Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-07-18
The Muscle Shoals H,nprovemcn.

| The work of eating q channel through the
ledgos of rock in the bed Of tho Tennessee
River between Banbridge and Florence, a
distance Of six miles, is progressing fnvora-
bly, There are in the six miles only eight
hundred !cet Of rock to be cut through. The
width Of the cut is one hundred and fifty feet
Tho surveys of the government engineers
have established the fact that tho rock in the
bed OF the river is not Of indefinite depth as
has generally been assumed, but that it varies
| from two to six feet in thickness, lying on
gravel or mud, which will be removed by the
| current after the rock is blasted out. The
plan adopted by tho engineer in charge is to
drill holes entirely through the ledge, in
which to sink cartridges Of dynamite, that
| break tho rock into pieces which can be lifted
by tho dcrricks. 1t is estimated that n
.ann !arther En- appropriation by Congress of
$5OO,0O0 will suffice for the completion
OF the work within the next two years, thus
extending tho Mississippi navigation to
knoXvil..
As soon as the work ut Muscle Shoals is
finished, tho work Of connecting tho Tonnes
see and Coosa Rivers should be begun. The
distance is short, and the cost Of such work
bears no proportion to tho benefits that it
would confer upon tho people Of Alabama
a still less costly canal would then extend
the Tennessee River to the Ockmulgee and
the coast of Gcorgia. This would gieo tho
people of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida
cheap transportation. which is nll they need
to insure them prosperity and independence
1t would open up the iron beds of North
Georgia, and give South Georgia the
products that she needs at the lowest possible
cost.
Lot no ono imagine that we are discussing
an impossible or all improbable scheme. Tho
surveys of the govornment hive demonstrated
% in nj
AMI we may be sure that tho heavy expendi-
lures at Muscle Shoals will be mado to bear
fruit by linking of the waters of tho Ton
nesseo with th0so Of the scaboard. Such n
water way is greatly needed, and concert of
action on tho part of tho southoast can aud
will secure it. Its cost would be but II partial
offset to tho immense expenditures Of tho
general government in tho Northern States.
AHanta Constitution.
IIuNEA PATm, S. c.. July l3.--Not since
the memorable days of 1876 has there been,
such q large meeting hold hero as that Of
to-day. There was union picnic Of tho
Changers and tho Ionca Path Democrat
Club ia tho largo grove just below tho rail-
road depot. which was attended by botwcen
1000 and 5000 persons. Many eolorod people
could be scen in tho audience, who took
great interest in the speeches Besides
Anderson, Abbcvillo, Laurens and Grecnville
Counties were we'll represented Speeches
were made by Prof. Wm. Hood, of Duo West,
Col. Il. NJ. RuckoY, Hon. James L.. Orr,
Hon. Il. w. Simpson, Hon. B. Z. Crayton,
Col. i. B. Murray and others, all of whom
ably discussed tho political situation and
pointed out the duty of the hour. Old Ander4
son is determined not to DO outdone in her
majority for Hampton in the approaching
election, and will send her best men to the
Legislature. Even at this early day the
public enthusiasm is almost unboupded in
thia section. No division is thought of or
will be tolerated hore. Let tho other counties
.ofthe State follow Anderson, and all will be
WE'LL Columbia Register.
as Gov. Hayl amt os penpsylsanie. has signed
fertyystwo .dcath warrants during his adminis-
.tsation. & 81. II e. vi