Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-06-19
For the Advertiser.
Railroad to Pine House.

bia,ildiia.a "a Marrow Gauge Wooden Rail-;
road from 'Edge1eld C. Irsto the Pine
Housesfor vcrySs deratesoutlay Esbat
such a.read is alIthat is needed by4his
community; tAatFit viii pGt. Edge6eld
C.gE In Railfoaa connecfon withsthe'
North, East, South and West; that the
money invested in the road independent
of the great public convenience, will be
good and profitable investment; that
instead of withdrawing from the active
capital of the community S75,0OO, (the
cost of first class Railroad) it -ig pro-
posed to invest in this enterprise oAly
IS, 900 or Sl0, ,000, (which we believe will
not be dead capfta1;; 'burwIiT yiefd larger
interest to the Stockholders, than money
invested in Augusta at 10 per cent, and
at the same time will advance the mate
rial interests Of the country more than
any other equal amount'of capital could
do.
Some persons object to the scheme Of
working horses or mules to the trains.
This motive power has been suggested
because it was believed to be practicable
and economical, and we are stiH under
the belief that it will be the cheapest pow
cr that oan be used but we are not averse
to the use of steam power, provided we
can use it with economy and profit.
believe tits practicableto use steam pow
cr Or said road, and that twill not cost
more than 81 800 or &, 900 more than the
horses or mules. OF. course, in making
this estimate, tio not have reference to
a fine locomotive Engine, but to an En-
gine Of ordinary construction, with such
notifications as. will adapt it to looonlo
tive purposes. The expense Of the keep
of the horses will more than supply fuel.
for the. engine, and the use Of the-engine
will. also obviate the necessity OF pre-
pairing and keeping in. repair track for
the horses. I venture TO suggest that a
good 80 horse power portable steam en-
gine, adapted to locomotive purposes,
and mounted on railroad. trucks can be
b ,ught for sum not exceeding $500
The trains will be light and the speed,
need not in any case exceed ten miles an
hour let us then substitute tile steam
engine for the mules, and let the whistle
blow. It will inspire the tiinid with adj
ditfonal confidence IN the practicabiffty
1 of the scheme The whole cost of the
road, and its outfit ready for business, I
verify believe, with good steam engine,
can be got up for ten or twelve thousand
dollars.
propose now to suggest my ideas in
reference to the ways and means. This
is a very important part of the enterprise
and cannot be overlooked. Every man
in the community is interested in this
enterprise, and if every man will sim
ply do his duty in the premises the whole
stock can be subscribed in single day,
and no man in the community need be
at all embarrassed by paying in his
Stock. I assume that every property
holder in the community will be ready
and willing to take some stock in the
road, and every man in the community,
irrespective of color, should take at least
one share. Those who can pay their
stock in money may do so, and those
who prefer to work out their stock might
ne allowed to do so; and I would sug-
gest that any who may prefer to work
out their stock be allowed to subscribe
in that way.
Let the capital stock be put down at
Sl2,5OO. Let share be S25. There will
be 800 shares Of S25 eacn. :.
The colored people are especially in
terestcd in this enterprise, if taey will
look at 1t In the right light. In the first
place it will create a demand for labor,
which they can perform, and get good
wages while they are doing it. Accord
ing to the estimates heretofore submitted
there will be about $4,000 worth of labor
required, which every man who can use
an axe a spade, shovel, or wheel-bar-
row can aid in doing. Thus every col
ored man who can labor, can get share
in the capital stock of this Railroad for
about one months work. In the second
place the colored.people are as much i'll
terestcd in cheap freights rs any body
else. Tiey are compelled to pay freight
on every thing they eat and wear; in
short, Oil every thing they buy. There
fore, the colorcd men, l repeat, are espe-
cially Interested in having the Railroad,
Ill, tul- ,n1I Of tl,iA
enterprise, and do all in their power 10
aid in getting it completed.
propose now to consider some of the
benefits that will result from the pro-
posed Railroad. First, the effect upon
the value Of the real estate in the Village
and surrounding conmunity,-an in
this estimate will take into considcra
ton the land within two miles on the
East and South and within an area of ten,
miles OH the North and West Of Edge
field c. II. Within this area there are
about 81, 900 acres Of valuable and fertile
lands. Now it is fact that no one OF
common observation will .controyert,
that the direct and immediate effect of
every Railroad is TO enhance the value
of all the real estate in its neishborhood,
and this enhanced value is often very
great Look for instance at the lands
along the line of the c. C. IL 4. r. r. 1t
Is within the memory of mei. now liv-
ing that much Of the land along the line
OF that Railroad was regarded as Of little
or no value, and were rated as Pine Bar
rens. What are those lands worth to-
day? They are now priced more than
any lands i'll the up-country, and are
more sought after, and are rated higher
than any lands ip the State. Will any
one venture to say that this is not mainly
owing To tho fact that they are within
easy access to Railroad? 1t may be
safely assumed that all lands within an
area Of ten miles North and West of
Edgeield c. II. will be increased in value
at least from twenty to twenty-five per
cent. of their present value by a Railroad. !
For arguments sake will assume that |
they will he increased in value orc dol
lar per acre. AS stated already within |
an area of two miles, South and East,
and ten miles, North and West, there arc