The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-15
friends with the following comments {:

1t goes without the saying in the above
comparison, that the Midland Company
has no organization, no road and no
money. It has just obtained a charter.
The question, then, comes to the pressing
necessities of Greenville as business
centre. Can these be postponed to meet
the solicitations of the Midland Road,
and, if 80, how long will it take to give
the outlet so necessary to Greenvillef
There can be no two opinions as to the
absolute necessity to Greenville ofplacing
herself alongside of her neighbors, and
securing competition in freight rates.
Her life depends upon it. Nobody
acquainted with the facts can resist this
position.
Yet, with all this admitted, if Charles
ton is really and Truly behind this Mid
land scheme, and it is not vile and
delusion, what is there to require two or
three years to fill the gap between Co.
lumbia and Laureus? The air line dis
tance from Columbia to Laurens, accord
ing to the Post Route Map of South
Carolina and Georgia, is Sc miles. There
need not be an enhancement of mile of
this distance to follow the best road bed
possible from Columbia to Newberry,
and thence to Laurens, via. Kinard's
Turn Out, We find an entirely practica.
BILE route. Call the whole line 60 miles,
and why it can't be finished and ready to
20 to work in six months from date OF
consolidation, it is hard to see, and why
this link should cost one cent over $780,
600 laid with steel rail, such as the Car
olina Central is laid with, We do not see.
The stock and debt of the above road is
given in the Railroad Commissioners re-.
port at $1l $50 per mile. The same work
could be done to-day at 90 per cent. less
cost, or at $1,000, leaving a margin OF
81 800 per mile on the above estimate OF
S72O 00O.. If, then, the connection with
Charleston is preferable, and Charleston
wants it and is willing to put her shoulder
to it, there need be no damaging delay.
AS to the question touching the prob.
ability that the Midland Road will ever
be built, "One of the People" tells us
"It is rumored here, upon what author
ity I do not know, that when Mr.. Courte-
nay was in Greenville last week in the
interest of the projected road he stated
that Charleston would contribute $780,
600 towards the building of it."
If Mr.. Courtenay made any such state.
ment, it was tantamount to saying that
Charleston would have nothing whatever
! to do with the scheme and to put the
Greenville people on fair notice that he
was not there in the interest OF Charles.
ton. As to the speculation, whether
Courtenay went to Greenville in the in
terest or at the instance of the Clyde
combination, either Immediately or re.
motely, or was interested in the Midland
Road in any other way than as an inde-
pendent Carolina system, it can be best
determined by putting the question to
him sauarely. Should he refuse to an>
| swer, that would be answer enough tor
Greenville. Should he give any other
but square, unqualified reply, that would
be the same. In which event, it should
take the Greenville people just about
one minute by the watch to know what
they ought to do. And there is the end
| of the whole matter. Courtenay at the
head of a great independent competitive
Carolina system would be very valuable
man. Courtenay in the lead of Clyde
movement across the path of a compe'
titive connection sought by Greenville
and Laurens, to the extent of shoulder
ing the new road they are now building,
| would be very dangerous man.
/ Greenyille is entitled to know at once
what interest Charleston feels in the new
ronte what she is prepared to contribute
to it, and whether she is prepared to put
her shoulder to the wheel in the grand
push through the mountains for sub.
stantial Western connection which shall
give us controlling Carolina line to the
West. This assurance, given in good
faith, and upon the full and open recog,
milton of the people of the city, the delay
asked may be then determined apon by
the parties at interest.