The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-22
FrcishtS to Charleston,

elsewhere to be found in this paper, taken
from the columns Of the Charleston Jour-
nal of Commerce. The article seems to
be written in good spirit. with evidence
of q disposition to speak fairly and prac-
ticallv. Wcwould be glad if the Railroad
authorities would give the matter their
serious consideration. It seems to us
that the Railroads are in a degree depend
Ont upon the prosperity of the country
through which they pass for their WI
prosperity. But we are not disposed to
believe that Railroads have no rights and
that the stockholders interests should be
entirely ignored. As q rule, VIC believe
the public are too much disposed to crush
out these corporations and by popular
clamor control them in tho interests of
the disintcrestrd citizen moro than in the
interest of those who have paid their
money to build tho road. 1t seems, when
a road is to be built that the moneved men
are appealed to in the strongest terms, and
then in many instances. as soon as tho
road is set in runnig order, those
who did not invest, manifest a spirit or
cagcrncss to take possession Of it
to their own interest and to tho detriment
Of Stockholders. who subscribed under a
spirit Of patriotism. To III n railroad
successfully requires the best talent and
n constant watchfulncss as we'll as a IA
miliarfty with all the facts, feelings and
interests of tho people from whom a rail-
road derives its support. Nine out Of
ten, and really we might say everybody,
speak unkindly of the South Carolina
and the Grcenvillc railroads, for what
they term the eSorbitant freight tariffs
imposed.
1t would DO strange indeed if a
line of railroads should bo able to m
duct their business In a satisfactory man.
ner to Ill their customers as we'll asto the
interests of tho stockholders. Within
tho memory Of our citizens, travellers
moved about In a rickety old stage coach,
ut ten cents n mile. Now the Railroad
furnishes an elegant palace car, with COM
IlJldIJIc SNiitS u" u IL lht Ibl' " llittFi
miles an hour, Mt five cents a mile. Thir-
ty years ago VIC would have congratulated
ourselvclves beyond expression at such q
change. Tho samc difference has been
made In tho transportation of frcights.
We arc o apt to underrate tho incstlma-
bic blessing of a railroad, even if it does
charge half rs much for passage and
freirlts as the old slow stage coach and
wagon lines charged years ago. We
know that it is more popular to blame the
railroads than to Justify their course to-
wards tho people. That the South Carroll
ma Road and the Grcenvillc Road are
driving freight from Charleston wo cam
not deny. For we believe that it is a fact.
that they arc in some respects pursuing
4 shortsightcd policy. We are unable to
sec the Justice of charging 500 for a cargo
Of molasses fIom Charleston to Abbeville.
when tho company would take the am
cargo forty miles further, to Greenvillo.
for s44. All other freights to Abbevillc
average fifty per cent. more than to
Grecnville. The working of such tariff
is driving the greatest quantities Of our
tradeftom the upper portion Of our county
and from the incorporate limits of this
town to Grccnvillc, whore the cotton is
sold at q higher price, and goo1S
arc bought at 4 lower price than
at Abhoville. Tho railroad is either
making an immense profit off their
froights to Abbville, or else they arc
losing money by carrying them to Green
vile. IF they arc carrying freight to
Grccnvillo tor less than cost it certainly
is poor financicring, and if they got
enough of it to do they would
break the stockholders. while they
are running the towns along tho line
Of tho road. We think the rates Of freight
shoutd be made more cqnnl along tie
mhoIc line and not make the road instru-
mental in hearing down several little towns
to build up me-. Tho equalizing Of tho
frcights would be not only for the hest in
tercsts of the country, but for the rail-
road stockholders as we'll.
AS for the passenger travel we wonld
offer 4 suggestion for what it is worth,
not that VIC know much of running n
railroad. Let the company reduce
the faro from points within the
county to tho Court House. At
present the fare from Donaldsvillo to
Abbeville and return is 81 90; from
Hodges to Abbeville, 70 cents: from
Greenwood, 1920; from New Market,
$3.50; from Ninety-Six, $50. The dis
lance from the points to Abbevillc is
such that men owning horses and bug
gies can come cheaper by their own on
veyance, and hence do not travel on tho
road. Let the faro from Donaldsville be
reduced to 80 cents to come to Abbeville
and return, and to 30 OF 40 cents from
Hodges; to SOC cents from Greenwood ;
to 60 cents from New Market; and to IS
cents from Nincty-Six and we will guar
antee that tho company will mako
moro money, than under tho present
system, which is almost equal to tho ex-
clusion of our people from travel on the
road to the Court House. Tho present
rates may not be too much for
for the road to receive, but it is more than
tho people will pay. Upon general prin-
ciplcs it is better for agrcat corporation to
be accommodating in small matters, when
nothing is lost by it. AS it is, the road
has not one passenger a month from
Ninety-Six to this place, but if the rates
were changed as we suggest, there would
be more travel and more money would
be paid into the treasury, and there
would be a better feeling between the
people and the road. The plan of giving
cheap excursion tickets for the past
month Or 60 has lrnnrht q nan, foolinnl