Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-11-07
A Grand Railroad Idea.

w. Colcord, Boston, writes MS
follows to the Roil,roy Ige: "a
large syndicate is now forming in
this city for the organization of Che
Southern Coal, Iron e Railroad Co.,
to construct at once Il system of
railways i'll Tennessee and North
and South Carolina, to be known as
the Blue Ridge Railway System.
Surveys are now in progress. The
railroad will be built from Morris
town, Tenn, ia Kansas, Dandrldgc
and Sevicrvillc to point near
Marysville, thence to Niadisonvillc
and Athens, Tenn, with division
to Marysvillc and Knoxville from
Sevicrville over the Blue Ridge by a
tunnel and Il loop to Grccnvillc, S.
G., and Augusta, Ga, and with II
division North via Waynesvillc to
Ashcvillc, N. 6. Incorporation will
take place next week, with election
VI olilCciS, alit collStluCtloH Will Dc-
Gin ut once ut these points. This
company will operate extensively in
coal and iron and the general devcl-
opmcnt of the country along the
route. The capital represented is
over $5,0o0,00o. l.. G. Wolkins, Of
Boston, is the chief engineer. This
system when completed will connect
all the leading railroad systems of
the South with the Southwest, West
and Northwest"
The prospectus of the company
contains the following:
The Southern Coal, Iron & Rail
road Construction Company is to
construct Il system of railways. The
great Southwest, West and North
west of the United States, also the
Mexican Republic, are brought on
an air line with the great seaport
cities of Europe and South America,
making Port Royal the great South
crn seaport of the United States
and Grccnvillc, $. c., the great rail
road distributing center of the
Northern points of commercial i'm
portancc. Said system to be com
posed Of the following consolidated
lines: |. The Carolina, Knoxville
e. Western Railroad and Louisville
system. 2. The construction of the
Blue Ridg" Loop, from Pigeon Val
ley through Charlotte, N. c., to
Tennessee Forks and Chilhowcc
Pass, Vernon and Jalapa Plains to
Cleveland, connecting with the St.
Louis d. East Tennessee Railroad.
8. Chihowcc Pass direct to Marys-
vile, thence to Knoxville, Tcnncs-
see, forming a link of railroads
North, West, South and East.
The Blue Ridge Loop railroad
company is now being organized
and incorporated under the laws OF
the corporate Office ut Grccnvillc.
Capital. stock S5,0Oo,000, now on
subscri ption. The system comprises
1917 miles, to be double tracked,
standard gauge railroad, steel rails,
70 pounds TO the yard. This system
will be constructed by an agreement
with the Southern Coal, Iron & Rail
road Construction Company through
the Smoky Range mountains, by a
tunnel and loop, SO as to obtain an
easy grade through the difficult
mountain range between the States of
North and South Carolina, Georgia.
Tennessee and Kentucky, shortening
the time distance 100 miles between
the Southwest, Vest and Northwest
with the South Atlantic States and
North from the South. This system
will connect at Pigeon, n. c., with
The (. Is. & w. road and the At.
Iantic Coast Line Railroads at Green
vile and with the Western Railroad
at Ashcvillc, \. G., to Salisbury, n
g., with the Richmond e. Danvillc
system forming Il direct air line route
from the North to Cleveland, via
Pigeon Valley, Chilhowcc Pass,
Vernon and Jalapa, connecting at
Cleveland with the Memphis and
Mobile systems and the Georgia and
, Tennessee railroads, also at Chill
, howcc Pass, via Marysvillc, Tenn,
to Knoxville, Tenn, connecting by
this link four great systems for
through transit. Three powerful
locomotives, steam shovcls, track
laying apparatus, the necessary cars
for construction purposes, and 800
tons OF rails are now being purchased
to commence construction at the
three points, and the surveys are
completed.