Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-09-15
The Old Blue Ridge Route.
Hartman Advance. |

The meeting OF the chamber of COM
merce last night was the most interest
ing one held so far, and the only regret
is that more of our citizens were not
present, as all were highly entertained
and instructed by the excellent talk OF
Capt. R. H. Fitzhugh, one of the most
accomplished ard experienced railroad
engineers in the Union. A man who
thoroughly understands his theme and
is en- rapport Herewith is always inter
esting, and so it was with the captain,
for he 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
iect with an enthusiasm that was soon
impaired to his audience.
Capt. Fitzhugh has been over the route,
has maps and profles of all former sur
veys and was able to give his hearers
definite information on all points.
A glance at any good map will show
.ssat this diagonal route is z-l475s: ~;-4'sc
line from St. Louis and the central West
to the seaboord. Port Royal will be the
coaling station of the South Atlantic,
making a grand market for the vast coal
deposits of the Plateau region, as well as
the iron and timber.
Capt. Fitzhugh read long letter from
the chief engineer of 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
contract for thai price. This was an
astonishing statement in view of the fact
that the line in that distance passes the
Chilhowee, the Unaka and the Blue
Ridge ranges, but Capt. Fitzhugh
explained that nature had laid out this
great highway of commerce. and these
usually insuperable barriers We're each
and all passed at natural water gaps, and
nowhere are tunnels necessary in passing
the mountains.
The only really tough country was in
South Carolina, for distance of thirty
miles, where million and half dollars
were spent years ago and the work for
some reason abandoned, probably on
account 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 is concurrence of opinion among
experienced railroad men that the line
would be paying investment from the
time of its completion, and with COM
prehensive report on the availability OF
the line it would be an easy matter to
interest capital. Chicago, St. Louis,
Kansas City, Omaha, Indianapolis, Gin
cinnati. Louisville, all are interested in
the building of this short route to the
seaboard and to the finest harbor on the
South Atlantic.
The chamber of commerce decided TO
raise s2oO to prepare such report, and
large portion of the money was promptly
subscribed.
"A. Bonkins was present, and stes. q q
as a matte of fact that this very line hao
much to do with the location of Harri-
man; that three years ago the East Ter
nessee Land Company had, on the quiet
sent an engineer over the route and salts.
fed themselves it would become great
thoroughfare; that road from Evans.
vile, Ind, to Bowling Green, KY, was
building in this direction for the seaboard
and that laying the ruler on the map at
Bowling Green and Port Royal would
show Hartman on the line.