The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-09-21
The Old Blue Ridge Route.
Hartman, (Ttmn.) Advance.

The meeting Of the chamber Of COM
merce last night was the most interesting
one held so FAR, and the only regret Is
that more Of our citizens were not pres:
ent, as all were highly entertained and
instructed by the excellent talk Of Capt
r. 81. Fitzhugh, one Of the most accom-
plished and experienced railroad engin.
GERS In the Union. A man who thor.
oughly understands his theme and is en-
rapport Herewith is always interesting
and 80 it was with the captain, fox be
knows all about railroad building
knows every foot Of the ground over
which the proposed Port Royal, Harri-
man and Northern Railway is to run,
and Hartman being "the darling Of his
heart" of course he entered into the sub.
ject with an enthusiasm that was goon
impaired to his audience.
Capt. Fitzhugh has been over the route,
has maps and profles Of all former sur
definite information on all points.
that this diagonal route Is almost 3 bee
line from st. Louis and the central West
to the seabord. Port Royal will bs the
coaling station of the South Atlantic,
making grand market for the vast coal
deposits of the Plateau region, as we'll as
the iron and timber.
Capt. Fitzhugh read long letter from
the chief engineer Of a great railway sys-
tenn Of the South, highly commencing
this route, and stating that the road could
be constructed for $4,000 per mile, and
that he would be willing to take the con.
tract for that plice. This was an aston
ishing statement in view Of tho fact that
the line in the distance passes the Chill
hoWee, the Unaka and the Blue Ridge
ranges, but Capt. Fitzhugh, explained
tLat nature had laid out this great high
way Of comm and these usually in
superable barriers were each and NIL
passed at natural water gaps, and no.
where are tunnels necessary In passing
the mountains.
The only really tough country was In
South Carolina, for q distance OF thirty
miles, where million and half dollars
were spent years ago, and the work fol-
some reason abandoned, probably on &C.
count Of the war. About four-fifths OF
the work was done, so these rough thirty
miles would be the cheapest part OF the
road.
There LIS concurrence Of opinion among
experienced railroad men that the line
would be paying investment from the
Glu0 VI ltS Soldp4Os1ohS eahA WILL q WILL
prehensive report on the availability Of
the line it would be an easy matter to in
torest capital. Chicago, 81. Louis, Kan
sas City, Omaha, Indianapolis, Clncln-
natl, Louisville, all are interested in the
building of this short route to the sea-
board and to the finest harbor on the
South Atlantic.
The chamber Of commerce decided to
raise $500 to prepare such report, and q
large portion OF the money was promptly
subscribed.
A. A. Hopkins was present, and stated
as q matter Of fact that this very line had
much to do with the location Of Harri-
man; that three years ago the East Ten
nessee Land Company had, on the quiet.
sent an engineer over the route and sat-
isfed themselves 1t would become great
thoroughfare; that road from Evans
vile, Ind, to Bowling Green, KY, was
building IN this direction for the sea-
board, and that laying the ruler on the
map at Bowling Green and Port Royal
would show Hartman on the line.