The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-05-16
FROM CH4REEsTONfTo oMCAGO

IRON CH4RLsESTONIO CutCd co
We are indebted to Maj Ak
Gregg of this place, now in South
Carolina, for copy of the Charles
ton IS. C.) Nea0s and Courier of May
8, CONTAINING the subjoined reference
to,oar great railway project:
The work of permanently locating,
the line of the Carolina, Cumberland.
Gap and Chicago Railway will be-.
gin this week. This is one of the
grandest railroad projects that has
ever been undertaken in South Car,
olina, and the prospects for the
completion of the enterprise are de-
cidedly encouraging. The assets of
the company exceed the liabilities
and are sufficient for the location of
the entire line in this State The
agent of the construction company
has been in London for some time
and is confident that he will secure
enough British capital to complete
the road and put it inrunning order.
When it is completed, this road,
in connection with the South Caro-
lima Railway, will form direct and
unbroken trunk line from Charles
ton to Chicago, Louisville and Gin
cinnati 1t will run from Aiken by
way of Edgefield and Abbeville,
through Anderson and Pickens
counties, and crossing the Blue
Ridge through Eastatoe Gap, will
traverse one of the richest sections
of Western North Carolina, and
thence through Cumberland Gap
to London, Ky. There it will strike
the Louisville and Nashville system
by which it will secure Louisville
and Chicago connection and also a
connection by the Kentucky Gem
trail road with Cincinnati.
The country traversed by this
long line abounds in mineral wealth
and is famous for its fine agricultu-
raj lands and well-nigh inexhausti-
bic forests. 1t will tap the coal
fields of Kentucky, and will develop
the iron deposits of the Cumberland
mountains. Within a few hundred
yards of Cumberland Gap there is a
vast field of the richest iron ore,
half mile wide, and which extends
without a break for twenty miles
along the mountains 1t is hard
and massive, easily accessible and,
we are told, can be raised and made
ready for smelling at cost of one
dollar a ton. Some of the best Goals
on the continent lie in this region,
and with transportation facilities.
this section would soon become one
of the most productive in the coun-
try. s
In addition to the benefits which
would accrue to the country, imme-
diately penetrated by the projected
road--the iron furnaces that would
be established, the coal mines that
would be opened and the lumber
interests that would be deyeloped-
South Carolina would get cheaper
fuel, cheaper furniture, and cheaper
provisions, while Charleston would
become a grand distributing depot
for the produce of the Northwest
In South Carolina the Carolina,
Cumberland Gap and Chicago rail
road will open up a fertile agricul-
tural country, and render accessible
one of the finest sections of the State
for the establishment of cotton mills
and other manufacturing industries.
There seems to be little doubt
that the road will be built. IL is
under the presidency of ex-Gov-
ernor HagoOd, whs has the warm
est support of an able and energetic
board of directors. The right of
way for the line can be easily secur-
ed at small cost, the necessary
charters have already been granted
by the Legislature, and the press
and public alike are enthusiastic in
their support of the enterprise