The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-05

by the United States government upon
his helpless widow and orphans, and 1T is
not anticipated that much objection will
be made. Surely none should be made.
The Blue Ridge. .Railroad-HOpes Of its
Completion.
The recent activity in railroad centres
looking to the establishment of through
trunk lines from the West to the Atlantic
seaboard, has aroused the friends of the
old Blue Ridge Railroad to the impor-
tance of its early completion, and with a
view of securing attention to this once
popular, but of late years neglected en-
terprise, its claim to preference is again
put forth in the most earnest and conf
dent manner. 1t is the route selected
by the projectors of the railroad system
| in South Carolina, when that system
tended to the development of the COM
mercial and material interests of the
State. Numerous surveys were made of
all the gaps in the Blue Ridge mountains
which lie accessible to lines of railroad
crossing these mountains from this State,
and after mature deliberation it was Sc
lectcd as the best and most desirable line
to the West, both in its bearing upon the
commerce of Charleston and its impor-
lance to the State at large. On the
Blue Ridge Railroad the grade is but
seventy feet to the mile, which is lower
than the grade of any line that has yet
crossed the mountains, and ffty.six-
feet to the miles less than the grade
with which the Baltimore and Ohio road
passes them. This is, of course, very
great consideration in the adoption of
route intended for freight purposes, and
is one of the greatest advantages the
Blue Ridge line has over others. 1t is
also a central line passing directly to
Knoxville and the West without
dependence, this side of Knoxville, upon
any other railroad until it gets into this
State, where its connection with Char
lesion is natural and easily controlled by
the interests Of the Greenville and Co.
| lumbia and the South Carolina Railroads.
Its control in the interest of Charleston
possesses US of the Raubun Gap, and
Shuts off the Augusta and Knoxville
Railroad, which might in the future
prove inimical to the trade of Charleston
and the material development of the
State
The soundness of these views is gener-
ally admitted, and the trouble in the
case is one of finance. The road is an
expensive one to build, and many have
thought it easier to reach the West by
some other route on this account. In
reply, the friends of the Blue Ridge
Railroad present the condition of the
road as gathered from the report of the
President, Gen. Harrison, to Governor
Orr in 1868, which may be briefly sum-
med up as follows:
Whole length of road from Anderson
to Knoxville 1876 miles of which 81 miles
lie in South Carolina, II in Georgia, 79
| in North Carolina, and 81 in Tennessee.
In South Carolina there was originally
3,749,4 ,423 cubic yards of grading to be
done, of which 80 per cent. is finished,
leaving only 2,623 to be done. There
was 1918 cubic yards of tunneling, of
which 66 per cent. is finished, leaving
$3.50 to be done. There was 2S,49O
cubic yards of bridging and masonry,
of which "a per. cent. is done, leaving
1884 cubic yards. In square drains and
culverts there was 10,47l cubic yards, of
which "a per cent. is done, leaving
1870 cubic yards.
In Georgia there was 1,362,643 cubic
yards, of grading, of which As per cent. is
done, leaving 747, 1862. In tunnelling there
was 1859 cubic yards, of which Is per
cent. was done, leaving 81, ,657 cubic yards,
of which, however, about three-quarters
was finished in 1870; SO that, perhaps,
not more than $500 entire yards remain
to be done. In bridge and arch mason
ry there was 7,347 cubic yards, of which
46 per cent. is done, leaving $3.50 cubic
Yards. In square drains and culverts
there was 1926 cubic yards of which rs
per cent. is done, leaving 1886 cubic
yards.
In Tennessee there was 1875, 1873 cubic
yards, of which 80 per. cent. is done,
leaving 1,257 ,591 cubic yards. In tun-
nelling there is 1,O45 cubic yards yet to
be done. In bridge and arch masonry
So per cent. has been done, leaving
7,744 cubic yards. In square drains and
culverts 4S per cent. has been done, leay-
ing 6,844 cubic yards.
In North Carolina no work has been
done, leaving 2,146,252 cubic yards of
grading, "a, 1876 cubic yards of tunnelling,
1861 cubic yards of bridge and arch
masonry, and 11,O6s cubic yards of
square drains and culverts.
Since this report was made, new line
marked out for the road avoids the tun-
mel in this State, and passes the mountain
with short cut of fifty feet, so that the
charge for tunnelling in South Carolina
should be withdrawn. The new survey
makes numerous improvements upon the
line and greatly decreases the cost of its
completion, so that the friends of the
road calculate that by this survey it can
easily be built through to Knoxville at a
cost of two or two and a half million
dollars, at the most liberal calculation.
In order to put the road in shape for
completion and secure the necessary
means, the Legislature will be called
upon to give certain rights and immuni
ties to any person or persons who will
complete it within definite period, and
some of the Counties along the line pro-
pose to make liberal corporate subscrip-
tions to effect this purpose. The object
is worthy one, and the Legislature
should not hesitate to grant such privi-
leges as may be reasonable to advance
the construction of direct, feasible and
greatly desirable Western connection,
which will give to Charleston the advan-
tages her position as q port entities her
to, and thereby reflect its benefits upon
every portion of the State. Thirty-three
miles of the Blue Ridge Railroad are
already running in this State, and twen-
ty in the State of Tennessee. The work
which has been done upon the line is Of
the most permanent and thorough de-
scription, and will last for many years to
come even without being completed.
The road runs through n country rich in
mineral resources, and will certainly do
| h,,s ,0t, 70 in, hot