Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-04-12

~No IN v oIISH
to Knoxville. Mr.. Calhoun was
opposed to the French Broad route,
favoring that over the Blue Ridge
mountains as the natural one.
Neither lived to see the realiza-
ton. The French Broad route was
later adopted, and the road built,
but 1t has always been a disappoint-
ment. Mr.. Calhoun, If he we're here
now in the flesh, would see and
acknowledge this.
There is little to be done to COM
plete the Blue Ridge. There are
three small gaps, one Of 20, ano-
ther 80 and IL but q few miles. 1t
is a proposition that will put Ander-
son In immediate touch with the
magnificent resources Of the West.
1t means more to Anderson than to
anybody else. We are away off the
line. On the main line, as is Green
vile, Spartanburg and Greenwood,
Anderson would surpass them all in
wealth and prosperity.
Build the Blue Ridge from Knox
Vile, and you have Anderson on a
through line, over which immense
products must pass. Anderson would
be- a second Atlanta. Immense
wholesale houses would grow m
here, and Anderson would be the dis
tributing point for South Carolina
and parts Of North Carolina and
Georgia.
The concrete question is: What
are we going to do about it?" If we
deliberately determine to build the
railroad, l think we could go to the
Southern railroad with a proposition
that would elicit their interest.
Anderson county now raises more
cotton than any other county east of
the Mississippi river. The county
has in round numbers Us 5000 peo-
pie; the population Of the city is
$4,000. What may these
and people not accomplish?
Some action should be taken now,
Gen. Bonham urged, looking to the
making Of a proposition to the South
ern railway. would suggest that a
committee be named to confer with
the officials, find out just what is
wanted, and then for the people to
do it.
WalhalIa Much Interested.
r. II. Jaynes. Of Walhalla, was the
next speaker.
"You cannot build railroads with
windmilis," he said, "but sometimes
windmills turn wheels, and there
are wheels within Wheels"
All we have to do to carry this
through" he said, "is to strike now,
We should have it completed, any,
way, by the time the Panama Canal
Is opened. When the sentiment of
the people Of Anderson and Oconee
unite the road will be built. want
a party made up right now to start
from Anderson and 60 straight
through to San Francisco, through
the famous Rabun Gap, to attend the
Panam Exposition in 1915.
AT Walhalla, Mr.. Jaynes said, the
Is strong for the compile
ton of the railroad. The peonle
Oconee will heartily co-opearte
with Anderson in whatever stem
may be taken to convert that route
Of 70 miles, and make an Eldorado
of ms Is at present the habitat of
he wildcat.
Mr.. Jaynes said that he had no
definite plan to suggest, but that
ne had thoul It that a comnanvi
might be formed along the route.
steps taken looking to the rails
ng Of, say, $4,000 to begin the
work. "If the people along the
'oute would show to the Southern
heir Willingness to take this amount
II first mortgage bonds of the road.
men something would result. The
people Of Oconee. I believe, will take
heir part"
S. L.. Eskew, Of Pendleton. said
nat now Is the opportune time. The
people Of Pendleton are as deenlv
Interested as anybody anywhere
the line, and can be counted
N for support in whatever plan nav
re adopted.
l.. T.. Norryce, secretary Of the
;hamber Of Commerce, said that he
IN a position to hear the full SEN
iment of the people, and that there
a strong desire here that some
hlng be done to put the road
Il He said there were seye-