The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-11-29
A Railroad to Spartanburg South Ca1
Olina.

The people Of Edgcfcld, Abbeville
Laurcns, and other counties in South
Carolina, are very earnest in their desire
for railroad communication with Angus
Ia. In years past Augusta was theil
mark ct where they sold their produce
and purchased their family and planta-
ton supplies. They fully appreciate the
fair and honorable dealings of our mer'
chants, and would gladly avail them,
selves again of the advantages OF the
Augusta market if they could. do go by
rail. Self-intcrcst prompts them to the
effort to secure the building of railroad
to connect their section with Augusta
and sclf-intelest should move our cltl'
zens to meet that effort in q generous
manner. A railroad to Spartanburg,
South Carolina, would restore to our city
q very heavy business that was diverted
to Columbia by the Columbia and Green
vile Railroad. The amount of cotton 1t
would bring to our market annually, is
estimated, by cool calculatorS, as high MS
forty thousand bales. This, ut sixty dol
lars per bale, would amount to two mil
lion two hundred and forty thousand
dollars, large portion of. which would
he paid out for merchandise. 10 secure
this trade is certainly worthy OF our best
effort.
The distance from Augusta to Spartan
burg is about one hundred and ten miles:
There are two routes proposed for road
between the two points. One from Pine
House Depot, on the Charlotte, Columbia
and Augusta Road twenty-siX miles from
this city, thence rin the village of Edge
field, Ninety-six Depot, on the Colum-
bia and GrccnvIle Road, Laurcns Court
House, to Spartanburg. BY this route
there would be loss of nine miles in dis
tancc between Augusta and the village
of Elgetield, but it would have the adj
vantage of the line already built to Pine
House, and from Edgetield would be al
most Oh air line over favorable loca-
ton. 1t is urged, however, that this
route is through'a a section having rail-
road connection with us for consider
able distance, and we, therefore, could
not expect it to bring us additional trade
until it passed NinctY-siX and also, that
Il rival interest might secure control of
the line, and divert trade to Aiken and
Charleston, by building short line from
Pine House to Aiken. This latter point
! is worthy of consideration. We think
there is ground To fear such move, un-
less the road from Pine House to Spar
| tanburg Should become 4 branch of the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Road.
4 convention of those favorable to this
route was held in Columbia on the 10th,
and appointed committee OF ten to Oh
tain a charter for the road from the Leg
islaturc of South Carolina. Should the
charter be granted, and we believe it will
| be, Augusta will be called Oh to aid tic
enterprise.
The second route proposed is up the
Georgia side of the Savannah river to
Fury's Ferry, distance Of about thir-
teen miles then crossing the river,
would be located on the ridge between
Stevens crock and tho river, to the head
| waters of that creek, where it would
trend to the right and cross the Column
bia and Grecnvillc Road at Greenwood,
a station eight miles above Ninety-siX,
the point OF crossing proposed for the
first named route, thence to Laurens
Court House and Spartanburg.
The advocates OF thisroute claim that
while it would require more miles of
road to be constructed, it would pass
through q country very favorable for q
railroad, and run through. q section that
is now entirely without railroad facili-
ties, and hence bring to Augusta lar
ger amount of trade. The road on the
Georgia side could be constructed at a
light cost on the bank Of thecanal. The
bridge over the Savannah would he
partly built Of rock that could be had on
the spot, and hardly any expense would
be incurred in securing Il foundation for
the piers, rs the bed of the river is solid
rock. This route would be located near
Dorn's mine, where there is an unlmi-
ted quantity of Elagancse, that would
then be made available to commerce.
In addition, it is contcnded that this
route would forever be secure against
rival interests to our city.
Augusta will'nOt cavil about the route,
but as the people living along both the
proposed routes are our friends wishing
for closer business and social connec.
ton with us, all earnest in their views,
We suggest that u meeting be held in
this city ut all early day, Of all the ad-
vocates of 4 road from Augusta to Spar
tanblHg, and that delegates come pre-
pared with statistics of distance, advan-
taGes of routes, andthe probable amount
of stock that would be subscribed. Such
a meeting would make public much
valuable information. and benefit all
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