The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-12
Enthusiastic Railroad MSGting.
IOWNDESVILLE THOROUGHLY
AROUSED.
Speeches by McSsrs. J. S. Murry, J. G.
G. Fent.eYstonc, r. Is. hurry. T..
Nj. lsuckcr, and ". X. bradley.
IowNDEsv1LLE. S. c., Sent s,

G. FentheYstonc, r. Il. hurry. 4.
NJ. Kuckcr, and ". X. Bradley.
LowNDEsv1LLE, S. c., Sept, S, 1877.
To the Li6GepiUe I1c$s Gad Banner:
This has hucn agreat day in our quiet
little town.
Notices had been posted about the coun-
try, and published i'll the county papers,
that a Rail Road mccting would be held
in l~Iowndesvilie on the Sth instant.
Long before the appointed hour, the
roads and ~thoroughlarcs leading to
Lowndcsvillc, were crowded with vehi-
cles Of every description. and pedestrians
eager to hear, and to follow where wise
mcn might lead.
Unfortunately no preparation had been
made for outdoor speaking, and the
Academy had TO be used. As many rs
were able crowded into the building, but
a large majority stood outside, around
the doors and windows of the Academy.
The meeting. vi called to order by J.
Marion Latilnor, ST., Chairman, and Dir.
Il. S. Bccliham was requested to act as
Secretary. The Chairman in a few re-
marks, explained the object Of the meet
ing; and then introduced tho Venerable
and distinguished
HON. J. S. MURRY,
of Anderson; who in a mastery an d con-
vincing manner laid before tho assem- bly,,
the necessity Of building that proposed
Road, and the feasibility Of tho project.
He demonstrated tho fact that no agri-
cultural people can prosper without 'di-
rect communication with tho great COM
mcrcial marts Of tho country. Ho far
Their proved that Rail Roads Induce I'M
migration, thereby enhancing the value of
property, and developing the resources
of the country through which they run
He paid his compliments, in no mcasur-
ed terms, to the 'soulless corporation"
which runs the Grcenvillc and Columbia
Railroad, and asserted that enough mon
CIV was paid, in the way of "~oxhorbitant
frrcights," every three years, to construct
the proposed Road. In closing his re-
marks, tho speaker referred to the natu-
raj advantages Of tho route via Lowndos-
vile, over all others: The speaker
said the Road will run through
ono Of the most productive sections Of
the State, and put in communication with
the outer world, q region OF country
which will one day become the garden
spot OF the South land we might add, of
the WORLDLY Tho cost of constructing
the Road could not possibly DO less
by any other proposed route. Ma
turo has marked it as the natural chan
mel by which the trade of the great North
West, will reach tho Atlantic coast, and if
you make a proper use of the means in
your power the Road will be built.
Tho grading will DO light; in fact nature
has almost given You q "bed" ready for
your road. Determination on your parts
all that is necessary. Determination, not
that you will some day 60 to work, but
that you will start moW." The Judges
remarks wCro well timed and we'll recciv-
cd. The Chair next introduced the
HON. J. c. c. FEATHERsToNE,
who, in a speech of twenty minutes,
urged the great necessity of "taking hold
noic." "Your country, he said, can never
prosper, your institutions can never
thrive, your u Will never be de-
vcloped, until you place yourselves, and
your country in direct and close commu-
nication with the outer world. Inthis en-
terprise you must not look for outside
help. Tho Savannah Valley expects ev-
your power to build tho Road, without
asking aid from abroad. Let every man
feel that it is his imperative duty to give
and to give literally. If you can sub
scribe but five dollars subscribe it, if you
can give more give it. If you can give
no money, then work outyour part in this
great enterprise. Furnish lumber, cross
tics, provisions for the laborers, do some
thing, do ~ ything you can to help on tho
work, Now! No,5! Now is the propitious
time. Delays are dangerous, and procras-
tination is rtlinous. Mako upyour minds.
Resolve to build the road, and it
will be built, and its completion will
make a new era in the history of this
fruitful valley Of the Savannah. Make
n long pull, Il strong pull and a pull alto
gcthcr,' and you must succeed.
MR.. L. q. MURRY,
of Anderson, was next introduce
ed. He spoke fifteen minutes. His re-
marks were TO tho point and were favor
ably received. He had not come, he said,
to speak but to see the interest manifest
enthusiasm that was felt, and to go back
and stir up his people to creator dill
gcncc. He tclt confident that the people
could build the Road. lie knew that it
was a necessity, and that it ought to be
built now. Material for building was
cheap and convicts can be procured for
less money than amy other class Of labor
crs. Don't let the present opportunity
pass uniinproved begin to work now.
COL. E. II. FUCKER,
Of Anderson, was next introduced
and spoke for half an hour in his hap
picst style. Rhetoric, logic and clo-
qucnco Were combined, to O the poo
pie to work, to work 1ow. He showed
the necessity of advancing. A state of in
activity meant ruin, slow perhaps,
but sure. The proposed road, will not be
Il nero local ailai., but the last link in the
grand chain that will connect the great
grain-growing States Of tho North and
West, with tho South Atlantic States.
The grading on the entire line would not
cost moro than one thousand dollars
Isl ,O0O) per mile, and the people can and
will raise that amount, and more if ncccs-
sary.
The Colonel closed his remarks with an
eloquent tribute to our grand old conf
monwcalth, and predicted q glorious flu
ture for hor, when sho shall have resuIn-
ed the position that she once occupied
among her sister States, as. the truo
friend, and protector of tho Union undor
the constitution, and the vindicator of
statcs-rights. Tho
HON W. X. BRADLEY,
the "Old Roman" of the House of Rep
rcsentatives, was next introduced, and
received with applause.
He began by repeating the old "saw,"
where There is a will there is q way,
Referred to the past and present condi-
ton of our State. Spoke of the stupen-
dous efforts, put forth last Fall, to rid
our country of tho oppression, tyranny
and dospicable misrulo of tho thieving
horde Of northern scoundrcls, who had
wrung the hard earned living from the
hands of our people, and had grown rich
on the spoils of office. The Old Roman
handled them with gloves off. After
showing what mighty results had boon
accomplished by united effort, what
seeming imp%ossibilities had been por-
formed by a grand uprising of tho pco-
pie, lo urged all who were interested, to
10 up and doing; to use the same dill
gence in promoting tho financial woltato
Of the country, that they used last year to
redeem tho PROSTATE State.
If Int q titbo Of tha enthusiasm thu