The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-08-26
The WAY to the West.

At the recent meeting of the stock
holders and directors of the Spartanburg
and Ashevillc Railroad, which was held
in Hendersonville, N. c., it appears that
great dissatisfaction was manifested by
the representatives from Charleston at
the evident desire of Spartanburg to
control the future management of this
railroad scheme. We will not enter into
the merits of the controversy which has
grown out of the action of the directors,
by which Mr.. A. G. Kaufman, of Charles
ton, was virtually ousted from the posi-
ton of Secretary and Treasurer. This
led to the resignation of Hon. G. G.
Memminger, of Charleston, who has
served as President for the last two
years. Hon. D. R. Duncan was chosen
President and w. K. Blake, Esq, Secre-
tary and Treasurer, both citizens OF
Spartanburg. These are capable and
upright gentlemen, whose administration
will doubtless prove satisfactory to those
interested, and whose efforts will be hon
estly directed towards pushing the enter
prise to completion.
The attitude of Charleston, however,
upon the subject Of railroad communica-
ton with the West, intimately concerns
this portion of the State, especially when
the completion of the Blue Ridge Rail
road is once again under discussion. The
Charleston Ncrs and Courier, in review
ing the circumstances connected with the
meeting alluded to, makes an emphatic
declaration to the effect that it does not
expect any longer to secure the desired
connection with the West by way of the
spartanburg and Asheville Railroad.
All the bright and promising results so
often depicted in its columns are van
ished away, and our contemporary is
looking elsewhere for the realization of
oft-rcpeated dreams. We would not ut
ter an unkind word to our friends In
Spartanburg, nor throw an obstacle in
the way of their project, although we are
constrained to express the opinion that
Charleston is acting wisely in abandon
ing a scheme not in sympathy with its
interests and advantages. It's true policy
is to foster and encourage the completion
of the Blue Ridge Railroad, whose con-
nections with that city are direct and
uninterrupted, and whose control is vir-
tually within its grasp. The abandon
ment of this line for another was unwise
and imprudent, in our Judgment, and our
principal seaport mas much to regret
in advocating a scheme so barren of ac-
tual results to this State, for it is evident
that the spartanburg and Asheville Rail-
road, with its connections, will never be
operated in the interests of our CONNER
cial metropolis. Hence, we are glad to
perceive that the News and Courier, at
least, is awakened to the "true policy"
for South Carolina, which is to make the
Western connection with an extended
line of railroads "owned by persons
whose interests are identical and identi-
fled with those of South Carolina and
Charleston" Freed from its embarrass-
ments, and under new and brighter aus
pices, we believe the Blue Ridge Railroad
and its connections offer this desirable
opening to our friends on the seaboard,
and we shall be delighted to learn that
the movement in Tennessee and North
Carolina meets with encouragement from
that quarter.