, Lexing-
ton, Knoxville and Augusta Mr.. Hay
mond argues that the time has come when
Chicago must seek the immense advantages
that must result from direct connection
with South Atlantic seaporrts, and that by
the proposed line that city would be link
ed with Savannah, Port Royal and Charles
ton. He further says, that in addition
to uniting herself with the cotton-pro-
ducing regious of the South, she would also,
from the peculiar situation of the harbors
referred to, be enabled to control the COM
merce of the West India islands. Speak
ing of the inauguration of the movement,
he says
The inaugural movement of this grand
scheme took place at indianapolis on the
5th of February last. Since then 1t has
received the entire cooperation OF the Peo-
pie along the proposed line in Kentucky,
Tennessee, North and South Carolina and
Georgia. A charter was granted by the
last Legislature of Kentucky for the link
of the proposed line from Lexington and
Client, on the Ohio River, opposite Vevay.
The Legislature of North Carolina, also, at
its last session granted charter permit,
with extraordinary privileges, for the por-
ton of the road, about seventy-tive miles,
running through that State; and so far as
1 am able to ascertain, charters have been
obtained for all the links that will compose
the line. The Northern portion of the line
is embraced by the charter of the Indian
apolis, Delphi and Chicago Railway Com
pany. This will he almost an air line be-
tween Chicago and indianapolis, and will
pass through Rensselaer,, Jasper county,
Ind, and Monticello, Delphi and Frank
fort, county seats of White, Carroll and
now being surveyed from Indianapolis to
the Ohio River, and will be united to it by
an amendment to their charter. This will
afford q much better and shorter line to
the Ohio River than any now in operation,
and one, too, that never can be equaled.
The point for bridging the Ohio at Nevay
and Client, is the best between Louisville
and Cincinnati, so stated by the engineer
in the recent survey.
The letter is interesting and the writer
speakswith perfect confidence as to the FEAST
Utility of carrying out his plans. 1t is one
of the most important railway lines ia the
Union, and one that will be built. AS 9TH
er communities or rival cities spread out
their arms to grasp in the commerce and
wealth of the country, Chicago will not lay
behind and this is an opportunity she will
not fail to improve. The Inter Ocean al
luding to the above letter says:
The convention referred to in the above
communication was attended by represen
tatives from along the entire line in Indi-
ana, and much enthusiasm was evinced
Addresses were made by the President o
| the Delphi and Chicago line and otheI
prominent railway men and citizens. TIT
distances by the proposed line were stateC
| to be as follows: From Indianapolis t
Lexington, 156 miles from Lexington t
Knoxville, 1SS miles; from Knoxville t
| Cotton Fields, 14S; from Cotton Fields t
| Augusta. lis; from Augusta to Savannah
| 100, making total distance of 727 miles
| The mountains of North Carolina aboun(
| in minerals, and the country between Lex
ington and Knoxville possesses eXtensiv
coal and iron fields. The route is said Il
| be very practicable, and a large amount O
| work had already been done between Lex
ington and Richmond, and from Knox
| vile north 4G miles had been graded an
80 miles were in operation. From Knox
Vile south l6 miles have been put in oper
alton, and considerable work had bee
done on the line from Maryville to tn
Tennessee river. In favor of this line
was urged that the seaboard could be reacf
ed more easily than by going to New Yor
or Philadelphia, and thus an importar
outlet secured for the product of the Nortl
while tropical productions could be return
ed at much cheaper rates than by preser
routes. Subscriptions in large amour
have already been secured and the man,
gers are pushing the enterprise as fast
practicable.