Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-25

road from Gainesville to Tugaloo River; and
in the spring of 1872, the remainder of the
road, from Spartanburg to Tugaloo was let
out to contractors, who speedily put great
force to work all along the line On the 26th
of August Just past, the last spike was driven
by President Buford, at Seneca Bridge in
South Carolina. I believe have given you
brief sketch of the main points in the histo"
nv of the road from its commencement to its
completion.
Reporter-I am much obliged. It is a
great work, with an eventful history, the COM
pletion of which is matter of just pride to
all who have been connected with the work.
Will you, if there is no impropriety, inform
me what has been the aggregate cost of the
road up to this time?
Col. Sage-The road, with the equipments,
has thus far cost about s30,00Oper mile. The
length of the road is 265 miles, which makes
the cost $3.50, 900, or in the neighborhood OF
sS,OOO,OO0. This is in stock and bonds.
Reporter-When will your schedule be
promulgated, and the regular running OF
through trains be commenced?
= Col. Sage A oonyentinn Of the representa-
tives of all the roads from New Orleans to
New York will be held here On Monday next,
to arrange this schedule. We have made up
one which we like, and which we thought
would meet the approval of all the roads, but
some of them did not approve it, and they
are all coming together to compare views and
agree upon a schedule. The trains will be
started as soon as possible.
Reporter-How much will the time to New
York be reduced by your route?
COL Sage-The time from this point to New
York will be only from forty.one to torty-two
hours. The shortest time by present routes, l
believe, is 4S hours. :, ),
Reporter-Who are the present stockhol-
ders or owners of the road?
Col. Sage-It is at present owned by the
Southern Security Company.
Reporter-I suppose already the road
through this extensive, mountainous and long
neglected country, is already showing vast
signs of improvement in buildings, cultiva-
ton, the enhancement of real estate, etc.
Col. Sage.-Yes, very great indeed. 1t has
infused new life everywhere-sucha as l have
named, at Norcross and Buford. When the
train first reached Gainesville, there were less
than five hundred inhabitants, and not house
had been built there in twelve years. Now
there are fully two thousand five hundred in
habitants, and three hundred houses have
been built. In 1870, there were eight bales
of cotton sold in that town last year, there
were nearly three thousand bales disposed OF
in that market. Similar Improvements are
going on at every point on the entire line.
We then thanked Col. Sage for the very in
teresting facts he gave us and retired; and in
concluding this notice, we will remark that
the building of this road, through this switz-
erlandic region, which has, nearly all the way,
been across the great mountain ranges, and
not parallel -thereto-thus making the gra-
ding among the heaviest ever done in Ameri-
ca, and all, with its equipments thus far cost
ing only $4,000 per mile, is the hig hest evi-
dence of the economy and ability with which
the work has been performed. The State en-
dorsed the bonds of the company, but the
company decided not to use the bonds, and
returned them to Governor Smith.