The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-14
The Greenwood and Augusta RailrOad-A
Link in the Chicago Air Line.

/
There are few observant and reflective minds
in our midst bold enough to fly in the face OF
facts and dispute the proposition OF the COM
mercial importance, the mechanical and man
ufacturing thrift, and rapidly expanding gen.
eral prosperity of Augusta, at the present time,
is due to advantageous railroad connections;
As each of the complete lines of railroad CEN
tering in augusta have, in their turn, added
an impetus to the growth of the city, SO may
We reasonably expect a proportionate benefit to
accrue frorn projected lines now being dis
cussed amo1g our merchants and business men.
. Ofthe first Importance, as promising large
and profitable trade to Augusta from a thrifty
and prosperous section OF onr sister State,
South Carolina, the Greenwood and Augusta
Railroad-already surveyed and located along
a thoroughly practicable route-claims the
prompt and liberal encouragement Of our city
government and of our merchants, business
men and ca pitalists
We are assured by the most competent au-
thority that a subscription of S150,O00 by the
City Council of Augusta will SECURE this new
connection beyond the possibility OF doubt 1t
is now in order for our enterprising City
Fathers to give this project their most earnest
and careful consideration, and as early as prac-
ticable, consistent with the importance of the
subject, refer the matter to the citizens for the
ratification cf such liberal subscription as they
NAV be induced to make toward the consum-
nation of an enterprise cf such great impor-
tance to the future trade of Augusta.
Arguments and facts-clear, convincing and
conclusive-have been repeatedly presented
through the press of this city and portion OF
South Carolina, as well as by public speakers,
showing the great benefits to accrue to the
trade Of Augusta from the development of the
L -, Sc od
road has beeit located. It is not essential that
the length of this article should be extended
by a recapitulation of these arguments in order
to convince either our City Council or citizens
| in general that the completion of the Green
wood and Augusta Railroad will afford ample
return for the investments which they may be
called upon to make in furtherance of the en-
terprise.
Our Carolina friends are thoroughly in earn
| est in the effort to secure railway connection
with Augusta the market of their choice, and
we should at once give them practical evidence
of our cheerful disposition to aid and encour-
age them to the full extent of our ability.
Aside from the great local advantages prom
| ised to the trade of Augusta by the completion
of the.Greenwood and Augusta Railroad, re-
| cent developments in connection with the pro-
posed air line from Chicago to Port Royal in
| dicate that it is likely to become az important
and essential link in that projected great high
,,aa way between the Northwest and the Atlantic
ocean. The favorable geographical position of
| Augusta as point for the safe storage of Wes-
tern products, from whence prompt shipments
can be made on order to the choice of three
separate seapotts-Port Royal, Savannah and
| Char,eston-hes already claimed and received
due acknowledgement from prominent and
competent railroad men actively identified with
the projected short line from Chicago to Port
Royal. There are few, if any, of our dealers in
Western produce who will not concede that our
present Western connections are inadequate to
meet their commercial necessities. The fire.
quent protracte1 and annoying freight block
ades at Chattanooga during last winter, are yet
too fresh in their memory to need a recapitu-
lation to convince them that another Western
connection is essential to the satisfactory and
profitable conduct of their business. The pro-
posed connection with Chicago promises relief
| from the loss ard annoyance subsequent upon
the blockade of the single Western connection
upon which We are now dependent for supplies
! OF bacon, grain, &c. Our merchants owe it to
the interests of themselves and their patrons to
give whatever of impetus they can to the
opening up of this new route to the great West
| We doubt if they can more clearly demonstrate
| to our Western friends the desire to participate
in the advantages to be secured by this new
| line than by an earnest and practical effort to
place themselves in a position to make Angus
ia the objective point Of the Chicago air line,
| in securing tide-yater connection.
| A prompt and libensl extension of aid in the
construction of the Greenwood and Augusta
Railroad will, We. have little or no doubt, be
accepted by our Western friends as an earnest
of the active desire of Augusta to forward their
to fha f,1l Nf hor rohi
| ty. We are led to this conclusion from the
fact that one of the most practicable routes un-
der consideration for the new Western road is
via Knoxville and the Blue Ridge Railroad to
Anderson, S. c., snd from thence to some point
on the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad-say
Dorn's Mines-forty miles from. Augusta and
fifty-two miles from Anderson. The people of
the upper counties in South Carolina are pro-
nounced in their preference for an Augusta
connection over sill other suggested routes to
deep water, andsit simply requires q cores
ponding earnestness ON the part of Augusta to
secure a unanimity of effort, which will 60
very far towards inducing the location of the
Chicago Air Line Road on the route herein in
dicated- bringing into use something like two
thirds of the line of the Greenwood and Au-
gusta Railroad in reaching this city.
Quite sharp rivalry, however, is being de-
veloped in Edgefeld and Aiken counties against
the Greenwood and Augusta connection, and in
favor of the proposed line from Anderson to
Port Royal, vio Abbeville, Edgefeld, Aiken
and Allendale. A mass meeting of the citi-
zens of Edgefeld las been called to assemble
at the Court House, tomorrow (Monday,) to
select delegates to attend the Railroad Conven-
ton commissioned to do vigorous battle in IA
vor of the line taking in Edgefeld Court House.
The purpose of the mass meeting, as announced
and urged by the Advertiscr, is 20 authorize the
delegates to pledge subscription of 81: Sl0G @ 600
tion of the road on the route adverse to the in
terests of Augusta. A similar meeting has
been called in Aiken, and the indications are
that our friends of these counties mean busi
ness. We, are, at east, persuaded that it will
not be altogether safe for Augusta to assume
| ON indifferent attitnda in regard to the Ahha=