The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-02
DREAM OF n HALF CENTURY.

| About to DC Realized at TiaSt--ImpOr-
tant statement That Vanderbilt is
to Complete the Construction of tho
Famed Blue Ridge Railroad.
There is now every indication that
the Blue Ridge railroad, which for
years and years has been an unrealiZed
dream, which has in fact been q pro-
lect but partially carried OF t for near
| ly half q century, is to be completed in
the near future, if money and enginecr-
ing skill of the present day are worth
anything. Those who are preparing
to carry the road through have been
working for many months and seem
now to be in position to give infor-
nation to the public. There is wealth
! behind them. Another important ru-
| NOR in connection with the whole mat
ter-and it appears to have some foun-
dation--is to the effect that the servi-
ces of very able railroad nan, who is
we'll known in these parts have becn
secured. He will have charge of the
entire construction feature. The fol-
lowing bearing on the mater is from
recent issue Of the Knoxville, Tenn,
Tribune:
"Thcre has been considerable talk
! Tor some time past concerning the
building of a railroad by Geo. w. Van
dcrbilt and others from Knoxville to
Anderson or Walhalla, S. G.. Tho
newspapers, especially those along the
Atlantic coast, have publisl cd several
stories about the matter.
The promoters of the enterprise
have an Office in Knoxville and have
already done an immense amount of
work. They have on file reports On
the cost of building and equipping the
line, the prospective traffic and other
| information which reliable agents and
nj f,N,
months past.
The proposed line will follow the
survey of the old Rabun Gap railroad
from a point on the Little Tennessee
river, thirty miles from Knoxville, to
Anderson, S. G. The famous Rabun
Gap tunnel, which is nearly half com
pleted, will be utilized and the road
sill be built on comparatively easy
grades. From Knoxville to Mountain
vile, on the Little Tennessee river,
one of the three surveys can be utili-
Zed. One survey would leave the
| Knoxville Southern at Chandler's Sta
tion, on the Knoxville Southern, and
go via Maryvillc another would leave
the Knoxville Southern at the same
place and leave Maryyille to the left
about four miles, and the i,d pro-
posed route is from Allegheny Station
on the Knoxville Southern, along tho
river to Mountainville.
One OF the promoters said yestcr-
day We are entirely independent
of the Knoxville and Augusta railroad
We have no connection with it what
ever and would not think of entering
| the city over it's line anyway, unless q
new bridge is built over the Tennessee
river. Our company is financially
able to make reasonable torms with
the Marietta and North Georgia (Knox-
vile SOUTHERN people for the use of
| their bridge and terminal facilities, or
to build into the city. | won't say that
Mr.. George w. Vanderbilt is personal
ly Interested in the scheme, but at the
same time the survey runs directly
through 100000 acre tract of land
which he owns in Western North Caro-
lima
Tho promoters mean business
! The names of several gentlemen, well
known to the financial world, arc
signed to the prospectus. An applica-
lion for Il charter has been drawn up,
and 1T is expected to begin work next
spring. Knoxville will be the head
quarters of the company. The Offices
and shops will be located here. One
or moro lines will be constructed from
Knoxville to the coal fields, and CON
nections made to the Northwest.
| CiOsC UDe
southeastern terminus will be at Port
Royal, the best deep sea harbor on the
Atlantic coast, and from whence regu-
lar limos OF steamships run to Livor-
pool. The new road is to be an indc-
pendent system and will cut no small
figure in the distribution OF Southern
railway traffic.
"The Rabun Gap railroad project waa
among the first instituted III the South.
1t was the dream of John G.. Cal
houn and other noted states men OF his
day, and 1t has been revived at stated
intervals for forty odd years. 1t is
the shortest route from X loxville to
the sea and the building OF the road
would be of incalculable benefit to this
city and to 81 large section Of tributary
country. Itwould develop section OF
country almost fabulopsly rich i'm min-
erals gold, copper, magnetic iron,
tale, corrundlim, asbestos and kaolin-
and open up to the markets of the
world,f with Knoxville as the entire
port, the largest area Of hard woQds
standing La Alneriea,
"The new enterprise will have the
moral support Of every citizen of Knox
Vile and great will be the rejoicing
when the Queen City of the Mountains
has direct connections With tho At-
lSntic ooasbA
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