Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-07
The Edgefield and Pine House Rail-

Two weeks back, we announced that
Mr.. Ashmore, the experienced surveyor
of the Greenwood & Augusta Road, was
about to begin survey of route be-
tween our town and the Pine House.
This survey, Mr.. Ashmore and his corps
have now completed. And at present
they-Mr. Ashmore and DIR. r. T.
Mims-are preparing to make Report.
The route is very nearly an air line, and
the engineers pronounce it highly ad-
vantageous and available for Railroad:
And now the question is: What kind
of Road shall we build? Is it necessary
to build frst-class narrow gauge to an
swer our purposes2 And can we raise
the money (not less than $50, ,OOO) to build
this kind of Road. Or would it not be
wiser under the circumstances, as well
as more practicable, to build wooden
Road at cost of $4,000, which will do
our work equally as well asf.a first-class
iron Road?
Several of our correspondents have
written lately, intelligently and forcibly
in favor of the wooden Road; and this
week we have an encouraging article on
the same subject from no less high and
trustworthy source than President
Magrath of the S. c. R. R.
We are very much in favor of the
wooden Road, chiefly because aUe are not
able to build an iron Road aoithin our-
selves, and have no right to expect out
side help-and no great probability Of
receiving such.
And why no outside help? Simply
because the Road will be too short.
Capitalists will certainly not invest in so
short a,line, even were we able to raise
sufficient amount to build first class
Road for half the distance, and then give
a mortgage on the entire Road to COM
plete it. The probable income OF the
Road would not justify capitalists IN
making the venture.
From the undoubted and well-proved
success of wooden Railroads elsewhere,
we feel warranted in saying that such a
Road, properly graded, and built of good
sound timber, would answer our pur-
poses most :satisfactorily-would trans
port as much freight as we shall proba-
bly require for years TO come; and at
the same rates as an iron Road-possibly
cheaper.
And as to the oft.repeated objection
that the wooden rails (4x5 scantling)
would last only one year-even granting
this for arguments sake-could they not
be replaced annually at acost not exceed
ing 80, ,OOO-less by $4,000 than would be
required per annum to simply pay 10
,er cent. on a 100000 iron Road?
.trl further. Would it not be rather
poor policy to tie up 100000 (as compar-
atively dead capitaD in an iron Road,
when, with $4,000 wooden Road, we
can obtain exactly the same results; that
is, transport all the freight and the travel
that our town and its section may de-
mand?
Where the necessity Tor a four or SIN
horse, iron hub and axle wagon, when
one or two horse, wooden hub and axle
vehicle will do our work just rs we'll
at one-fourth the cost? AS to the style
and grandeur of the thing, that is all
nonsense. The shabbiest sort of gentility
is that which is above its business and
above Its means.
When the Report shall be read and
considered, then steps will be immedi-
ately taken to raise the necessary funds.
And We beg our people to rcmem-
Der and to realize that the existence OF
Edgefield is now in the deadly breach OF
uncertainty With this Railroad she
swims! Without ii she sinks!
And let every citizen of this town
and surrounding vicinity-rich or poor,
white or colored-fcel that with himself
individually rests the. building of this
Road, and enter his name upon the sub
scription list, when presented, for every
dollar possible for him to pay or work
out, without regard to the amount sub
scribed by, or the action of, his neighbor
in the premises. If we all thus act, our
individual efforts will be crowned with
success, and the Road will be promptly
bult