The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-11-15

Aiken has our heartiest sympathies,
aud we commend in advance the mea.
surcs which he will institute for the
great and useful objects which he has
go warmly taken in hand.
|
RAPID PRoGREss OF THE SPARTAN.
DuRa AND AsHEy1LLE RAILRoAD.-A
letter from Secretary A. G. Kaufman,
dated Asheville, N. c.. November 8.
1874. says:
II there be one who still disbelieves
that the Spartanburg aud Asheville
Railroad is in process of construction,
(thoogh 1 question If any such can be
sound,) advice from Spartanhurg to
AshevilIe, ola the Howard's Gap Road.
will speedily remove this ''lingering
doubt" The long avenues OF cleared
land through tho forest, ready for the
pick and shovel. the sharp stroke of
the axemen still clearing. the gruded
bed, the blasted rock. tho "cuts and
fills" show that the contractors are in
earnest, and that this road is rapidly
becoming an entity. Considering tho
short time the road has been under
contract, (on!y tco months. J the diff.
entity of thoroughly organizing force
OF this kind, &C., the amount of work
done is really surprising. The railroad
contractor oftentimes finds as much
trouble in organizing his corps as tho
general does in disoiplining an army of
recruits. Fortunately, this company
has, as it's chief contractor, Mr.. E.
Clayton, an experienced hand in rail
road work. and whose admirable dis.
oipline shows that he understands the
management of men. Every thing
near him beams with activity and life.
There are no drones around his hive.
Diving up to Mr.. Clayton's quar-
ters on Windmill Hill, about fifteen
miles from Spartanburg, in company
with Col. Thad. Coleman, the efficient
Chief Engineer Of the company, we
found several new log cabins, con.
structed in very primitive style, aud
in the smallest of them, the central
figure of the group. stands the lodge
OF our venerable friend. I use the
term venerable with some caution; for,
while Mr.. Clayton admits that he is a
man Of large experience, he would
not, I am sure, submit to the insinua.
ton that he is man of years. (One
prominent feature in Mr.. Clayton's
connection with this road must not be
overlooked. He is laboring to com.
plete it not simply as matter of dol
lars and cents, bat to crafty, as he
says, the ambition Of his Iife.)
The following brief sketch, hastily
made up by Chlot Engineer Coleman,
will give some idea of the status of the
work: "Messrs. Corpening, Fortune
aud Patton, sub-oontractors, have
charge vi the 'ino from Spartauburg to
Windmill Hill. They are working
from the latter point towards Spartan.
burg. Mr.. Clayton has the four miles
covering Windmill himself. DR.. Nc
Dowell has the two miles West to Mr..
Clayton and North of HIM extending
to Notices Creek. From Notices
Creek to South Pacolot, nearly two
miles. Capt. VIM. Fortune is working.
Cnpt. NJ. j. Fugg and himself have the
contract from Notices Creek tc the
South Carolina State line. Ground
has been broken on every section of
this division. The division is about
twenty five miles long. The work is
progressing we'll. A great deal of the
right-of.way has been cleared. and
next month will show full estimate.
BY Christmas there will be several
miles (say six) ready for the track.
The locating party will reach Howard's 3
Gap next Wednesday, Tine line is
good. Average monn hi q grade seven
ty.four feet per mile. Hope by Jan.
nary to CLOSE up the location to Ashe.
vile, 80. We have $50 laborers en-
ployed."
st. Louis is enjoying bit of panic
on account OF q threatened change in
the channel of the Mississippi, which
would leave st. Louis high and dry.
A great dyke has been built, with the
intention of turning the river below
the city and making new land in that
vicinity; but instead OF that il has set
back tue water and changed the cur.
rent above the oity, at the same time
outing away tract Of some thousands
of acres of land from Illinois and add.
ing it to Missouri. This called on. a
remonstranoe from Governor Bsve.
ridge, of Illinois, to which the Mayor
Of St. Louis replies that the city is DO.
ing all in its power to repair the da.
mage done. for its own sake as we'll as
for it's neighbors.