The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-06
nAIIRoAD MEETING.


On lest Monday morning some OF the
citizens of the town OF Anderson s,:o are
opposed to the Savannah Valley Railroad
called meeting In the Court House to dis.
.uso the subject, aud Col. ]. N. Brown was
called to the chair. On assuming the chair
Col. Brown stated that the meeh..g had
been called to consider the subiect of taxing
the people to build the Savannah Valley
Railroad, by some Of the citizens who are
opposed to the measure. That 1t was in.
tended to discuss the subject so as to call
the attention Of the people to the subject SO
as to enable them to make up their minds
upon it, and to initiate thought which
would fully advise Che people. He then
declared the meeting ready for business,
after which J. L. Tribble, Esq., was elected
Secretary.
O. Fl. p. Fant, Esq, then offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were seconded
by Capt. w. 8. sharpe
Resolrcd, That it is the sense of this meet
ing that the incurriDg q large bonded debt
OF this time to aid in tbs construction OF the
Savannah Valley Railroad R unwise, and
would be injurious to the material in. rests
aud prosperity 0f Ito County.
Resolred, That the policy of mourning
bonded bebt for our towns, cities and coun-
ties, entailing high taxes, should not be
resorted to except in cases where It is eyi-
dent beyond the contingency of O doubt.
ahat the benefits to be derived from it will
amply conpensate the outlay.
Resolved, That the material interests and
prosperity OF the County demand low rate
oi tsSs3: s:.<. &C tie
policy of our government and people in
ante-bcllnm days.
Col. Rucker suggested that the resolutions
~ .oted upon by sections, whcreupon the
first resolution was read. Capt. s. NJ. Pegg
stated that he would like to hear the reason
for the resolution. ~
Col. Brown said thse he opposed the road,
and favored the resolution, because he was
opposed to debt. He did not like debts as
Counties, towns or individuals. They are
bad things. It Is easy enough to get into
debt, but 1t Is hard to get out Of 1t. This
road proposes to put debt on the people
without giving any adequate return. He
did not believe If the amount asked was
voted from the town and townships, that
it would not complete the road, and if It
was completed that it would not pay the
expense Of running it, and If it did pay It
would be disadvantage to the town. The
connection with Augusta would take from
us our trade from large section Of coun-
try. The roads we now have do not pay.
The South Carolina road is on the verge of
bankruptcy. The Wilmington, Columbia
& Augusta road is in the hands of re-
ceiver, the Charlotte road is greatly en-
barrassed, the Air Line Road has been sold
out, and the Greenville C Columbia road
cannot pay the interest on its bonded debt.
The Savannah Valley road wonld not be an
exception. Its prospects would even be
worse than these others, because 'tp terrific
ry would be circumscri5ed by the .reenville
& Columbia, the Greenwood, thu Air Line
and the boats ON the Savannah river. If
built, it would not do na any good, because
freights sre'as cheap or cheaper at Central
shan thcy are in Augusta, ehl yet they talk
about building q road TO Augusta to get
cheap freights. This is peculiar time.
Money is scarce, and If the bonds were is
sued they would sell very low. Greenville
and silartnnbnrg honds sold ut about 80
cents on the dollar, and that is about what
these bonds would bring if thrown on the
market. He believed thnt If the people
voted the subscription they would have. to
pay the tax and then not get any railroad.
At the conclusion of Col. Browns speech
Mr. J.. E. Breazenle asked him several ques
tions with view of developing the subject
more fully.
Capt. sharpe followed and opposed the
rofi, because It was bad policy ana rot
right. he did not believe in one man
voting away another's property. He want
ed 10 know IL 1t was proposed to make this
town q joint stock company and issue
shares according to the taxes paid by each
man. II SO, they ought to divide it out
and give every man as many votes on this
subject as he would have shares. He said
ehis movement has wave of communism
in it. If Il could build the road it.would !
net pay. A connection with the Air Line
Road would be better. He objected to this
mannor of building railroads, becanae is
uas introduced by. the Radicals, and be-
cause Of the class Of people who are allowed
to vote for 1t. he did not like the prece.
dent. He did not know much about rail-
roads. but he thought Anderson was as well
situated as most towns, and we had better
let well enough alone. If we build this
road it will cut of our trade. Cotton IL
like duck. It win seek the nearest water
and 60 20 Augusta. It will depfeciate
lower rents, 60. II will add two
hundred per cent. to our town taxes for
twenty years. We had better think about
1t. Capital wilt not como here. The |
owners OF personal property, banks, DC,
viii move out OF town, and instead of
building up we viii 60 down.
Judge Reed favored The resolution, and
opposed the road. He did not propose to
argue it. but would give few. reasons.
.he read would not benefit Anderson. 1t
would build up towns to take away our
trnde. II the road was built It would not
pay, and In oil probability 1t would result
In breaking down both itself and the Green-
VILE road, leaving us nothing but the dirt
road. He was afraid we are coming to this
anyway. We ought to turn our energies to
Tho Blue Ridge Railroad and secure It's COM
plefion, and then build the road from here
By Abbsyilis and Aiken to Port Royal. |
This would give yhe town of Anderson an
outlet which would be profitable The
Yoad would no, ray. because The
boata on the Siavannah 3. yer would de.
. great sissii OF iruig11t. SsoI5-
over, Congress has mada IN appropriation
% SURVEY the river, with view of rsnder-
Ing It navigable, and if that should be done
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