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

It goes without the saying in the above
comparison, that the Midland Company
has no organization, no road and no
money. 1t has just obtained charter.
The question, then, comes TO the pressing
necessities of Greenville as business
centre. Can these be postponed to meet
the solicitations of the Sidland Road,
and, If so, how long will it take to give
the outlet SO necessary TO Greenriile
There can be no two opinions IS to tho
absolute necessity to Greenville of placing
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 q
delusion, what is there to require two or
three years TO fill the gap between CO.
lumbia and Laurens? The air line dis
tance from Columbia to Laurens, accord.
ing TO the Post Route Map of South
Carolina and Georgia, is 56 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,
.nd why it can't be finished and ready TO
60 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 ~ 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 $ll $50 per mile. The came work
| could be done to day at 20 per cent. less
cost, or at $1,000, leaving a margin OF
81 500 per mile on the above estimate of
| $4,000. II, then, the connection with
Charleston is preferable, and Charleston
| wants 1t and il 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
ut is rumored here, upon what author.
| ity do not know, that when Mr.. Courte.
| nay was 10 Greenvills Last week in the
interest of the projected road he stated
that Charleston would contribute $780,.
600 towards the building of it."
If MIR. Courtenay made any such state.
| ment. It was taptamount to saying that
Charlest would have nothing whatever
to do wi, the scheme and to put the
Greenville people on fair notice that he
was not there in the interest Of Charles.
ton. As to tho 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 10 the Midland
Road in any other way than Us an indie.
pendent Carolina system, it can be best
determined by putting the question to
him squarely. Should he refuse to an
swer, that would be answer enough for
Greenville Should he give any other
but square, unqualified reply, that would
be the same. In which event, it should
tako 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 great independent competitive
Carolina system would be very valuable
movement across the path Of compe.
and Laurens, to the extent of shoulder.
ing the new road they are now building,
would be very dangerous man.
Greenville is entitled to know at once
what interest Charleston feels in the new
route, what she Is prepared to contribute
to 1t, and whether she IL prepared to pu,
her shonlder 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 tho full and open recog
milton of tho people Of the city, the delay
asked may be then determined upon by
the parties at intereat.