The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-07-03
From Chicago to Georgia.

A number OF our wealthy anu euetSeoi0 laiA
road men met at the Office of Robert Rae, Esq,
No. 129 Dearborn street, on yesterday, 1or the
purpose of taking steps to organize company
to build direct trunk line and railway from
Chicago to the Southeastern Atlantic coast. ~,
Among those present from abroad were w.
S. Hayrnond, President of the indianapolis,
Delphi and Chicago Railroad Company; 1onn ON
M. Clark and Judge Boutwell,, OF Augusta, va.
The n.oposed road is to run an air line from
Chicaqo to indianapolis, on the continuation
Of the same course to the Ohio River, thence
To Lexington, Ky., and Knoxville, Tenn. E;
thence yia the Blue Ridge Railroad to Rabun
GAP in the Blue Ridge thence to Augusta,
Ga, the objective point; thence by roads al
ready completed to the coast of Savannah,
Port ROYAL and Charleston.
The airline distance from Chicago to Savan-
nah is 767 miles, while the shortest distance
by railway in operation between these points
exceeds 1000 miles. The proposed route could
be built at saving of more than 2OO miles
distance. or one mile in every five. BY the
new line Chicago and the Northwest would be
brought in direct commercial communication
with the important Atlantic harbors, and with
the States of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida, from which they are at
present isolated. These four States are manly
dependent upon the Northwest for their sup
plies of food, which they are only. enabled 70
obtain through indirect and expensive routes.
It was shown that Chicago was situated IN
central position to that portion OF North Amer,
ica, north of the Gulf of Mexico and east of
the Rocky Mountains. If we take as radius
the distance from Chicago to New York, and
with Chicago in the centre describe circle,
the end Of the radius would touch every i'm
portant ooint on the Atlantic coast south of
New York. viz: Norfolk, Wilmington, Charles
ton. Port ROYAL and Mobile. 1t was declared
to be the policy of Chicago to encourage the
building of new arms of commerce, which
should radiate from her as the centre, to every
point in Ghe country, and it was unanimously
conceded that the road was one of great lmpor-
tance, and now urgently demanded by CONNER
cial necessity. The feasibility of the route had
already been. determined by actual surveys,
while the cost of construction would be much
less than any other line that can be built from
Chicago to the Atlantic. 1t was shown that
by adopting portions of road already built or
commenced that there would only be about
500 miles required to complete the whole line.
The question has been sufficiently canyassed to
ascertain that the people along the whole line
are deeply interested in the project, and are
ready to grant every aid in their power to en-
courage ii. The right of way, with few excep-
tions, will be donated.
1t was also shown from official statistical re-
ports that the population and resources of the
line in taxable wealth are abundant to support
the road snd make it paying institution.
Among the prospective advantages claimed
for the road was the tropical trade, which
would naturally find its way inland through
the harbo;s above mentioned. The climactric
advantages of the new route offer great induce
ments to grain dealers; Knoxville and Augusta
are excellent points for storage and distribution.
1t was fully established by the testimony of
grain dealers that Augusta, the objective point
of the road, was the best point readily accessi-
BILE to the coast for storage, and was free from
all the objections known to exist at New Or
leans and Mobile. This road was declared to
be one of national importance, not only by
bringing into close commercial relation and
social intercourse the people of States separa-
ted by mountain barriers, but also valuable
auxiliary in case of foreign invasion, by fur
nishing means of quick transportation for
Western supplies to the coast; and in view of
the great Importance of the road as national
and international channel of communication,
it was resolved to apply to the next Congress
for a national charter. Among the advantages
claimed for national charter over the charters
now in existence are that it would give the en-
terprise national character and strengthen
the confidence of capitalists, and it would OBJ
yiate any unforeseen difficulties that might
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