The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-24
NEW LIFE FOR THE Blue RIDGE.

NEW LIFE FOR THE Blue RIDGE.
The article from the New York Times,
which we publish on another page, giving
the skeleton of scheme which is likely
to be carried into execution for the com.
pletion of the Blue Ridge Railroad, will
be read with great interest by all of our
readers as movement affecting the ma
terial development of our whole State in
most vital manner. The Blue Ridge is
inseparably connected with the past his
tory of our State, and its revival is like
the return of dear old friend. 1t was
she conception of Calhoun and Hayne,
whose broad minds recognized the i'm
portance of linking in commercial inter-
est the grand valleys-the grain growing
region of the Western world-with the
s South Atlantic sea coast and securing its
outlet through our State. Under the
wise influences which then actuated our
,vernment, the system of roads planned
for the development of the resources of
our State were all located as subsidiary to
the grand trunk which was to cross in a
direct line from our State to the granaries
s;of the West. Our puerile railroad policy
since the war, and the frauds connected
with the Blue Ridge Railroad during the
reconstruction period, have given to.
many an undue prejudice to this Road,
but when it is remembered that up to
this period the Road was in the hands of
competent and distinguished men of our
State, and vast deal of very thorough
and permanent work has been done upon
the Road in this State and Georgia, and
also in Tennessee, there is no reason
for this prejudice. Thirty-three miles
has been built in South Carolina, and, to
show the character of the work upon this
Road, it IS only necessary to examine the
culberts, which will stand for centuries;
the bridges and trestles, the most impor.
tant of which were put there before the
war and are now in good condition with
the original timber; and the iron, which,
. though used for over twenty years, is to-
day of superior quality, though not up,
Of course, to the later inventions. From
three to four millions Of dollars have
been put into this Road in such substan-
I tial work that it is now standing and in
available condition.
Although the work already done upon
: this line of Road has been very extensive
and thorough, even it is not the greatest
advantage offered by the route, for it is
central line, without dependence upon
any other links or combinations. By the
Blue Ridge route there will be but three
links in the connection to Knoxville,
while in the Asheville routes there will
be not less than; fire or six. This is the
most feasible and desirable of all the
routes across the mountains, not only for
: upper Carolina, but for tae whole State,
for it will be independent of all other
lines, and will control large portion of
the Wcstern freights in the interest of
South Carol;na's commerce. 1t will be
! to Us Of greater value than the Western
and Atlantic Railroad is to Georgia.
we are inclined to think the Road will
now be built, for it is necessity to the
Columbia & Greenville, the South Caro-
lima and the Charlotte, Columbia & Au-
gusta Railroads. The Clyde syndicate,
who own the Columbia & Greeaville and
the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Rail-
roads, also own a controlling interest in
this end of the Blue Ridge, and Mr..
sibley, the principal owner Of the Air
Line, owns the Tennessee end of the
Road. The Air Line has no interest
east of Charlotte or west of Atlanta, so
if it could obtain friendly rates at Seneca
City from the West, it could supply the
trade to Charlotte, and compete with the
Western & Atlantic in carrying these
freights for Atlanta and all points in
Southern Georgia. Mr.. Sibley, there.
fore, is interested in the completion Of
the Blue Ridge, The Clyde syndicate
own, besides the Roads mentioned, lines
of steamers from the principal Southern
ports, and of course desire to compete for
this western trade. They have been
fully awake to their need of a direct line
to the West, and sought in the recent
sale of the Atlantic & Mississippi and
Ohio Road to purchase that line running
from Norfolk. In this, however, they
failed, as Philadelphia combination
secured it, and will run it in combination
with the Louisville & Nashville Road, in
a manner hostile to the Clyde interest.
This event, in our opinion, has developed
the Blue Ridge enterprise. and the Clyde
syndicate, with Mr.. Sibley and those they
can influence to assist them, are perfectly
able to complete this new outlet, which
will so greatly benefit them and this
whole section of country.
COTTON MANUFACTURING.
The greatest industry upon which the
South can enter, and the best opening
for the investment of capital in this