The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-09-30
ABBEVILLE H. SOUTH CAROLINA FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER

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railroad she can call her own. Her people
arc standing still, while all others are NOV
ing ahead. You are, gentlemen, behind the
age in which VIC live. a few years ago We
of AbbeT!lic, i'll going to Columbia, had to
pass through your District by stage. After
Il hard days journey, over rough road, tho
first night we abided in your village; wa
then consumed part Of two days to reach
Columbia. You still trudge along in the
old-iasloned slow way; while VIC quietly
take our breakfast at home, at the usual
hour, Jump upon tie cars, and are borrc
pleasantly to Columbia on tie wings O;
steam, time cnough-1o Get our dinner 1T =
convenient hour; in time 10 transact our
business and .etuln home the next ,lav to
dinner, il We choose. Are YOU willing TO
allow your noirllbors to continue TO enjoy
these advantages over you:
The truth is, the Road from Nincty-Sis,
or New Market to Aiken ought and will be
built. This side OF Sai,l,a needs dircc:
railroad communication with Charleston
Abhcvillc, EdScficll, and Anderson Dis
tricta make not les, tLan Cn,0GO bales O.:
cotton. Why compel all this and othcr
produce, ,lcstinc! to Charleston, to 90 t!ir,
Columbia, when it can 90 direct, saving Il;
least 35 miles: But if the Blue Ridge
l.a!roal be b"ilt, there will be an impcr,l-
tive necessity for this road. The immense
quantity OF Western produce, intended fov
Charleston and for tranahipmcnt to foreign
Ports, will not suffer the delay and hazard
of the road by Columbia. Its unrcasona-
bic that it should, when nature has afforded
4 more direct and safe route, over this sec
ton Of country, from Nincty-Six or Ncw
Market to Aiken.
VIII you permit the blue Ridge Road to
fail? Then down goes Charleston. the CHIEF
city of your State, in the prosperity of whic!:
every citizen Of the State is deeply interest
cd. This isinlced great enterprise, affect
ing iavor:lbly every part Of South Carolina,
and it Is the duty and interest Of every one
to favor it, and TO urge it on to complc.io,,
by every legitimate means. 1t is almost
certain that the road will be built. Indeed
who dares to say that it will not be built
From the report OF the able gentleman al
the head of that enterprise, whose hiah
character for integrity and worth secures for
his report the fullest credit, five and
half millions of dollars have already been
subscribed to that grand undertaking, while
much Of the road is already under con-
tract, and the contractors arc steadily at
work. The road cannot fail and hence
the connection between the Grecnville aud
Columbia Railroad at Ninety-Six or New
Market, with the South Carolina Railroad
at Or near Aiken, must and will be made.
Admitting, then, the fact that this rail
road should be built, shall it be built in con-
junction with the Grccnv;lle and Columbia
Railroad? Why not? Much has been
said in depreciation of this latter road. TIL
has many dc:ractors who know little of its
true condition. 1t is unnecessary Mt thisI
time ard place to 90 minutclv into the his
tory and condition ofthat road. This much
however may be said in sincerity and in
truth: 1t Is 4 good road--one of the safest
in the State, forty thousand passengers hay
ing been carried over it the last year and not
one injured. 1t is, moreover, doing a good
business, and running in good time; and as
to its location, it is the best that could have
been selected, except rs to about three
miles. The main injuries to the road by
the large treshet of August were caused by
a Clubhouse and pine tree striking the pier
head Of tho bridge. This may never occur
again. The bridge is above hief-watcr
mark, and not at all likely to be carried off.
Since that frcshet much Of the whole road
has been reconstructed, and is now in ex-
ccllent repair. The expenses of keeping up
the road about Broad and Saluda rivers will
hereafter be little more than will be ncces-
sary along the line generally.
This Road is again made the subject of
censure on account of its curvatures. All
admit, that straight roads are preferable, yet
all know they are impracticable. All roads
leading from low-grounds to the mountains
will be curving. There is no other possible
way OF overcoming grades. But it is great
mistake to suppose that roads having curves
are not good and safe roads, and remarka-
bic for speed. There are no roads among
us more filled with curves than the great
Hudson River Railway: yet where is there
finer road than this, whether in point Of
durability, speed, or safety? Away then
with the idea that the curves in the Green
vile d. Columbia Railroad deteriorate It's
value
1t is again said that the finances Of this
Company are in an unprosperous condition !:
that large debt overhangs the Company,
and that tho Stock is only worth 60 cents in
the dollar The road with it's equipments,
may be fairly estimated at 81, 100000. The
debt of tho Company amounts to 100000.
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