Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-09-08
Continued from Second Page.)

The result is while last year we under
took a work to cost nearly a million
dollars Isl 600, 000) with assets amount
ing to one hundred and tweuty-eight
thousand dollars ($l2S,00O) this year
we find ourselves supplied with five
hundred thousand dollars $500, 000) to
accomplish a work to cost only seven
hundred and ten thousand dollars
(S7l0,000).
Or in other words, while last year
our means for constructing the road
amounted TO but 9 per cent. on the es.
timated cost, this year our means have
been so enlarged as to reach 40 per cent.
of the.cost thus making our cOndi-
ton nearly nine times better than it
was last year. Can any one now doubt
the final success of our road?
The proper way in my judgment to
carry it on is, by steady advance of
the construction in "A continuous line
up the mountains as far ss our means
would carry us, Si50,000 would carry
the road to Places Gap, where the
Henderson and Polk counties meet,
and from thence TO the Butt Mountain
Gap is but a short distance of 81 miles,
and here the costly construction ceases.
Whenever the road shall reach this
point, the current of travel and traffic
struction thence to the Swannanoa
River junction would follow without
difficulty.
In speaking this route, the language
of Gov. Robt. Y. Hayne is as true to-
day as when spoken, in 1867. He
said: at can not be doubted that
there is no route hy which a railroad
can be carried across the Blue Ridge
at a cost for construction anything like
equal to that Of the route which passes
along the valley of the French Broad
River. After laborious and patient
investigation, with all the lights of
thorough explorations and reports by
engineers, the unanimous conclusion
has been reached that the route by the
valley of the French Broad River was
superior to every other in the whole
extent of the mountain ranges di-
viding the Atlantic from the Western
States.n And in addressing the citizens
of Tennessee he said: Mature, too,
has clearly pointed out the true route
by the valley of the French Broad
River, where, for upwards of 100
miles, you encounter a rise of only S
feet to the mile to attain the summit
of the Blue Ridge, from
whence, by an easy de-
scent, you reach the eastern base
of the mountains, and from thence find
level country the whole way down
to Charleston. a route which is be-
lieved to be without parallel in the
topography of the world. Whatever
may have been, hitherto, the impress
sion as to the character and condition
of East Tennessee, there is within that
seemingly limited district of country,
unbosomed between the Allegheny
Il n hnr tni
cealed sources of neutrality-suspicious.
mineral and manufacturing-than is
to be found within similar extent in
any other portion of the United States.
AN OLD LETTER.
Mr.. Duncan also read an extract
from letter written by Col John
Baxter, now of this city, but then a
resident of Henderson county, n. c.,
on the subject of this road, dated Hen
jacksonville, n. c., November 18th,
1854, or twenty-one years ago, and adj
dressed to the editor of the Spartan,
The extract is as follows:
I'm 1876 it was a gigantic conception
of our cOuntrymen and fathers, that
of Harvesting in close commercial in
tercOurse the cities of Charleston and
Cincinnati and all the immedi ate
country. 1t was an enterprise alike
worthy of their energies and hOnora-
BILE to their characters as men of sagac-
ity and intelligence-an enterprise the
consummation of which was ardently
desired by every patriot But it failed
and what could not then be done by
one single organization, is now almost
completed by separate companies
little effort worthy of those interested
the formation of one more company
h.. 80 aNf 90 To-, =,
railroad on our part and we are in con-
/ nection, not simply with Cincinnati
the prime object of the men of 1876, but
with Chicago, city farther off anC
destined to Outstrip in commercial i'm
portance the furnishing city of Gin
cinnati. Gradually have these i'm
portant points been approaching each
other with mutual anxiety, and ought
nOt-must not--be much longer KEEP
asunder. A straight edge placed on the
map from Charleston to Chicago, take!
in Columbia, Spartanburg, Asheville
Greeneviile (Tennessee), Cumberland
Gap, Lexington and Cincinnati. The
northwest has penetrated, by roads al
ready built, the very heart of Ken
4 lucky, and by another effort of Amer
lean enterprise she is advancing TO-
wards the Paint Rock, uniting the
DOulH, WIFI uluCu Ol Tue WOIh dlIedNlJ
= completed, TO make one more effort fol
the contamination Of union fraugh
with peace, harmony and commerciP
prosperity to both sections. Sirs, this
great object must not be abandoned
The French Broad route has advan'
tages possessed by none others. II
Knoxville alone was the point TO bC
reached, this is as near as the Blue
Ridge road, with 90 miles less road tC
be built which can be done at one
third of the costs. But what is Knox
vile in comparison with other points
especially when, by the same eXpendi
ture, those who wish to have commu
nicatiOn with Knoxville, are accom-
mOdated, and much else accomplished
men of larger views gratified-thC
interest of a greater extent of country
promoted ~
President Wilson thanked the gen,
= tleman for his remarks, and said tina
he felt the truth of his remarks. There
was certainly market in the Soutt
1 for all the grain and DrOdupa of this