The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-11-20
The Chicago and South Atlantic Railroad
BLUE RIDGE VS.. FRENCH BROAD.

BLUE RIDGE vs.. FRENCH BROAD.
Mr.. EDITOR: The Charleston Neeos and
Courier, of the 9Th inst, publishes letter
from Mr.. James B. Steedman, on the Chicago
and South Atlantic Railway and the conven-
tion held in its interest at Chicago on the 9th
of October ult.
The writer has fallen into one or two errors
in his statements, and plainly implies that the
Anderson delegation to that convention exhibi-
ted spirit of hostility to the interests of
Charleston in the projected railway. And the
editor of the News and Courier, in commenting
on this letter, in the same number, ndulges in
reflections quite severe upon Anderson and its
delegates He says, "AndersoH is doing the
best it can for itself, but we confess that its
filings at Charleston have done much to cause
US to look with disfavor upon the Blue Ridge
route, which we have, hitherto, stoutly sup
ported. When town which expected to thrive
by the expenditure of Charleston capital and
by the completion of Charleston undertakings,
turns its back upon its friends, and ISLANDERS
them besides, it has little claims upon our con-
sideration."
I have no wish to invite controversy with
either Mr. Steedman or the editor cf the NeaUs
and Courier, but common justice would seem
to demand that ask small space in your
columns to say word or two in reply and
vindication.
The special matter Of offence to our Charles
ton friends seems to be the argument used by
one of our delegates against their city as de-
pository of grain and -four. I am not the
author Of the argument, and shall not venture
to put myself forward as its vindicator, when 1
believe the gentleman whe used it is able to
take care of himself. But, may say in pass
ing, it obviously applies as we'll to the rival
cities of Port Royal and Savannah, Or any
other Southern seaport town, and gives them
no advantage in this respect over their sister
city. And the editor has the explanation in
what was said of the interior towns of Aiken
and Augusta as suitable points for storing
grain.
Of the supposed advantage of Port Royal
over Charleston in her deep water harbor, I
have only to say our Western friends seemed
greatly impressed by it in the very inception
Of this enterprise, long before the Chicago
Convention was held In the Augusta Con-
vention, where the enterprise first assumed
definite shape, if they did not make Port Royal
the objective point on the seaboard, they GER
tainly made Augusta ION the highroad to it, a
point on their line. With this Anderson had
nothing TO dot was before she was invited to
take part in the grand scheme; and perhaps
if Mr. Steedman and his editorial friend had
kept more steadily before their minds, or been
more familiar with, the true history of this pro-
jected railway, they would have found less to
complain of in the course pursued by the adyo-
Gates of the Blue Ridge or Rabun Gap route.
The Augusta Convention resolved itself into
an association, to be called the "Chicago, Au-
gusta and South Atlantic Railway Association" :"
and agreed upon general location of the road
! from Chicago, via indianapolis, Ind, Lexing
ton, KY, Knoxville, Tenn, and down the Blue
Ridge Road to Clayton, Ga, and thence to Au
gusta by the most practicable route. This was
in substance the resolution upon the location
of the main trunk, and at the instance of Gen
Harrison, the mover of the resolutions, and a
| Blue Ridge man, branch road up the French
! Broad Valley, from London, KY, was suggested
and provided for. Under this resolution a
committee was raised to collect information,
and report, at subsequent convention to be
held in the West, the most practicable route
| from Clayton to Augusta, having reference to
local contributions Of material aid, cost Of
construction, &c. 1t was in this way Ander-
son came to be interested in the enterprise, in
her efforts to secure the location of the main
trunk, from Clayton to Augusta, down the
Blue Ridge. And the voluntary association Of
| Augusta was the foundation upon which was
erected the present Chicago and South Atlantic
Railway Company, organized, as it is said, un-
| der the laws of the State Of Illinois.
| It will be perceived from this short historical
sketch that in the very outset the Blue Ridge
route, from Knoxville to Clayton, was adopted
for the main trunk of the Chicago and South
Atlantic Railway and we had no certain
knowledge of the efforts of the friends Of the
Asheville or French Broad route to supersede
or dispace the Blue Ridge route until our visit
change in the name, by dropping Augusta" "
but the explanation given, both before and
during the Chicago Convention, was that this
was done to meet the views Of the capitalists
whom they desired to interest in its construc-
ton, and from whom they expected to derive
aid that these latter thought it advisable not
to finally determine upon the route until after
the most thorough examination of the two
routes open to their selection. This was GER
tainly tantamount to a withdrawal of their as
sent to the location agreed to in the Augusta
Convention; recision, in fact Of that action.
But only to leave the question of routes south
of London, KY, entirely open; and we received
the most unequivocal assurances that this ac-
ton was not intended in the least to prejudice
the future chances of the Blue Ridge route: 1t,
after full Investigation, all those considera-
tions which 60 to make up the practicability
of a route-such as distance, cost of construc-
ton, local aid, desirable connections, &c.,
pointed in favor of the Blue Ridge route, it
would be adopted; if to the French Broad, 1t
would be adopted. Such is my understanding
! of the matter, and such in substance, tmnk,
was the declaration of the distinguished Vice
President of the Company, Mr.. Rae, on the
| fnor of the Chicann CinnYention and Mr.. Steed-