The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-23

and make Charleston ohs Of The greatest
shipping points i'll America fst these
commodities, besides a#ording our whole
sale merchants valuable and easily con-
trolled trade with the Northwest, from
| which they now have no trade at all.
This is, as we have said, the most desirable
road Of any that is projected, but it is not
the only road of Importance to this por-
ton of our State.
We need railroad connection with
Augusta, and the securing of sach road
at an early day Is d matter of very great
impoftance to the Savannah River side
of South Carolina. Indeed, the PROPOSE
tion for communication with Augusta
from upper Carolina by rail is being agi-
tated to considerable extent, and is
assuming practical shape. The pro-
jected line from Greenwood is about to
be begun, by the securing Of convict la
Dor under the recent Act of the Legisla-
ture. and when finished will place us in
position to effect communication with
Augusta by building short line to tap
that road. To secure, however, the fullest
benefits from such a combination, our
people ought not to wait until the other
line is completed, but should move in
accord with it, and be guaranteed forever
against any discrimination against our
connecting line by the company owning
the main line. Indeed, if proper steps
are taken there is no reason why Ander-
son and Augusta might not be the termi-
nj of the road, with Greenwood as the
terminus of a branch road.
Our people should give this scheme
their earnest and active attention. We
should go to work for the organization of
company and the securing of portion
of the convict labor upon our end of the
line, and no time should be lost. There
are two lines for connection with the
Greenwood & Augusta Road from An
derson. The first is the old Savannah
Valley Road, which, going by Lowndes-
vile, would join the other line at Dorn's
Mine, in Abbeville County, and the Sec
ond is by Abbeville Court House, which
would tap the Greenwood line at point
much higher up than Dorn's Mine. The
first of these lines is preferable, in our
opinion, for several reasons. 1t would
be more cheaply constructed and if built
would effectually prevent the construc-
ton of the road across the river, which
might injure Anderson. While this is
the case much as to our preference of
routes would depend upon the interest
manifested along the two routes, and as
to which would be able and willing to
make the largest subscriptions towards
building the road. This road would af-
ford us a competing line and do much
to break down railroad monopoly, besides
opening up and developing new and
valuable portion of our State.
In reply to the second question as to
our ability to build road, it must be adj
mitted that we have very little money,
and that such scheme as the completion
or even extension of the Blue Ridge
Road is at present out of the question,
but by securing the convict labor of the
State we are satisfied that sufficient
amount of money can be raised by private
subscriptions to construct the road to
Dorn's Mine. The country through
which it will pass is very favorably loca-
ted, and it will not require much more
than forty miles of road to accomplish
the desired end. By vigorous and de-
termined effort, enough stock at twenty
dollars a share can be secured to build
the road we believe, and thereby connect
Anderson with Augusta. We hope con-
ventions of the people may be called at
convenient points along both the pro-
posed lines, and that the people be ac-
quainted as speedily as possible with the
necessity for the proposed road, and be-
fore another year arrives it is probable
work will be commenced upon whichever
line manifests the greater interest in the
undertaking.