The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-05-21
Correspondence Of the Atlanta Constitution.

Editors Constitution: My last was WrleIen
from Gainesville. I indite this at Anderson,
South Carolina, one of the lovellest and most
prosperous places in Carolina. In former
letter I stated that the Air Line Railroad Com
pany seemed so intent on true air line, that
thew did not 7ary from their course for such a
town as Gainesville.
My impression then was that they had kept
an air line as near as the topography of the
country would admit, but have since learned
that was in error The impression is general,
and seems to be we'll founded, that the location
of the route in this State was an unfortunate
one for the road and for Atlanta. 1t misses
Anderson, which is on true air line from
Atlanta to Charlotte, some fifteen or twenty
miles. This place has a population OF near
5000, and they have received and shipped this
season $4,000 bales of cotton, nearly one-thlrd
of Atlanta's receipts, and all OF this would
have gone to Atlanta instead of Columbia and
Charleston if the road had been built BY this
place, according to the original charter and
survey.
This is only a small item, as the best portions
of Greenyille, Spartanburg and Laurens coun-
ties would have added their quota to swell the
freights of the road, and necessarily to Allan
ta's prosperity. AS located, the road runs
parallel with and near a range of mountains,
~
chickens and chestnuts, instead Of from one to
two million dollars worth of cotton annually:
The Anderson branch of the Greenville and
Columbia Railroad has it's terminus here, and
it connects with the Blue Ridge Railroad,
which is finished from this place to Walhalla.
The Air Line Railroad crosses this road at
Seneca City, some 20 miles north OF Anderson
To add to the misfortune of location, these two
latter railroads are at logger-hea6s, and freight
shipped from Atlanta to this place, which
should be delivered in two or three days, fire.
quently requires as many weeks. 1t is, perhaps,
some consolation to know that the Blue Ridge
Road is to be sold on the l4th OF May, and 1t
is hoped that the Air Line Railroad Company
will purchase IT, and thus, in part, make amends
for the past. The people here prefer to trade
with Atlanta, but the local freights over two
roads, and the delay in receiving goods, turns
them in other directions. Atlanta has lost, and
will lose annually, millions of dollars by these
troubles, and she should see to it that these
mistakes be corrected as far as possible. Since
I have been here I have been reading the ettu-
sions of the editor of the Columbia Union on
the resources of upper Carolina. These articles
truly portray the intelligence, energy and en-
terprise Of the citizens and the immense re-
sources of the upper counties, but true to his
politics he explains it all by saying 1t is one OF
the crowning benefits Of radicaisin Ihe
true solution is much easier and has the merit
of truth for its foundation. Lower Carolina
as we'll as lower Georgia, the former cotton belt
of these States, have large preponderance OF
negro population, while the upper counties
have white majorities. The upper counties in
each State are making grand strides IN the
march of improvement and progress, because
the whites labor and direct, and besides havea
nj hno1f hu
climate.
The lower counties languish because of the
thin, worn out soil, but. chiefly because the ne
gro element predomiuates and governs in the
cotton patch. Sambo has no superior in the
cultivation of cotton when under the control OF
higher and interested intelligence; but he is
equally failure in the cotton field and leglsla-
tive hall when left to the solitude of his own
resources The whites in the upper counties
find that they can make more cotton, at less
expense. to the hand than in the low counties,
By using fertilizers, and while the crop is di-
minishing yearly in the former cotton region,
it is increasing where it was not raised until
within the past few years. These are the true
causes of the prosperity of this section, and
Radicalism with its blighting touch has moth
ing to do with it. :, .,
The people here are easier, pecunlarIly, than
in any section of the South. Were 1t not tor
the unfortunate political condition OF the State,
with its myriad Of Offices and thief In every
one, this would be as desirable as any part OF
our great country. Trodden down and op-
pressed as they are, the citizens seem to be
possessed Of energy and enterprise rarely dis
PLAYED under such circumstances. Only few
DAYS since company was formed, capital sub
scribed, and officers elected for the purpose OF
building cotton factory near this place. Inns
was done by the old citizens without waiting
for some English Lord to come with his mil
lions to their aid Some of the merchants say
that railroad from Anderson to Gainesville,
so as to have direct communication with Allan
ia, "The hub of the South" is one of the ne
cessities of the times. I understand that
charter was granted for this road by the last
Legislature If Atlanta will put her broad
and willing shoulders to the wheel this road
will be built Another road between the Air
Line and the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta
will be built at no distant day. This road
when built will work for or against Atlanta,
according to its location. Even now, one is
talked of to run from Washington, Georgia, by
Abbeyille and Laurens, South Carolina.
At no time in the history Of this State have
the people taken a deeper interest in education,
and, in fact, everything that pertains to pro-
gress. than they are now taking. The Carolina
High School formerly the Johnson University
is located here. They have full and efficient
corps of teachers, and what is equally impor-
tant they are receiving very liberal patron
age. This, like the one at Gainesville, is for
both sexes. The opinion seems to be gaining
ground that the plan of educating the sexes
in the same school is the proper one,
The people here, while they deplore Their tilel
political condition, seem to take very a!tle ~
interest in the politics and legislation OF the
State Georgia is frequently and admiringiy
spoken of as being the only Southern state
whites and blacks are alike satisfied with legis-
lation. Ex-Governor Vance, of North Carroll
ma, made one of his characteristic speeches at
Greenvile short time since, and did much to
cheer up the faint-heartel as to the possibility