Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-09-26
The BIuc Ridge Is:,ilrond.

through which tho South Carolina Railroad
and tho Grocnyillc and Columbia Railroads;
arc being forced will eventually, sooner or
later, place tho Blue Ridge Railroad in a
position that our people, by proper and ju-
dioous effort, may obtain control of it, aud
it is to be hoped that our public mon and
leading citizens will lot no opportunity slip
of securing SO great boon to our sootion
and to our State. 1t is needless for us to
attompt rehearsal of tho benefits to be
derived from this road being run in tho
interest of the people rs it now stands,
which the authorities Of tho Air Line Rail
road are ready and anxious to do if tho
opportunity was otforcd them, nnd still
moro needless for us to attempt to show at
this late day the great advantage Of having
this road completed through to tho West,
connecting that great country in tho most
direct aud natural way with tho Southern
Atlantic seabourd. Our people should be
further encouraged to move OF the proper
time, and move promptly, by the fact that
it would require but little effort to elliott the
sympathy and substantial aid Of Western
capitalists, and business men in this enter
prise. Not only will it secure them large
and lucrative trade in supplying tho South
with necessary Western products and
manufactures, but the possibilities of an
extensive trado with Brazil, in South
America, will not bo overlooked by tho
producers and manufacturers Of the West.
The resources of that vast empire are
rapidly being developed, the Emperor is
awakened 10 an earnest interest in the
progress Of his people, and demand for
merchandise aud machinery is steadily
going up. A New York merchant who
recently returned from that country, states
that the foreign trado of Rio Janciro alone
amounts to over Sll0,000,000 annually,
and yet, out of scventy-six mail steamers
which sail from that port every mouth, only
one flies tho American flag. The United
States purchase yearly of Braziion products
to tho extent of from $50, ,000,0 900, to s75-
100000, while our sales to that people in
tho same period hardly exceed S5,00O,000,
the ovcrplns of money received from US
going to tho merchants and manufacturers
of Europe. Indeed it is asserted that many
articles of American manufacture are sold
to them through European dealers. New
York has already awakened to the impor-
tanoo of securing this trade, and conneo-
ttouo IuSC Occu uiduU WIN u HuuUcr vi
Brazilian houses for the agency and sale Of
manufactured goods. The aocessibilites of
that region would be no more in favor of
the Eastern than the Western States, if
the Blue Ridge was completed and there is
no reason why the cities of tho Mississippi
Valley should mol successfully compete with
the world, especially in the introduction
and sale Of labor saving machinery. Brazil
is broad field, spread open before Western
manufacturers, who are ever on the alert
for new markets, and this road would bo
well worth their serions consideration and
thorough investigation, especially wheu
they arc fully informed that the Blue Ridge
Railroad will not have to bo built, but only
flushed. We think the signs of the times
are "somewhat ominous," aud no submit
this artclo to our readers that they may
think of this all important matter, and be
proposed for action when tho proper time
arrives, and not lie listless and idle while
sections On all side of us arc improving
their natural resources and bulldog up
their industries. Lot tho Blue Ridge
Railroad be secured by our people as it is
and the day will not be far distant when
Anderson will bo mctamorphosed from q
sleeping station on railroad branch into an
important branch on grand trunk railway.
dnderson Journal.