The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-03

sion through this gap, and does not reach
directly at least-those ports or the
Atlantic coast nearest to Cincinnati.
Nor can it traverse that fine agricultural
and manufacturing region lying between
the Blue Ridge and the seacoast, without
a branch diyerging from its present line
eastwardly, SO rs to pass the noun
tains through this natural opening.
Links of trunk line are now being
graded from Aiken, S. c., TO Edgefeld,
and from Easley Station, on the Air Line
Railroad, towards this gap, (Eastatoe)
which, if you will examine the map, you
will find is the nearest route from Gin
cinnati to Charleston. I say links of
trunk line.' I mean that different rail-
road companies under charter from South
Carolina are being thus graded, which by
consolidation could be madea trunk line,
and with continuation through the
mountains, and Western connections,
would make the shortest line to the sea.
coast. Is it practicable, do you think, to
make this connection with any of your
roads, so as to make an Independent
direct short trunk line? If so, in my
Judgment, one of the best and most pro-
ftable lines could be established Oh the
continent, and at 4 smaller expense than
any similar enterprise in the country.
These roads on the east side Of the Blue
Ridge are being graded with convict labor,
and one of them has not cost more than
$3.50 per mile, for the grading, for the
last eight miles. 1t is true the progress
is sow-for the want Of capital-but |
believe if there was prospect of having
an extension to Cincinnati and the Yves.
tern cities, capital would be forthcoming
for their early completion. Port Royal
harbor, as you know, is one of the finest
on tie Atlantic coast, with water OF suf'
ficient depth to admit the largest vessels
ahoat; and when the Charleston jelties
have been completed within the next
TWO or three years, we hope to have
twenty five feet fthe water Mt the bar,
so that the shipping would be amply ac.
commodated for any amount Of freight
age.
"Since the completion of the Southern
Cincinnati, terminating as remotely as it
does from us, many of our business men
are turning their attention to Cincinnati
for many Of your manufactures, such as
buggies, carriages, wagons, furniture,
hardware, &c. And, of course, with
direct trunk line of railroad through
these mountains, at point such as l
have indicated, this feeling would be
immensely increased, and a reciprocity
of profitable trade established. That
section of country north Of q line drawn
from Augusta, Ga, through Columbia
and Cheraw, in S. c., is unsurpassed in
any part of the world for its endless wa
ter power for machinery, and cotton
manufactures are being and will continue
to be built upon them. These manutac.
lures will of course want market, and
your city and other adjacent Western
cities will be important customers il
quick, direct transportation should be at
hand to take them away.
"Last summer, after | left you in Ken
lucky, came over the Southern Cincin-
natl to Chattanooga from Lexington,
KY, in about ten hours. What is want
ed is q road to Knoxville, and thence
through the mountains at some conven.
lent pass direct to the Atlantic coast.
Could not the Kentucky Central reach
out in that direction and establish an in.
dependent trunk line such as l have sug.
gested? Our people in South Carolina
would take hold of such project with
earnestness and zeal, aud afford every as
sistance in their power to make it one of
the finest commercial highways in Amer.
lea. We have spent vast amount of
money on the Blue Ridge Railroad,
which was to cross the mountains at the
Rabun Gap; and but for the interven.
tion of the war, the road would have
been completed. Perhaps this route
might still be adopted with advantage,
but from what I have heard Of the Easta-
toe Gap route, it would doubtless be
cheaper than the Rabun Gap route.
Either, however, would accomplish the
object to which take the liberty of call.
ing your attention, namely: A short,
direct, economical trunk line from Gin
cinna,i to the Atlantic coast.'
Senator Pendleton's letter, in reply, is
dated December %, 1880. He says:
"This subject occupied the attention of
Cincinnati as long ago as | can remcm.
her. Indeed, one of the earliest recol-
ections l have is of an illumination OF
the city in honor of visit of Commits.
sioners from South Carolina, in the in
terest of railroad connections. Itis very
obvious that the interest of both sections
will be advanced by greater facilities of
intercommunication than we now have.
The Cincinnati Southern Railroad, find
ing its terminus at Chattanooga, does not
answer all the requirements of active
business between the parts of the country
of which you speak. The difficulties in
the way of building the railroad, though
great, are by no means insuperable.
Examinations and surveys are continual.
y pointing out advantageous gaps and
water ways, by which grades can be re.
duced, and heavy tunnelIing, in great
measure, be avoided. The new routes to
which you allude tend in the same direc.
ton. Lately much interest has been ex-
cited in Cincinnati by proposed extern
sion of the Kentucky Central Railroad
and the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road to the Tennessee State line, there
connecting with the road to Knoxville,
and the prospect is that this extension
will be speedily made. The roads lead
ing south from Knoxville, combining
with this extension, will accomplish the
purpose which yoI have in view."
Coming from one of the largest stock.
holders of the Kentucky Central Railroad
this letter was highly encouraging, and
the extension spoken of, as we have seen,
is now determined on. In publishing
the letters of Senators Butler and Pen.
dleton the Edgefcld Advertiser says:
"No doubt when Senator Butler wrote
thus to Senator Pendleton he had in his
minds eye the late change in the charter
of the old Savannah Valley Railroad
Company. At the last session of the
Legislature the charter was 90 amended
that, instead of running from Anderson,
on the west side of Rocky river, down
the immediate valley of the river to
Hamburg, as was the original intent, tile