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 shovelful of dirt and
stepped bacl; into the crowd when Cen
Humphreys came to the front and said:
Eello,v. Citizens 1t is truly encouraging to
the friends of the Savannah Valley Railroad
to sec so many of our citizens present to
witness these inaugural ceremonies. 1t was
not intended to observe any fOrmalitieS i'll
the commencement of the work, but finding
so much interest manifested in the enterprise
and encouraged by the presence oil SO large
an asscmblage, we deem it q fit opportunity
to express our views upon the prospects and
advantages of this enterprise Since the
breaking OF dirt by our fathers on the
Greenville e. Columbia Railroad more than
thirty years ago, 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
Road to its intersection with the Greenwood
d Augusta Road. On the other end OF the
line, from Aiken TO Edgefield. our friends
have been before us and have nearly COM
plcted the grading of this section. and are
pushing forward to meet US. The Road
penetrutes 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 the beauti-
full valley of the Savannah and brings US
in direct connection with the cities OF
Charleston and Augusta; and. as we be-
lieve, at no distant day will induce capital
lists to level down the barriers Of the Blue
Ridge and complete the road from Knox
ville by way Of the Rabun Gap, to this
place, and upon which SO many millions
shortest possible route from the great West
to the seaboard, and realize the dream Of
half a century and the hopes OF a great
people. Already three great lines of road,
the Louisville d Nashville, the Kentucky
Central and the Cincinnati Southern are
centerihg in Knoxville, and one or the
other of necessity will be forced to come
our way and adopt our line in finding all
outlet to the sea.
AIN not a prophet, nor the son OF
prophet, but this do know, that no coun-
try favored as is ours can long he hid awav
from the eyes of the world. We grow and
ship away between thirty-five and forty
thousand bales Of cotton in Anderson coun-
ty every year, and in the near future, with
increased railroad facilities and the result
ant increase of population, we will grow
a hundred thousand bales or more; and if
we do not ship this number it will be be-
cause the magnificent water powers on the
Saudi and Savannah Rivers along the line
of our Road, now running to waste, will be
made to hum with the music of the spindle
and the loom, and will convert the raw
material into manufactured articles, and
add to the wealth of our county. The fll.
ture is bright with promises to us if We will
exert ourselves and make this enterprise, so
auspiciously begun here to-day, success.
At the conclusion If Gen. Humphreys
speech several other citizens were called out,
but none of them favored the assemblage
with remarks The contractors then put
their hands regularly to work, and the
crowd soon dispersed, we'll pleased with all
that had occurred.
Messrs. Jones and Wiles, the contractors,
have now only twelve hands at work, but
hope to increase their force to thirty in
week or so. They are both energetic men,
and will succeed in the work if success can
possibly be attained.