The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-07
THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.

TEE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.
The proposition to build the Blue
Ridge Railroad by convict labor in this
State is now before the Legislature in q
tangible shape, under resolution offered
by Mr.. Werner, of Oconee, authorizing
the Governor to furnish 200 able bodied
convicts to any company who will guar
antee the completion of the road within
four years. This is not as liberal as We
were in hopes the General Assembly
would be towards the completion of this
grand national highway, and ne trust it
will yet be amended so as to give two
hundred convicts absolutely to the enter
prise, and furnish them with clothes and
rations during the time they are engaged
in this great State enterprise, taking stock
| in the company to the value of the labor
| so furnished. This is the policy which
| North Carolina has pursued with her
convicts, and it is well worthy of our
| imitation. No State has ever been great
in its railroad facilities, and the commerce
| consequent upon the possession of them,
without pursuing most liberal policy
towards the work Of building the main
links of the system. In our former days
of craftsmanship and prosperity South
Carolina pursued the most liberal policy
towards the construction of railroads,
looking to the development of a.general
system, but since the war this policy has
been dissipated, and now there is scarcely
a hamlet which has not railroad charter
and is not jealous of every other route, so
that the State is not united on any rail-
road system, and as a consequence our
cities and our commerce are fast dwind-
ling into insiguifcance. II may be a
startling statement, but tits nevertheless
fact, that there is not radial and ter.
minal railroad center within the State:
Columbia is only way station upon the
several lines passing through it, while
Charleston hss but four lines of impor-
tant road, and none of them are great
through lines, but are entirely roads with
in the State. The South Carolina line is
lost at the foot of the Blue Ridge, the
North Eastern line is lost at Cheraw, the
Augusta Division of the S. @. R. R. only
controls to Augusta; and the Savannah
& Charleston road is only short link,
giving neither increase nor impetus to
the trade of Charleston. The great
through lines fit through South Carolina,
bearing their treasures of trade and
wealth into other States, and subsidize the
territory of South Carolina to distant and
foreign markets. They are disapating
1 instead of building up the commerce Of
South Carolina, and it is time for our
people to realize the injury: that is being
done the future prosperity of the State.
The Air Line road, for instance, benefits
Greepville, Spartanburg and some local
points, but it Injuries other points from
Charleston up at least as much as the
local benefit it confers. The Same is true
of the G., C. & a. R. R., and of the W.,
G. ga. R. R. We do not object to
numerous railroads, but we should as a
State locate such through lines as to con.
troll the railroad system, to build up and
not tear down our State commerce. We
are interested in having great metropo-
lis within our own limits, and nature has
tgiven us Charleston as the most suitable
point to build up.
| The completion Of the Blue Ridge
Railroad would link Chicago to Charles
ton by direct rail, and would necessitate
the deepening of her harbor by national
appropriations, which would. render her
the rival of Baltimore or New York in
point of commerce and shipping. Such
a transformation would give new life to
the industries of our whole State, and
give new and multiplied influence to US
| in the nation and the world. There is
nothing short Of the Blue Ridge Railroad
which can secure this great desideratum
for South Carolina. Our statesmen fore
saw and appreciated this fact, and stead
lily worked for its consummation. If it
was important in their day, it is an abso-
lutte necessity in ours, and We hope the
present General Assembly will, ignoring
| all local interests, unite in forwarding
| with liberal hand the construction of
this absolute necessity Of our age. The
State had better build this road and give
it away than to let it fall through, or be
constructed through the State. of Georgia.
1t is the last chance for commercial great
ness to Charleston-it is the final al.oppor-
tupity for permanent and increasing
wealth and prosperity to the whole of
South Carolina as State of business i'm
portance. If the members of the Legis-
lature fail to be liberal towards it, they
will commit blunder which it may
never be in their power to repair.
STATE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE.
The State Democratic Executive Com
mittee met in Columbia on last Saturday,
at which time the resignation of Judge