The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-07-18
GRAND RAILROAD MEETING AT HENDER.
S0NVILLE.

North and Souh Carolina, Tennessee,
Georgia and Virginia Representcd-
connection aoiM The great Rest Balhea
by only 1925 ,OOO-aN hands Pronounce
Jr the Completion Of tie great Route
Ne arrived at Spartanburg at $50 p.
NJ. Leaving Spartanburg at 4 p NJ, with
four coaches and an ordinary road engine,
We dashed away for the Gland of the Sky"
We made delightful trip to the foot of
the mountain pass and started up the steep
grade at a slow pace and crept along one
curve after another, when our iron horse
spished !" aud after "shaw !" ssshaw !"
'shaw" we came to stand still Two &C
tho coaches were then checked and the
engine took up the two others quickly to
the top of the grade at Saluda and returned
for us, when we were soon switched along
side and were off at dashing speed for
Hendersonville, where we arrived some
minutes before o'clock p. NJ. Let it be
understood here that we had not the r. Y.
McAden, the engine used for heavy work,
or there would have becn no detention
whatever. We heard but one expression
in connection with this feat of engineering
in climbing the Blue Ridge. 1t is pro,
nounced on all sides wonderful success.
Whenever the transportation and travel
needs it fresh engine, kept at the foot of
the grade, will enable any train to climb
the grade with perfect case in fifteen or
twenty minutes. With this exception, or
for 65 miles of the rout from Spartanburg,
there is no reason why 80 miles per hour
for express trains cannot be made as safely
as 10. The iron is heavy, the trestles are
all short, and the work substantial, so that
when through travel calls for it three hours
is all the time that need be consumed to
make the run from Spartanburg to Ashe-
vile.
The South Carolina Road by making
connection from Columbia to Orangeburg,
as the crow flies, over the best of road beds,
makes a saving Of at least Is miles, thus
avoiding the long and expensive trestlc
through the Santee swamp, aud cutting the
distance between this city and Charleston
TO 115 miles. Next connecting, bv most
admirable route, the Spartanburg and Union
Road with Columbia, this can be reduced
to S5 miles, making the distance from
Charleston to Spartanburg exactly 200
miles. This route, then, would require
from Charleston fours hours to Columbia,
and thence three to notwithstanding in all
ten hours. Adding two hours for stoppagcs
on route makes twelve hours in all that
will possibly be required in the run
from Charleston to Ashevile. Leaving
Charleston, then, at a. NJ. We would ar
rive at Ashev:le at 7 p. NJ, with dis.
tancc of 269 miles from the sea- Forty
two miles more carries us to Paint Rock,
and AZ miles more Of completed road, re-
quiring five hours, including stoppagcs, puts
us at Morristown, 353 miles from Charles
ton, at II o'clock at night. At this point
we are 80 miles from Knoxville by the
East. Tennessee Road and 40 miles from
Cumberland Gap, where all the Western,
roads will make connection with the great
North CAROLINA route to the sea- There is
no reason, then, leaving Charleston at
y. NJ, why Knoxville and Cumberland
Gap should not be made by 23O the next
morning, and Louisville and Cincinnati at
1870 L. NJ. the next day. Through to
Louisville or Cincinnati in 20 hours and 30
minutes! This is what this great route
means; this is what the Great meeting in
lcnde:sonvillc mSant; this is the high hope
that pu!sates now from Charleston to Kpc,S-
vile, Cincinnati and Louisville and onward
still to st. Louis, Evansville and Chicago.
The great dream of Hc.;yne is rushing to a
reality and only ol25,OOO is wanting to
1oot Ire b..",l, so far as we are concerned,
ana ,pen the way from the Ohio to the
sea, which, all told, will stand thus
Charleston to Columbia. miles
Columbia to Spartanburg. ......".... IS
Spartanburg to Ashevlle........... 60 miles
Asheyille to Morristown.......... "a
Morrstown to Knoxville. ............ 80
Charleston TO Knoxville. lc.......................392
Or to Cumberland Gap:
Charleston to Sparianburg. ........200
Spartanburg to Moristown................ 53
Morristown to Cumberland Gap.............. 40
393
Cumberland Gap to Louisville and Cincin-
nati....... ..l9o
Charleston to Louisville and Cincinnati. 1888
What does this mean when compared with the
present route
Savannah TO Macon. con.................... 100 miles
hGaan to 103 "
Chattanooga to Nashville. ............: i3o
5s2 "
Thus, showing Nashville, by the present
route, only six miles nearer than the Cum