The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-07-09

DEAR SIR. -t'uf reasons lOr oalllHS
the Convention, mentiehcd,. is to get
the different sections Interested to-
gether, So that a concentration OF
action can be had in every State. 1t
may be best not to- have large body,
But q good representation from every
section-men that would take an IN
tercstsin working up the enterprise.
Committees op charters should be
selected, also one on correspondence,
to write to financial agents in refer
ence- to, the. best and safest plans to
procure aid, and what; capitalists
would require in charter asking for
aid, also various committees on differ
ent aosaSjscts,, ind ono especially to
collect and lprepareL. for distributing
information that would have an
influence in the minds Of the people
along the route m - xS' ~
In order, to- create smcans, ! have
thought it best for us, as the creates,
portion of tho line" would pass
through a mountainous country, and
probably other sections where lands
were cheap and ;unimproved-to Sc
euro by subscription and donation a
large portion of these lands at a fair
and reasonable valuation NOT for
getting first to get cash subscriptions.
In East Tennessee am confident a
large amountlof land will be donated,
and tho same in S. W. Virginia. In
some localities they have agreed to
give us one half of their lands'if the
road should be put through their
respective sections. ~ -
The vast mineralwealth firm Ports
mouth, Ohio, to Ashyille, N. C., lbe
yond the last point am unacquaint-
ed, is superior to any other section
in the United States In the vicinity
of Portsmouth, taking, radius of
so miles, there are over sixty flrna-
ces in blast which is two-thirds the
number located in the State of Ohio.
With this number at one terminus, I
cannot see why the, iron interests
along the route cannot be made pro-
fitable. ~. o- /
Prof Bradley, in charge Of. the
Geological Department. of5ou7 Uni
versity here, reports spocular Iron
ore in largo quantities near and in
the vicinity of Warm Springs, N. c.
Twosvery large furnaces are in ope-
ration in Greene County Of this
State, using Brown Henitcte ore.
Many other furnaces would go into
operation if transportation was pro-
vidcda The coal Of S. W. Virginia is
considered the best in the South as
they ,have Block Bituminous and
Camel. The Block and Camel are
valuable for smelling purposes. Your
section has undoubtedly, iron.-rDica,
md other minerals that wouldi~fnd
Developments. :, Your fine timber
would end q valuable market in Ohio
and the Northeast. No railway en-
tcrprises has ever been started with
any more assurances of a large trat-
fc than this t enterprise. "A narrow
gauge ,withits capacity and adapfa-
bility to mountainous districts, econ
omy o., construction, being 40 per
cent less than the broad gauge, will
meet all requirements for, years. to
come aud give capitalists a sure
and safe investment.
I have been IN correspondence with
Mr.. Wilson, and he srqpresents the
people. enthusiastic an. reference
to continuing the line from
your town to Brunswici1-a branch |
could be built to Port Royal and Sc
cure the trade of both hartorss Pro
badly his Influence viii help consider
ably. Wefhare concluded 10 set che
3Oth day of September if suitably to
yoasand Others. let me hear from
you're vsGeu s:gsbfa3d Jj&9ci9 s r: q
-nd q O.1G.!i VANnERHOOF. .
aI}E! 30 .2L........A Z .LGgs! ~ ~