The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-25
Passage Of the Blue Ridge Bill...The
Premiums for o Prompt Completion
of the Road.
Neus and Courier.

4SeU3 ana IOuT1eT.
The Act to facilitate the completion OF the
Blue Ridge Railroad has now passed both
houses OF the General Assembly, and needs
only the approval OF the Governor. which II
i first section Of the bill provides that
the Counties OF Anderson and Oconee and
the towns therein, nrc empowered TO sub
scribe such sums. payable In county or town
railroad, not to exceed five per cent. Of the
nsscsycd value OF the taxable property OF
such county, city, or town.. The County Com.
m%issioners arc required when p~etitioned by
i've hundred real estate owners TO submit
the question to the qualified voters. II the
result favors subscription, tho Commission
ers are to contract with the owners to Issue
them bonds, payable to bearer in thirty years,
bearing interest at six per cent, to DC deliver
Vile, provided the road be completed In
| three years. The commissioners shall levy
an annual tax to pay the Interest. In return
for the bonds the owners OF the road snail
Value, to be represented by the Commission
ers. In towns the Council shall take the
same action on the petition or hfty real es'
tate owners. Section 2 provides that the two
counties may instead OF subscribing bonds
subscribe IN annual tax, not exceeding ten
mills and for not longer than six years. -.
In Section 3 the State agrees to remit all
taxes except the school tax and penaltles
now due on the road, and all taxes except
| the school tax for the next three years, pro-
vijeI tho work be begun by the list OF Jan
uury, 1851, and be completed In three years.
Section 1 provides hat on similar condl-
tions the road be authorized TO pay the coun.
Is taxes due to Anderson and Oconee nnd oil
to become due before the completion OF the
work, excepting the school tax, In stock nj
pnr. ..,.L. o..
remit all State, county and municipal taxes,
cXccpt the school tax, for twenty years con-
sccutivcly, to any parties beginning the con-
struction Of the road from the present ter
minus by the first of January, 1881, and COM
pIeting it to Knoxville within three years
from that date. 80
the Act, that tho parties accepting Its dement's ~
rectlon OF Clayton, Ga, and thence to Knox.
willie, Tenn, and that when completed they
shall never discriminate against the interests
of any OF the ports OF this State or offer better
terms OF freight or passage TO amy other ports
or enter into any combination Win otneI
roads within or without the State by which
they shall discriminate In favor OF any other
port over Charleston, and any persons hereaii
Ter coming into possession OF the road sllal
take 1t subject to the terms OF this Sectlon
The persons owning or operating said roa,o
shall not have u right TO make amy discrlml'
special riltcs, nor in any other way, nor com
bine or pool with Il other companies to &c
so.
Section 7 says that the State and Counties
receiving stock shall not be liable TO any rs
sessmcnt upon the same, nor be In any way
responsible otherwise than In loss OF STOCK. .
Section S authorizes putting as lnrgea mort
gage bonded debt rs necessary on the road
the State to be in 10 way liable except as pro
vidcd in this Act. -.
The terms OF the Act, therefore, arc liberia
ideed. There Is now an opportunity i1r &
combination of corporations or capitalists
within or without the State. to lit the Blue
Ridge out of the legal slough and push 1t for
ward to completion. The State gives evil
I I- - To- 800, nk 4 - fk cn0Nrh tho nn
plclion OF the Road, and Of its willingness tt
pay literally for accomplished results. 'Ihi
Is the most that could be expected, ut TILL
time.