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

nOoga is TO Tar toe the west for its cxten-
sion through this gap, aud does not reach
directly at least-thoso ports ON the
Atlantic coast nearest 10 Cincinnati.
Nor can it traverse that fine agricultural
and manufacturing region lying between
the Blue Ridge aud the scacoast, without
branch diyerging from its present line
castwardly, 50 rs to pass the noun
tains through this natural opening.
Links Of n trunk line are now being
graded from Aiken, S. C., to Edgcficld,
and from Easlcy Station, on the Air Line
Railroad, towards this gap, (E;lstatoc)
which, if you will examine the map, you
will find is the nearest route from Gin
cnnati to Charleston. say links of
trunk line / mean that different rail.
road companies under charter from South
Carolina are being thus graded, which by
consolidation could be made n trunk line,
and with continuation through the
mountains, and Western connections,
would make the shortest line to the sea.
coast. is il practicable, do you think, Ia
make This connection with any Of your
roads, 80 aa to make an independent
direct short trunk line? If so, in my
judgment, one of the best and most pro-
fitable lines could be established on the
continent. and ut 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
1850 per mile, for the grading, for the
last eight miles. 1t is true the progress
i, slow-for the want OF capital-bu
believe if there was n prospect Of having
IN extension to Cincinnati and the Yves.
tern cities, capital would be forthcoming
for their early completion. Port Royal
harbor, az you know, is one of the finest
on tie Atlantic coast, with water Of suf.
ticicnl depth to admit the largest vessels
anoat; and when the Charles,ion je,tics
have been completed within tho next
Two or three years, we hope to haze
twenty five feet nft!ic water ut the bar,
30 that the shipping would be amply &C.
c0mmOdatcd for any amount OF freight
age.
"Since the completion Of the Southern
Cincinnati, terminating rs remotely az it
does from us, many of our business men
ire turning their attention to Cincinnati
fnr 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 |
have indicated, this feeling would be
immensely increased and reciprocity
Of profitable trade established. That
section Of country north of u line drawn
from Augusta, Ga, through Columbia
and Cheraw, in S. c.. is unsurpassed in
any part of the world tor it, endless wa
ter power for machinery, and cotton
manufactures are being and will continue
to be built upon them. These manuiac
lures will Of course want market, and
your city and other adjacent Western
cities will be important customers il
quick, direct transportation should be ut
hand to take them away.
Last summer, after left you in Ken
tucky, came over the Southern Cincin-
natl to Chattanooga from Lexington,
KY, in about ten hours What is want
c! IL & road to Knoxville, md thence
through the mountains at some convcil-
lent pass direct TO the Atlantic coast
Could not the Kentucky Central reach
uut in that direction and establish an in
dependent trunk line such as have sug-
gested? Our people in South Carolina
woul; take hold Of such project with
earnestness and zeal, aud afford every as
-is,ance III their power to make it one Of
the finest commercial highways in Amer
ica. We have spent vast amount of
money on the Blue Ridge Railroad,
which was to cross the mountains Mt the
Rabun Gap; and but for the interven-
tion of the war, the road would have
ee~n completed. Perhaps this route
might still be adapted with advantage,
nut from what have heard of the Easia-
tce Gap route, it would doubtless be
cheaper than the Rabun Gap route.
Either, however, would accom- plish the
object to which take the liberty of call
ing your attention, namely: A short,
direct, economical trunk line from Gin
cinnati 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 rs l cnn remcm-
her. Indeed, one of the earliest recol-
lections 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
ntercommunication 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 insuperahle.
Examinations and surveys are continual
iy pointing ont advantageous gaps and
water ways, by which grades can be re.
duccd, and heavy tunnelliug, in great
measure, be avoided. The new routes to
which you allude tend in the same direc-
tion. 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 prospec. is that this extension
will be speedily made. Tho roads lead
ing sonth from Knoxville, combining
with this extension, will accomplish the
purpose which you 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 Edgefield Advertiser says:
"No doubt when Senator Butler wrote
thus to Senator Pcndleton he had in his
minds eye the late change in tho charter
of the old Savannah Valley Railroad
Company. At the iast session OF the
Legislature the charter was so amended
thar, instead of running from Anderson,
on the west aide Of Rocky river. down
the immediate valley of the river to
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