The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-02-14
ALL ABOUT IT.
CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND GAP
AND CHICAGO RAILWAY
n0HpANY

AND #GHIGAGO RAIL WAY
COMPANY.
From the Aiken q. CO. Reoorder-l
This line when completed will
constitute one Of the most magnifi-
cent works of internal improvement
ever projected by American enter
prise, forming a grand trunk road
between Charleston and Chicago, in
almost an airline and traversing a
region abouading in the richest
agricultural and mineral produc-
tons. The line is obtained by the
consolidation of six chartered roads
in various stages of completion, viz:
One in Kentucky, two in Tennessee,
one in North Carolina, and two in
South Carolina. In Kentucky we
have the Cumberland Railway Com
pany, incorporated in February,
1882, which will run from Licking
ton to a point on the borders of Ken
lucky and Tennessee, known as
Cumberland Gap.
In Tennessee we find the Morris
town, Cumberland Gap and Ohio
Railroad Company, between Cum
berland Gap and Morristown, dis
lance of SO miles. This will connect
with the Morristown and Carolina
Railroad Company from Morristown
to the South boundary of the State.
In North Carolina a charter has
been obtained under the general
| laws of the State for a road running
up the Pigeon river and across the
State to Estatoe Gap in the Blue
Ridge.
In South Carolina by the Atlantic
and French Broad Valley Railroad
Company under special charter from
the Legislature of the State cover
ing the line from Estatoe Gap at
the North boundary of South Caro-
lima to Edgefeld Court House, and
from that point by the Edgefeld,
Trenton and Aiken Railroad Com
pany under special charter to Aiken,
s. O., with the privilege of extend
ing to any point on the Atlantic
coast within the State. (By special
enactment of the Legislature of
South Carolina in 1882, the right to
consolidate these two corporations
into one, to consolidate with roads
out of the State, to obtain aid by
votes of the several counties and
other valuable franchises have been
granted TO these corporations
In reference to the Ashevllle
branch in North Carolina it might
be well to say that a charter has
been obtained under the general
laws of North Carolina and a COM
pany organized Hereunder for
branch road from Estatoe Gap
North eastwardly to Asheville, n.
c., distance of forty-fve miles. By
this branch line, in connection with
existing branch railroad of Western
North Carolina from Asheville to
Paint Rock, 45 miles, and the East
Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia
Railroad from Paint Rock to Nor
ristown, Tennessee, A miles, (mak-
ing 80 miles completed road), anoth
er route can be made for the dis
lance between Morristown, Tonnes
see, southernly to and across the
State Of North Carolina to the
boundary of South Carolina at Es-
tatoe Gap.
By this route 80 miles of con-
structed road could be utilized, but
the through line would be lengthen-
ed as the distance from Morristown
to Estatoe Gap via Asheville, N. c.,
and existing roads would be 1874
miles, while by the direct Pigeon
river route it is but 100 miles, saw
ing by the new Air Line Road rs
miles.
"The Cumberland, Clinch, Smoky
and Blue Ridge mountain ranges of
Eastern Tennessee and Western
North Carolina have been regarded
Is insurmountable barriers to rail
'oads, but recent surveys of compe-
,ent engineers have determined that
he depressions of Cumberland Gap,
Clinch Mountain Gap, Pigeon river
valley through Smoky Mountain
Ind Estatoe Gap, of the Blue Ridge,
Ill situated substantially in an air
inc between Chicago and Charles
on, S. G, afford an easy and prac-
icable line across this wide stretch
If country now bounded and cir
by the lines of the Gin
;innati Southern and Louisville and
Nashville Railroads on the West,
md the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
Dad $50 miles to the Northwest.
GAS no other line of cleavage ex-
SITS through these mountains COM
'eting road can never be construct
ID across this territory"
SO much for the projected route ;
# the six incomplete roads; for .
which important information we !
ave made liberal use of a hand /.
omely prepared volume containing ,
history of the enterprise, accom-
'anied by an elegant map descrip- :
i've of the whole region to be ira :
ersed, which was recently present :
d 10 us by the Secretary, Maj.
!
Let us now briefly examine its .
onnections at both ends of the line !
nd compare few figures to show :
ne magnificence of the scheme and
he great economies it will inaugu- ,
ate as great highway for inland :
.
AT Lexington, Kentucky, this '
Dad will connect with the Cincin- :,
att Southern Railroad Northerly :
} Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Chi ),
lgo, and Southerly to Louisville, 5
-entucky, via Danville, Kentucky. :
With the Kentucky Central Rail :
'ad to Cincinnati, Columbus, Tole- =
,, Cleveland and the Northeast; e
ith the Louisville and Nashville =
abroad Lexington line to Louis 3
lie, Kentucky. :,
With the Chesapeake and OHIO II
Lexington division via =,