The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-10-14
Air Line Railroad.

.a Air Line Railroad.
The people of 1aurens, after their ex-
perlences of the Laurens Railroad, will
aptly remember the stories Of the Syrens,
and an ancient maxim about "fearing the
-, when gifts are brought" upon an
allusion to railroad enterprises for'their
benefit. They may we'll retort that the
village of Clinton is village still that
Laurensvillc is town of petite growth,
Notwithstanding railroad of twenty
years existence touching both and termi-
mating at one of these points. We are
even told that administrators, for years,
have ignored the scrip Of the Laurcns
Railroad Company IN selling and settling
the estates of intestates; and that real
estate along its line commands no higher
figures than lands lying far without the
rpmbling sound of its revolving wheels
and never-failing blast of It's morning and
evening engine. But we now beg to re-
mind our readers OF Laurens, mournfully,
but firmly, that the Laurens Railroad has
been an unfortunately managed institu-
tion for all concerned; that it might have
been better, and may be yet, and that this
fact does not prove a tithe against rail
road enterprises in general, or that rail-
roads are not an important element in
the civilization, wealth and power of
these times. Becatise our communication
with Newberry for travel and trade is
-neither cheap nor always upto time, does
not prove that we are to. take no part or
interest in the great enterprise in pro-
gress for the benefit Of commerce and the
development of the resources of the coun-
try around US and Immediately on our
frontiers. Notwithstanding this stale joke
the proverbial langud and languishing
airs OF the Laurens flallroad-uhU
will show Laurens District of very re-
spectlbae tax-paying capacity; and, the
figures at which real estate is held, in ev-
cry nook and cerner within her boundary,
will put all her citizens in good opinion
of their locality, and cause them to stick
the closer to her friendly soil;
But let us awaken to what's going on
around us. The Air Line Railroad is
moving Eastward from Atlanta, and the
question of its location, after passing the
Eastern boundary of Anderson, vastly
concerns us. We are all interested in the
matters but more especially that part of
the District Northwest and orth-East
of the Court House. The splendid water
power of Reedy, Rabun and Enoree
streams, the rich marble quarries, golden
and iron deposits, broad forests lying in
these sections of Laurens, are only to be
yitalized and ad d1anced- to o real xalne- by
and commercial values of the world out
side of them. The proposed railroad may
be located so as to pass via Greenville Y.
H., or it may pass via Anderson, thence
along the Southern border of Greenville,
near Fairview; touching the Laurens line,
thence via Woodruff's in Spartanburg,
Eastward. Remember, it was our own
supineness and self.satisfaction that lost
us the line of the Greenville Railroad via
this point from Newbary-the natural
route; and remember that if the Air Line
Railroad is located so as to pass along the
Southern border of Greenville, we have Il
depot within twenty miles, communica-
ting directly with Atlanta and the West,
and some point on the Charlotte Road,
and the East. In view Of the fact that
the Laurens Railroad has doubtful fu-
ture, let us wake up to this connection:
In money and real estate, the people of
Laurens, along the proposed line, should
subscribe at least $4,000 The mer-
chants of this village, and every man en-.
gagged in business here, should take the
matter earnestly into consideration, and,
if possible, secure o branch to connect
with this point.-Lawensuille Her0ld.