The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-08-03
Il. Il. Meeting at Leesville--The
Best Route 10 the Sea.

Il. Il. Meeting at Leesville--The
Best Route TO the Sea.
4 meeting was held at Leesville
the 9th ult., in the interest of a
proposed railroad from Prosperity
to Blackville.
There were from three to four
hundred persons present. including
delegates from Aiken, Lexington.
| Newberry and other Counties.
Addresses were made by Prof.
| O'Brien, of Aiken, Messrs. Mitchell
and Simons, of Lexington, and Rev.
J. A. Sigh and Mr.. J. H. Boozer,
Of Newberry.
The people along the line Of the
contemplated railroad are taking
more and more interest in the pro-
ject.
There will be other meetings held
soon; and everybody is expected
to talk railroad.
The matter has not as yet taken
any definite shape; the idea seems
to be to dgitate ; to talk railroad
from Prosperity to Blackville, hop
ing that something may turn up
beyond these points of an encour'
aging nature.
Our Smoky Town neighbors are
awake; were at the meeting the
9th in full force. Such railroad
would be a great benefit to that
portion of our County. Property
is waking up to the subject.
What we need is more railroads.
immigration, better farming-ol
that which will pay better-facto
ries, &c.
IL regard to this proposed road
We have a few remarks to make
editorially. A new railroad termi
mating at Blackville and at Pros
perity cannot be built, or if built
could not survive the local freight
would certainly not support it, and
as for through freight it could not
compete with the G. q 6. L. r..
and the S. G. r. r. The days o1
short railroad lines have passed
and it is utter folly to talk of build
ing hundred mile independent
railroad in these days. The mel
who are agitating this proposed
railroad have something more in
contemplation than running be-
tween Prosperity and Blackville.
| Their idea is that this might form
a link in the chain of the Balti
more & Ohio, or Virginia Midland,
in its efforts to reach deep water
And they are agitating wisely. Gun
whole County should take hold ot
the matter, and other Counties
should do the same. It is almost
a straight line from Spartanburg to
Port Royal by way of Newberry:
Leesville and Blackville, crossing
the C. < G. road ct Newberry OF
Prosperity, the S. G. road at Black,
vile, and the Charleston & Savan-
nah road near Coosawhatchie OF
Pocotaligo. Or, better still, start
ing from Shelby, n. G., and running
through Union, Sewberry and the
other places named, it would be the
most direct road in the State, pass.
ing through a country that cannot
be surpassed. If the Midland has
any intention of extending its line
through South Carolina to the sea
no better route can be found than
that from Shelby to Port Royal.
So far as this County is concerned
we are satisfied she would aid lib.
orally such al enterprise, and no
doubt other sections On the route
would do as much.
If, however, the Virginia Midland
prefers Augusta to Port Royal, the
best possible route is from Shelby,
via Unionville, Newberry and Edge
field.
The trouble with our people is,
tLat they sit down ard curse their
fate in being hemned in On all
sides b1t make no attempt to rem
edy the evil. Railroads don't build
themselves.