Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-27
More Railroads Wanted.

Editor Morning NelCS: Pursuing the
subject of s'more railroads wanted" in
Georgia, besides the four great lines al
luded to, and the important connection
between Sandersville and Athens-it must
not be forgotten that Augusta is seeking
TO connect herself with Florida by
direct line through Millen and Waycr0ss
to jacksonville, touching several pr0mls.
ing intermediate towns and drawing OIL
the trade of the large territory in the i'm
mediate vicinity of Savannah. This road
needs only to be constructed between
Millen and WaycrOss, having about
seventy-five miles of road completed at
each end, that may be utilized through
combinations with other companies.
A new road has also been surveyed from
Brunswick to Jacksonville, and from the
interest manifested in the enterprise, the
second port of Georgia will soon be con-
nected with the first port of Florida, by
rail as we'll as by water. This road will
stretch along the seacOast of Georgia TO
the South, taking in the ancient city OF
St. Mary's at the mouth of the boundary
river of the same name, and giving trade
facilities to a section of country that Will
make itself known to the outside world IN
a very few years from this date. Along
this coast are some fine sea island cotton
and abundant water power on the st. Ma
ry's and Satilla rivers, both OF which
will be crossed by the new road. The
two largest and most fertile islands of the
Georgia cluster lie off the coast near
Brunswick and st. Mary's-St. Simon's
and Cumberland lslands-already visited
by invalids and pleasure seekers from the
interior, but to become the resort of thou
sands when better known for the salubrlty
go lof1r al 70
line railroad. when completed between
Brunswick and Jacksonville, can easily
be extended to Savannah, partly over the
Savannah, Florida and Western Road.
The distance between Brunswick and
Darien is very short, perhaps not over
twelve miles on a straight line, with the
great timber stream of GeOrgla-the Alta
notwithstanding From Darien TO the
line of the Savannah, Florida and West
ern. near station No. 8, Is not above
thirty miles, while about One-third of this
route is already occupied by good rail-
road constructed for milling purposes.
About thirty miles of new railroad. then,
would connect Brunswick and Savannah,
via Darien. and place the renowned old
lumber port of Georgia within two
hours rim of Savannah, while tourists,
citizens and immigrants could easily
traverse and inspect the entire seacoass
Perhaps the next most important rail-
road under discussion among the people,
is the projected line between Hawkins
vile, on the Ocmulgee, and Thomasville,
on the extreme southwestern bordes OF
the State. This line would give Macon
direct communication with section IN
Georgia, and another in Florida, with
which she has heretofore associated only
by running around two immense elbows
nearly 200 miles apart. A direct route
between these elbows at Albany and
Jesup. would cross directly through the
centre of the great turpentine and tim
Der region of the State, and
penetrate the piney woods sheep-fold OF
Georgia. OF which so little was known,
until crossed by the Brunswick and Al
bany Road. At ThOmasvilleit would have
the option of connecting with Tallahassee
and the Gulf at st. Marks, or, carried out
to its legitimate terminus, extend to
Quincy, further to the west, and receive
the Gulf trade and that of the projected
Mississippi. Atlantic and Mexican Gulf
canal, at Carrabelle, off the long famous
Dog Island harbor of st. Georges Sound.
Another important railroad, especially
to the city of Savannah, though no part
of the new construction would necessa-
rily lie within the limits of Georgia, is the
direct line to which attention has already
been called in the MORNING NEWS, be-
tween this city and Columbia, South Caro-
lima. The railroad maps now show that this
gap filed in Savannah would have almost
airline communication through the heart
of that State with Richmond, Va, the
national capital and the great CONNER
cial metropolis of the country. Remem-
bering that strait lines the shortest prac-
ticable routes }. and through trains is the
order of the day in railroad progress, the
supplying of such links are only ques-
items of time that may be shortened by
energy and vim, or indefinitely heightened
by apathy and sloth. They will all be
made practicable within the next ten
years if the growth of the country con-
tinues as during the last decade, and there
is no reason to doubt that it will.
The last project shall mention in this
article is the North Georgia Railroad,
from Marietta toward the Northeast to
connect with North Carolina. This is
perhaps the most difficult section of GeOr-
gia through which to construct railroad,
and when completed will present to the
eve of the traveller a picturesque variety
of mountain scenery unsurpassed east of
the Mississippi river. Much Of this line
has been completed, but much remains
still to be done, while its development of
rich mines and quarries and transporta-
ton facilities for the dense mountain
forests of valuable woods have
but convinced the people of
that Interesting and beautiful region, of
the necessity of other roads for the de-
velOpment of its seemingly ineXhaustible
resources. Along this road and through
out that Switzerlandic region of Georgia,
there will be occupation for, and there
will cluster upon its fertile hills and val
leys a density ofpopulation no other equal
area of the State can afford
means to support. The want
of railroad facilities kept back these great
possibilities for years, and large pro-
portion of the present population is as
primitive to-day as they were fifty years
ago; but they have at last caught the
sound of the steam whistle-they recog-
nize the approach Of the great ciyilizer of
the age, and gladly they joiE IN the work
of education and development.
A