The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-02-23
Ex.Gor. Perry and tho Laurens Rail.
road.

We notice that this distinguished citizen OF
the State in a letter to the Grccnriiie Enter
prise and Mountaiaecr objects 10 the levying Of
a small tax to grade the proposed new road
from Laurens to Greenville upon the ground
that the stock OF itself would not be Il proiita-
Die investment, and argues that tire business
OF the road would not pay running expenses.
ale estimates the cost at 81, o0 q mile, or $780,
OOO for the whole road. This Is n formidable
array OF figures, and will no doubt scare the
timid. We do not propose to SO into the mcr-
its OF the question at all, but we think We
could correct an error into which the Govern
or may fallen, and into which his article may
also lead Others. The railroad, in our opin-
ion, can be built for a cest to the citizens
much below $1,000 q mile. We will cite the
Greenwood and Augusta Railroad. which Is
now in process OF construction. Various pa
Sriotic citizens subscribed small amounts, and
put 2 orce to the work OF grading the road.
When that money was exhausted the citizens
along the line taxed themselves two mills for
two years-four mills In all. Mccormick. the
owner or the Dorm Mine gave SION. then the
city OF Augusta gave the company SJO,oW.
When these different amounts were spent the
stock holders felt warranted in issuing bonds.
which met q ready sale at figures reaching
nearly par. The road Is nearly all graded.
The stone piers at the river arc up, the splen.
did iron bridge. costing $4,000 lies in Augusta
waiting transportation, twenty miles OF iron
rails have been bought and paid for, and an
active force is now laying il down as fast rs
possible. In sixty days the trains will be run.
ming across the new bridge and into South
Carolina. Other bonds will be sold as soon as
this work is finished, and another impetus
will be given to the work which will bring the
cars from Augusta to Greenwood. All this
will be accomplished by the time our citizens
will have Spentenough OF their own money 10
build n plank fence from Greenwood to Au-
rusta. Our people care nothing for the amount
which they contributed 10 its building, or the
money which they paid in taxes for that pur-
Lose. The ninc-tenths of the cost WIS con-
friOutcd by capitalists elsewhere. In the f-
furc we will have all the benefits and cOnvc-
nienccs Of q railroad, with the privilege OF
taxing tho Railroad annually some fify or
sixty dollars q mile which will retrEn TO US
cvery year at least half the amount which
we contributed in taxes. The tax payers will
get back In this way n profit OF perhaps fifty
per cent, while 1t is true That those who con-
,-ibuted OF their personal means have to
look for consequential advantages for their
returns
Now, we wish It TO be distinctly understood
that We are not in,crmeddling with the mat
ter OF q railroad between Greenville and Lau-
rcns, but merely stating some facts. as we con-
ccive them. II practical con,mo sense, COM
bined with a detcrm iNatlOn that will not sue
cumb 10 serious obstacles, is thrust into the
work the Railroad can be built with 4 cost 10
the citizens not exceeding one-fourth OF the
engineers estimate, and when built Will al
ways be subject 10 taxation.