The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-27
The Greenville and Columbia Railroad.

The Columbia correspondent or the
Charleston Courier gives tho following in.
formation concerning the recent move
ments of capitalists to obtain control OF
this Road:
There is every reason to believe that
important changes are soon TO take place
in the railroad system of the State. The
presence in Columbia of number of
capitalists, and the purchase by them and
by their agents of the stock of the Green
vile Railroad, the secrecy with which
their operations have been planned and
conducted, and the fact that they have
absorbed say twenty thousand shares of
the stock of that corporation, at little less
than three dollars per share, are eviden-
ces of determination to use this impor-
tant line for some signal purpose. What
that purpose is has not yet been fully de-
velopcd, but we believe enough has tran
spircd to show that these parties intend
to control the most important link Of the
Blue Ridge Railroad. This stock must,
therefore, inevitably appreciate in value
whenever the Western connections are
complete.
In that Greenville Railroad Company
the State is interested to tho extent of
about one-third of it's stock, say twenty
five thousand shares; and the city Of
Charleston is interested to the amount of
one-sixth of the stock. Tho two, there
fore, may exert controlling influence in
moulding the destinies of the road, and
directing its benefits in the proper chan
mel. Is this likely to be done? So far rs
the city of Charleston is concerned,
President Magrath, of the South Carolina
Railroad, has, we believe, placed himself
in such relations to the capitalists as will
protect the interests of this community.
In other words, if it is contemplated by
the purchasers of the GrecnVille Railroad
to continue the line to Asbevile and on
through the Blue Ridge, Or to carry for
ward the Blue Ridge Railroad already
begun, Charleston will be to this end OF
the line what Cincinnati or ST. Louis may
become at the other end.
1t has been feared that the owners OF
the Wilmington and Manchester and the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroads, were
at the bottom of conspiracy to purchase
the Grcenville Railroad and its branches
to Spartanburg and Iaurcns, for the pur-
pose Of divorting all the trade of that re-
gion, over their own roads, thus coming
in competition with the Charlotte and
Columbia, and the South Carolina Rail-
roads,. This suspicion was strengthened
by the fact that Engineers are at once to
commence the work of survey, between
Sumter and Columbia, preparatory to
building line that shall connect the up
per portion Of the State with rival corpo-
rations and rival cities.
But the assurance has been given that
the sole and only purpose Of tho capita
lists referred to is to purchase the Green
Vile Road as the be ginning of trunk
line through 10 the West 1t is stated
Furthermore that they are backed by i'm
mense capital, portion of which will be
expended in putting the Greenvilc Road
in thorough repair, building new engines
and cars, and making it n first class nst-
tuition. Meanwhile, they propose push
energotically forward towards the noun
tains, and they express the belief that in
less than three years there will be q rail
way To the great West that will open and
expand into now channels the riches of
two sections OF tho Union.