The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-01
THE RAILROAD CONVENTION.

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In addition to the reported proceedings
of the Blue Ridge Railroad Convention,
there is rot much to say concerning the
assemblage in Charleston last week. 1t
was an able and digni6ed body of gentle
men, embracing representatives from
Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and
South Carolina, who were intent upon
whatever means might be employed to
resuscitate their favorite project, and re-
lume the hopes of more than one-third of
century. The attitude of Charleston
towards this enterprise occupied large
share of attention among the delegates
from other sections, and several of them
gave expression to their surprise and dis
appointment that the citizens of Charles
ton did not manifest more general inter-
est in the revival of this scheme, which is
destined to awaken commercial activity
and restore its ancient prosperity as the
leading metropolis of the South. We
will not investigate the causes which
provoked seeming indifference and
apathy among the business men of
Charleston, for the mere repetition of
reasons therefor will not tend to produce
desirable results in the future. 1t is suf-
fcienS to know that the delegates were
made to understand that Charleston was
not ready to engage in any project look
ing to investments in railroads. At
some future time, when the skies are
brighter and the financial distress has
has been lifted from the country, it was
intimated that the merchants and bust
ness men of Charleston will rally to the
project of completing the Blue Ridge
Railroad, and lend their assistance to-
wards opening up this great highway.
But we must be permitted to remark that
the projects of the Railroad Convention
were misconceived and misunderstood by
the good citizens on the seaboard. 1t
was not an effort to commit the people of
that locality to the subscription of one
dollar in aid of the enterprise, nor was
there the slightest prospect of a moneyed
discussion, until this feature was brought
to the attention of the delegates from
distance. The difficulties which environ
the Blue Ridge Railroad are complicated
and almost innumerable, and these OBJ
stacles must be removed before there can
be any reasonable advance towards its
completion. These obstacles and diff
culties are as we'll understood in Charles
ton as in any other section interested in
the building of the road, and we take it
that the greatest good to be attained by
an assemblage of delegates from the
different States was to devise measures
for the accomplishment of this object.
In our judgment, the citizens of Charles
ton might aid such an effort with the
utmost propriety, and at the same time
stand aloof from entangling themselves
with financial obligations, which we were
plainly told they were unable to do just
now. But the measures to which we
refer were not even considered, for the
reason that Charleston assumed its posi-
ton at once and gave no assurance that
its citizens were willing to cooperate
with others in an effort to free the Blue
Ridge Railroad from present embarrass-
ments, with view to re-opening the
question as to its construction. Our
friends seemed to ague from the stand
point that any movement in this direc
ton necessarily implied the contribution
of money at this time, and the result was
to discourage. and dishearten the dele
gates from abroad, who are determined
to seek an outlet in another quarter, un-
less the people of South Carolina will
inaugurate measures for the relief of
their favorite route from litigation and
embarrassment. Upon the citizens of
Anderson and Oconee Counties will
mainly depend the Inauguration of prac-
tical measures for the ful6llment of this
desired object, and unless we are content
to witness stagnation and prostration of
every business interest, the energy and
thrift of this section will speedily devise
the methods for reinvigorating the ex-
pectations of our friends across the
mountains and bringing unto life the
decaying remains of the Blue Ridge
: Railroad. 1t will require unremitting
work and arduous efforts for small COM
munities with slender means to pluck
success in this undertaking, but only by
these means can aught be done to rescue
ourselves and posterity from a blighted
progress and ignominious failure as COM