The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-01-27
CHICAGO AND CHARLESTON.

CHICAGO AND CHARLESTON.
A. new competitor for the grain
trade of the Northwest is about to
appear in an unexpected quaTter.-
Charleston, South Caroline, has be-
come terminated, and will enter the
lists as a rival of New York: Boston,
Philadelphia, and Baltimore, offering
u better home market than either for
the grain and provisions of the section
of which Chicago is the centre: and
holding at least equal advantages for
commanding the export trade. Within
two or three years Charleston will oc
cupy the place in public attention
that Baltimore now holds, and the
completion of the Chicago and South
.Ytlantc Railroad will be looked upon
as an event of Importance equal at
least to that of the Baltimore and
Ohio which has just been welcomed
to this city.
In the dark days cf the panic OF
1873, a meeting Of railroad men Of
the Northwest and Southeast was held
in this city to consider the project Of
building trunk line to connect the
two sections. Seven Statcs-Iliinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Gcor-
gia, North Carolina, and South Caro-
lina-were represented. The confer
ence resulted in determination to
forward the enterprise with all possible
dispatch, and was followed by another
convention held two months later in
Charleston, under the auspices of the
Chamber Of Commerce Of that city.
The preliminary arrangements were at
once completed, aud the great work
was commenced.
The Chicago and South Atlantic
Railroad will constitute trunk line
from Chicago to Charleston, the route
being from this city to the State line
at Dyer, thence through Indiana to
the Ohio River at Fcvay, thence
through Kentucky to London, thence
via Spartanburg to Charleston. y
very large portion Of the line is already
built and in operation under different
companies, while the new company is
filling in the gaps, connecting the
different links, and making one con-
tinuous line, which it will control aud
operate. The road from this city to
indianapolis is under contract, and one
hundred and FIVE miles are nearly
completed. The work is being pushed
ahead as rapidly as a due regard for
economy will permit, and the COM
pauy's resources are said to be ample
for the completion of the entire line.
To the cities Of Chicago and
Charleston this enterprise is one Of
vast Importance; to the latter city it
is of surprising Importance, and its
completion will be the beginning Of
new era for South Carolina. The road
will traverse vast extent Of fertile
territory hitherto untappcd by any
railroad, and will afford the means for
an immense exchange of the products
of various climates. 1t will open to
Chicago an extensive market for grain
and provisions, 1t is estimated that
forty millions of bushels of corn arc
consumed annually in the Southeastern
States, which will be supplied by this
road, and, with its completion, they
will for the first time experience the
benefit of an abundant supply Of cheap
provisions. There is no better market
in the country for the rapidly increas-
ing products of the Northwest than is
found in the section which this road
will reach. Not only is the demand
for consumption very large, but the
export demand will be correspondingly
great. Charleston has fine harbor,
and very important shipping inter-
est. which has been largely increased
within the past two years. 1t is now
the most prosperous seaport in the
South, and the favorable prospects Of
this new trunk line Indicate that its
prosperity is destined soon to receive
very gratifying impetus.
OF course Chicago cannot look upon
this enterprise with Indifference
When Boston builds new elevator.
Chicago hesitates not to speak word
Of encouragement; when Philadelphia
starts new steamship line the word
OF congratulatiou is not delayed, and the
new competitor for the trade controlled
by the Garden City shall receive the
same fair treatment. TO long-suaerlng
Charleston just entering upon new
career of enterprise and prosperity
Chicago sends greetings, and best
wiehne of c,ccpSc