The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-09-17
Narrow Gauge vs.. Broad Gauge-Letter
From a Railroad Man.
CHARLESTON, S. c., |
Sept. 2, 1873.

Hon. J. HollMshead-DeGr Sir: .~.
Yours of the 1st instant is just Al
hand. It did not matter about re
turning the letter. I had taken nc
copy, and preferred looking over it
but when read in the Abbeville
Press and Banner, I did not see thai
I would have made any change.
I am earnestly doing all I can tc
work the public mind up to the
right point, but our people do moi
seem certain, either as to the gauge
route in this State, or direction
after it leaves the French Broad
valley. I happen to know that the
broad gauge railroad interest OF
the entire country South of the
Ohio and West of the Allegheny
and Blue Ridge Mountains, with
but few exceptions, are in, if not a
thoroughly bankrupt condition, so
near it that long and protracted
litigation is likely TO be the result.
The Kentucky Central from Gov
ington to Lexington and Nicholas
vile, has been in litigation for a
long time, and is not yet out of it.
This is only sample. The roads
heretofore have been built by the
poorest engineers, and, to secure
certain neighborbood subscriptions,
have not been directed with any
idea of securing the shortest and
cheapest communication between
important points. That the time
has come when the people must
revclutionize the railroad system
of this country, I am convinced.
The surest way Of securing what
they need. "cheap transportation %
is to leave the old railroad compa-
mics severely alone, and 90 to work
and construct national air-lines, the
business of whicl. being many times
greater than the old round-abouts,
will enable the new roads to trans
port freight at much reduced rates,
and yet earn good dividend on
cost. The time is at hand when
broad guage bonds will not be sold
for more than forty to fifty cents in
the dollar. The people are not 60
ing to submit to any monopolies.
Free trade in transportation is to
be the order of the day. Any set OF
men that can construct road be-
tween two points, and pay for the
right of way, if necessary, will be
and the company that
can work the cheapest will com
mand the pronagc of tho public.
In W. S. IIaymond's letter Of the
9th of August, written as Presi,
dent Of the Chicago and Augusta
Railroad, to Major Thomas II. Rus.
sell, Pickens G. IT,, S. c., he says
it is our desire to secure both routes
if possible. Byhaving both we would
a have monopoly Of the great min.
eral region, as no other road would
be likely to run between them.
If these are President Ilaymond's
riew and calculations as to monop'
olizing the mineral region and
routes through the gaps Of North
and South Carolina, lie has gone
beyond his depth; no road can be
constructed hereafter but that the
cars of any railroad company can
be taken over them at the rate that
shall be deemed by the public equi
table. 1t is just such views as Dr.
Raymond lets out that is tho crying
evil in the whole country. / had
no idea that any one could have
the face to come out and make this
admission, which is nothing more
than that the manipulators of the
Chicago and Augusta Railroad
scheme propose to possess them.
selves of q valuable franchise to
control the mineral wealth Of Eas,
Tennessee and Kentucky for theil
own advantage.
[ enclose you the letter. See il
you can make anything else out ot
it. You say that General Meow