The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-04-04
Our Railroad-Where Shall we
Conpect


advocating the construction Of Il Railroad
from Camden 10 Lancaster, and urging up
on the citizens of Camden and Krrshaw
the p'opriety Of taking part in the enter
prise. The Journal says that seven years
ago, it and the people of Kcrshaw general.
ly we've warmly in favor of the measure,
and that Lancaster, nj that time, was much
less enthusiastic. Our connection with the
railroad excitement Of that period was not
such rs 10 enable us to speak authoritative
ly upon the point made by the Journal, but
oul impression is Just the reverse of his
statement and we know that the people
Of Lancaster are unanimously of the belief
that Camden ls opposed to n connection
with us by railway. and that they have ev-
er manifested their disapprobation by refu-
sing to unite with US in every successive
effort that has been made to accomplish this
object.
But if We have been wrongly impressed,
or whatever the past may have been. if
Camden is now ready to co operate with
us, we hazard nothing in saying that she
will find Lancaster fully prepared to do her
whole duty in this matter.
The people of this District: almost with.
out dissenting voice. so far "a we have
heard, moved doubtless by the impressions
above referred to, have expressed prefer.
ence for connection with the North Eas
tern Rail Roai and we are warranted in
believing that the people along the entire
route that such Il road would traverse are
ripe for the measure. In confirmation Of
this, We refer to Il letter from prominent
citizen of Bshopville on this subject, pub
lished in our paper Of Today. Also to an
article contributed to the Sumter Watch,
man, which we republish.
Other considera tions have actua.ed our
people in expressing n preference for the
latter route. The road would traverse
larger section OF our District, BY from five
to ten miles, and the interest in and sub
scription 10 the enterprise would be enhnn.
eed rropcrtionably. II is believed, too,
that the stock would prove more profitable
than the stock would be in road to Cam
near Charleston as Camden j.; the differ.
ence in the distance from this place tn Char
lesion via Bishopvilc and from this place
to Charleston yin Camden, would be perhaps
thirty-iive miles in favor OF the former you;e.
And should the road ultimately be t0ntinu:
ed on to Charlotte, which in al probability il
will be, il must in that e, ent become one Of
the best paying roads in the country. Eve
ry one must be convinced Of this when
they reflect, that Charlotte would be fifty
or sixty miles nearer Charleston by this
route than by any other now complete or
in projection. This difference in the dir.
tance will be sufficient to secure for this
route the trade and travel designed for
Charleston, that finds its way through Char
lotte. That trade is now considerable, but
it will be vastly increased when the chain
of roads now in projection are complete,
WHICH are to give Charlotte n direct connec-
lion with the Virginia and Tennessee road
and with the cities and tributariea Of the
great West A glance at the map will
suggest .he reasonable probability that the
completion Of this road viii effect the great
dissderatum which has exercised our peo
pie for upwards of thirty years-that it is
10 be The road that is to connect Charleston
and South Carolina with Cincinnati and the
valley of the Mississippi
These are some Of the reasons which
haYe influenced the people OF this District
in expressing preference for connection
with the Soglh Eastern Road at or near
Kingstree. Blu. on ,.e other hand, the dis
t.nce to Camden is triflinR compared with
the other way, ard if Kershaw will evinee
the same spirit and liberNIity towards the
enterprise that Lancaster is ready to
exhibit, n sufficient amount could, in less
than three months, be pledged to secure the
road, ind in less than two years the road
would be built, equipped and in operation.
Lancaster is not committed to either
route. We look upon ourselves as being,
Pile Of Camden or the friends Of the North
Eastern connection. We have gone to
work and tested the desire and capacity of
our people, and when we proclaim that we
have II reliable subscription Of about one
hundred and seventy thousand dollars, aud
daily increasing, we can well say to the
peo,Ie oe Camden or Of Bishopville make
US proposition give Us tangible earn.
est Of what you will do, and We will unite
with the friends Of that route who hold
out to US the beat inducements.