The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-08-27
The Chicago and Port Royal Railroad
a Narrow Gauge.
CHARLESTON, s. c.,
Anuust 1S 1873

You will accept my thanks for
your polite attentions during myshort
visit to your town. arrived home
safe Friday morning, much instructed
by my trip and still more convinced
than ever of the necessity of our peo'
pie arousing themselves and devoling
more energy and attention to the
development of our natural resources,
and towards tho fostering of an intel
Iigent and economical system ofinter'
nal improvement.
Tho pamphlet issued by the Nation
al Narrow Gauge Convention is re-
plete with matter for consideration.
and little has been left uncommuni-
Gated but what is calculated TO i'm
press the public mind that in our
country the question is, not broad
gauge or narrow gauge, but narrow
gauge roads or none; for / am now
satisfied that if two roads are bnilt
parallel, and put under the same
management. that the narrow gauge
road will earn a good percentage
upon its cost, when the broad gauge
road will fail 10 pay interest on its
bonded debt, beyond the narrow
gauge road. 1t is, as you know, my
earnest desire to SEQ steps taken by
our people that will not only secure
them cheap transportation East and
West, but that will also secure them
direct trade with foreign ports, and
give them the advantage ofa national
highway running through the entire
length of the State, to Foot Point.
Port Royal Harbor. The distance
from the North Carolira line at Sas-
safras or Jones Gap, is just about 2l5
miles, throudh Pickens. Anderson,
Abbeville, EdgefeId, Aiken, Barn
we'll and Beufort Counties. s150,OOO
subscribed in each county for the
bonds of the road will secure its con-
struction and equipment. AS sooD as
The road is connected through to the
On o river. and is in fair work. the
bonds should be sold to the highest
bidders at public out cry, ard the net
proceeds returned to the county trca-
sury. This would relieve the tax
payer considerably, besides the beueft
he would derive from having a ma
tionaI highway through his county,
and having his real estate doubled in
a money value. Il does seem to m,
absurd that our people should think
seriously of helping Georgia to build
up hcr towns and cities, thereby in
cieasing the value Of their. taxable
property by constructing short roads,
with terminus on the Georgia side
of the river. requiring the construc-
ton of two expensive bridges one to
20 into Augusta, over, and another to
come out of Augusta, by, unless 1t is
expected that all South Carolina pro-
duccs will be consumed right there,
and nothing be required for export.
I admire the energy and manufactur.
ing enterprise that.the Augusta peo-
pie have developed since the war, tut
with all their inccssant Dragging and
constant depreciation Of everything
,n the arolina side, do not see that
hey have accomplished anything
wonderful. The merchants OF Au-
,usta saved mu,h cotton, were not
1urnt out, etc. Now compare her
with Columbia, strlck-
N to the Garth, her citizens houseless,
,cld up to the withcring pity of the
outside world, that capital and credit
houa flow to Georgia, and not trust
tsclf in South Carolina. Look at
Charleston, and compare her present
ondition with Savannah. Charleston
5 gradually but surely rebuilding her
ortuncs, Notwithstanding the efforts
# the Georgia press to divert capital
nd credit from locating on her soil.
,ir, the time has como when our peo-
lie must cooperate, and prove to our
islcr State across the river that we
re above pity, and that South Caro-
mans are able to develop tho re-
ovrces offered by her soil location,
nd harbors, without having to cross
he Savannah River at Augusta. We
ucht to organize State lnterna!
Improvement Association, with the
lew of instructing our fellow-citzeps
where to look for cooperation, etc.
Yours respectfully,
WINBORN LAWTON.