The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-08-01
OLUM S. G..
Friday Morning, August l. 1873.
The Projected Spart nburg nnd Ashe-
villo Railroad.

The prime wants of South Carolina
are economical government, popular
education. the infusion Of new popula.
tion, the developm ,nt OF manufactures,
and the extension OF her communica.
tions with the ports Of Europe by vessels
sailing and stcaming directly between
them ana Charleston, and with the
Northwest by opening the projected
lines of railway through the mountaius
to the inviting valleys and cities Of that
prolific region. We have great advan-
tages in this State in soil, climate and
location. and in the traditions which
link us to prosperous and glorious past.
We have produced great men here. lead.
ers in the great revolution Which scpa-
rated the American colonies from the
British Government and established re-
publican institutions on this continent,
and in the second war with the came
power, which resulted in liberatipg our
commerce from it's shackles and in Civ
ing freedom to the seas.
Another field now invites our efforts,
another task is before us. The era Of
material proGress has dawned, aud we
m1st a1iress our bo.t energies to the
accomplishment Of new destiny. The
first thing needed is nmpler and easier
rail and steam communications with The
rest Of the world. Instinct and interest
incline our people to closer connection
with the great Northwest. They feel
the throbbing OF mighty future, when
the grain. provision producing regions
shall be linked by iron bands with the
no less great and fertile cotton belt, and
with the Atlantic and Gulf ports. Heaven
speed the day, for it will be one OF COM
meroial independence, and the har-
binger, we trust. OF an une1ampled pros
perity.
OF the several projected railroad lin es
through the mountains Westward, thnt
from Spartanburg to Asheville and
thence to Wolf Greek, the present ter
minus of the Cincinnati, Cumberland
Gap and Charles ston Railroad, is one of
the most promising. The questions Of
engineering aud of cost of construction,
as we'll ns Of the general advantages,
have been settled long 90 in favor Of
the route. War, financial embarrass.
ment, unsettled government, and gene
raj prostitution, have retarded it for some
years past. 1t is now revived, and the
people Of Sparsanburg and of tho Coun-
ties OF North Carolina through which it
is to pass, are alive to its importance,
and promise liberal subscriptions.
Charleston and Columbia are expected
to come to the aid of the scheme. The
Charleston commissioners have Just is-
sued an enlightened address to the peo-
pie OF that city, much OF which will ap-
ply 10 Columbia. We commend the
matter to the serious consideration of
our people and to that Of capitalists and
contractors.
The commissioners demonstrate the
advantages OF the connection to Ashe-
vile, even should the road stop there.
But they proceed to show the length of
links which remain to be constructed be-
yond it to connect with Knoxville, aud
the certainty that they will not be me-
elected. From their address, we COPY
an interesting passage upon this point:
But it may be said Asheville has no
connection by rail with the West. Very
true, Asheville is forty-four miles from
Wolf Greek. the present terminus of the
Cincinnati. Cumberland Gap and
Charleston Railroad; but we entertain
no doubt that this road would be COM
pleted to Ashevlle before we could reach
that point, if We were now ready to be-
gin work on our road; but should we be
III error in this opinion. and our road
stop at Asheville for years to come,
would not Charleston be repaid for the
expenditure necessary to secure this con-
nection2 Most assurcdly, for this road
would restore TO her the valuable trade
of the fertile valley Of the French Broad
and all Western North Carolina. which
she at one time enjoyed, but lost entirely
after the completion of the East Tennes.
see, Virginia and Georgia Railroad and
the road from Morristown, O point on
that road, to Wolf Creek, in the French
Broad Valley, which gave the trade of