The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-24

work, and expressed great confidence in the
ultimate success Of the enterprise.
He then threw n shoveful OF dirt and
| stepped back into the crowd, when Cen.
Humphreys came to the front and said
Fdlote Citizens 1t is truly encouraging to
the friends of the Savannah Valley Railroad
| to see so many of our citizens present to
witness these inaugural ceremonies. 1t was
not intended to observe any forinaitics in
| the commencement Of the york but finding
! so much interest manifested in the enterprise
and encouraged by the presence of SO large
an assenblage we deem !. fit opportunity
| advantages of this enterprise. Since the
breaking OF dirt by our fathers on the
Greenville & Columbia Railroad more than
thirty yeai5 ngo, no event has occurred
| fraught with more of interest to our people
| than that we have Just witnessed. With
the means in hand we expect to grade the
ltoad to its intersection with the Greenwood
d Augusta Road. On the other end of the
line. from Aiken to Edgefeld. our friends
have been before us and have nearly COM
plcted tie grading of this section. aud are
pushing forward to meet us. The Road
penetrptes and opens up ~ section of country
! unsurpassed by none in the world for its
salubrity of climate, its fertility of soil and
variety Of products. Commencing here in
| our beautiful town, it traverses tile beauli-
ful valley of t'e Savannah and brings us
in direct COZ :tion with the cities of
Charleston SUD Augusta and, as we be-
iieve at no distant day will induce capital
| Ridge and complete the road from Knox
vile. by way Of the Rabun Gap, to this
place, and upon which So many millions
have been expended. This would give the
shortest possible route from the great West
to the seaboard. and realize the dream OF
4 Al.
people. Already three great lines of road,
the Louisville & Naohvile, t . Kentucky
Central and the Cincinnati Southern arc
| centerihg in Knoxville, aud one or the
| other OF necessity will be forced to come
our way and adopt our line in finding all
outlet to the sea.
1 am not q prophet, nor the son of
prophet, but this do know, that no coun-
try favored as is ours can long be hid away
from the eyes of the world. We grow aud
ship away between thirty.five and forty
thousand bales of cotton IN Anderson cOun-
~ every year. and in the near future, with
| increased railroad facilities and the result.
ant increase of population, we will grow
huncred thousand bales or more; and if
we do not ship this number it will be be-
cause the magnificent water powers on the
'Sa. uda and Savannah Rivers along the line
OF our Road, now running TO waste, will be
made to hum with the music of the spindle
"iiu '.S i"oii, anu WIZ coHNeTI inc raw
material into manufactured articles, and
add to the wealth of our county. The fu.
ture Is bright with promises TO us if ne " i'll
exert ourselves and make this ENTERPRISE. so
auspiciously begun here day, success
At the conclusion of Gen. Humphreys
speech several other citizens were called out,
but none Of them favored the asscmblngc
with remarks. The contractors then put
their hands regularly 10 work, and the
crowd soon dispersed, well pleased with all
that had occurred.
Messrs. Jones and Wilcs, the contractors,
have now only twelve hands at work. but
hope to increase their force to thirty in u
week or so. They are both energetic men,
and will succeed ia the work if success can
possibly be attained