The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-07
Laurens and Union Must Help Themselves.

and fmthe next place, it is permanent institu-
ton when it is built, consequently those who
put their money into it should consider well
where it is to be built, and whether it will con-
fer greater benefits upon other sections than it
will upon their own
Now, the condition of Laurens and Union, in
RAILROAD facilities, loss of trade, depreciation
of propersyA O. Bal dspressiono business, and
outlets to msfkets, is peculiarly alike that, it
seems to us, each county must seek relief from
the same quarter and by the same means. The
only difference between the two is in the fact
that Union has already road running beyond
her to the Airline road while Laurens is at the
head of branch Of the Grecnvlle railroad, and
has no railroad facilities beyond. We arc both
subjected to the high pnd unjust discriminating
rates Of freight that isdriving the business out
of our counties to points the Airline road
The trade of Laurens, which should be retained
within herself to enrich her own citizens, build
up her ewn institutions, enhance the value of
her own property and contribute to the general
welfare Of her own people, is NOW, from the
greater advantages given TO trade by the Air
line Railroad, taken to Grccuville and Spartan
burg, and contributes largely in comforting all
these blessings upon those counties, .depriving
l.Laure6s or't0eHFf The same is precisely the
case with Union. All her best trade goes to the
Airline Railroad, at Spartanburg. Both coun-
ties suffering from the same cause aud in
the same way, and, situated rs they are, it does
| seem the part of wisdom for both counties to
consult together and, if possible, by their united
efforts, secure the much needed material relief
actually necessary tor the prosperity of both.
Now, how can this be accomplished? 1t is
painfully evident that something must be done
by both, and that soon.
Spartanburg and Grecnvilc Counties arc be-
coming rich and prosperous, mainly from the
trade they draw from I.aurens and Union, while
Laurens and Union are becoming poorer dcpop-
ulated of her best citizens, and more depressed
in spirits, year by year. At the next general
assessment, it is believed, the value of all kinds
| of property in Grecnville and Spartanburg
Counties, will be Increased % per cent, and
their county taxes, consequently, reduced in
that proportion; while the value Of real proper
| ty in Laurcns and Union Counties will be re-
duccd l24 per cent. and the tax upon their pco-
| pic increased in that proportion. 1t must he re-
| y
| year to pay the expenses of the county govern
ment and that sum is raised by taxing tie
property of the County, at its assessed value
| The greater the assessed value OF the property
| Of Il county the less tax will be required from
each citizen, to raise given sum, and the poor
er county becomes, by decreased value of its
taxable property, the higher will the tax upon
| its property necessarily be-
| The trade of Iaurcns and Union we repeat, is
| going to different points on the Airline Railroad,
"%l IS Les. sssn 4 ~ q, a. in<t~"a &c h"ah.-o =
railroad thar VIII facilitate tho carrying of that
| trade IL those points, the two counties should
combine to keep that trade at home, by building
road that would compete, not only with the
roads that now run to them and exact cxorbi
tant freight charges but also with the AirliSe
road itself, and thereby do as it has done,
create nourishing and attractive markets along
its line, like Grccnvle, Spartanburg and other
places which boast of being so hourishing.-
| What would be thought of Union, ii we
were to build competing (?) road TO Spar
tanburg, alongside the 5. L. & c. Il. r. p
| Would sach road benefit Union? Not dol
lar. On the contrary, it wo I'D only give great
ty. But it wohld benefit Sparanburg, materi
ally. Anl road from Laurens to Spar anburg
or Greenvi'le would result in si",ilar ini""v e"
| LaurcnS
The line of Narrow Gauge Railroads now pro-
posed, from Georgetown 20 Chester, from thence
to Union, from Union to Laurcns and from Lau.
rcns to connect with the Greenwood and
Augusta road, now under survey, it seems to
us, presents advantages to every point along
the route superior to any line that could be
built. by it we have easy, cheap and speedy
access TO the sea outlets of Georgetown, Char
lesion, Wilmington Savannah. By it VIC
compete with the South Carolina Railroad at
| Augusta the Grccnvillc Railroad at Greenwood;
n branch Of tho same road at Lauren the S L..
| & {. K. l.. at Union the Charlotte, Columbia
and Augusta Il. Z. at Chester, and the Will
mintOn and Manchester road ut Sumter. And,
| if our ncighbors of Laurcns arc so cnamored with
the Airline Road that they mast 60 to it, they
can do so by the. route we propose, by continu-
ing OH their own line from Chester direct to
| Gastona.
What desire is, to build up the business Of
I.aurcns and Union-to keep in both those
counties the trade that legitimatcly belongs to
them, and, if possible, prevent by honest com
petition, that trade from seeking markets in other
counties. This can never be done 50 long the