The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-07-10
Discusses Proposed Ex-
tension of Blue Ridge
Railroad
WILL IMPROVE
THE SERVICE
No Hope, However, Held Out
For Immediate Extension of
the Line To Knoxville,
Tennessee

'"hicrehcc wae held Yesterday at
me home Of A. S Farmer with Hon.
rairiaX Harrison president Of the
Houthe Railway, and officials OF the
challiDer OF commerce, the purpose Of
me same hcing to discuss the possi-
Dliity OF the completion of the Blue
Ridge railway TO Knoxville. The con-
ference had been arranged several
weeks ngc.
The nhture of the conclusions
.raencu al tire conference were conn
uehtiai, and nc. statement was given
out Regarding the same by either
! ruesident Harrison when seen at
| Williamston by re,,,,rter for The In
telligencer. just before, his departure
Tor washington, or by officials Of the
chamber Of commerce, when asked
ABOUT the matter last night. It is. un-
derstood. however, that the conferAnCa
Was generally satisfactory.
To Improve Service.
MIR. Harrison stated. however, that
"e policy Of the Blue Ridge would be
10 improve the servicegoyer that line
and make the same fully up-tb-date
and standard in every respect; the
road to be .ballasteds and stee1 equip
ment to be used. ~ 81 ;i s G y, p; Z sp
;;.cll Continuing uhh said; 1 Z, u canaastps
teli these gent ietf1eI t!iht I'VE have al
very serioii8 obBtacle 6 before lis ritlfs:tit
now which places the estension of tlia
road over tho mountains In tho indefi-S
mite future. q q.
THAT obstacle is In; the gorge OF the I
Tennessee river iieaf 9T3nshnell, not
fur from Knoxville. Tho Aluminium: !:
company Of America, 6ne of the two
largest aluminium companies In the
country, has certain rights in the
gorge. which they wish to develop. !
spending approximately $40, 100000 on .
the improvements. 1t Is necessary for
the railway company to have these
rights for us to extend our road
through the vaiIay and it is necessary
for the aluminium company to have
the rights owned by the Southe
Railway company for them to GO
ahead with their develorments. and
the board of directors Of the Southern
Rail way company havo I,een making
searching investigatinna hoping tn ar
rive at some conclusion that will be
In favor OF the railway; company. The
conditions are ser. Gus, and ere u {:
Shaping. iiicinseircD up so that some.
satisfactory arrangements can possi-
bly, be made, hut how soon do not
know. would not attempt even to
make guess"
Have Other Plans.
1--WE will continue to exert our ef-
forts to work out some plan" declared
President Harrison, "qnd in the
meantime. we propose to give you and
the people along the Blue Ridge rail-
way the best service possible. The
placing OF the gas-electric service ON
the road recently Is only one of the
moves OF our policy to increase and
better the service. We have. other
plans which will be made
known and made effective from !;
time 10 time. Capt. Anderson, super .
tntondent OF the road. urges ballasting
the road between Belton and Seneca.
This we expect to do III the immediate
future" -
Concerning New Industries. s
Discussing the possibilities of buiId-l
ing up certain lines of new industry
and commerce along the proposed exc
tension of the Blue Ridge. President
Harrison seemed very much Impress
ed with the prospective hardwood
timber business which such an ex-
tension would secur.. US is known
that large tracts Of vers. fins hard-.
woods, suitable for the best floorings /
and !Gri..;ure ale l0ceief in pr.,x-
unity - tho proposed extension V.fie
was Impressed With the cnatinueo
growth Of the cattle and sheep frdua.s
try In the, foothills ana on The; n as,in-.
tain RIDGES. and WsthftEe f,i.Iee ros.S
sibilitya Of. securing packeries ip shis I
section. supply to be received largely \
from thu territory along the proposed.