The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-02-12

towards Abbeville, the trade will In
crease. We are conGden, that the Ab
6eville division, as it may be caled--tha
Is, the road from Aiken to Abbeville :
can earn sufficient, under the least favor
able circumstances, To pay the interes
on the cost Of finishing the line after i
shall have been made ready for the ties
and rails.
There is in Aiken, Edgefield aud Alb
oeVille strong disposition to contribute
literally TO the completion of the pro.
posed road. II il for the interest OF these
counties that it shall be done. The
opening of the road will cause the ada.
cent lands TO advance rapidly in value,
and the saving in the cost Of transporra
uon OF produce and supplies must be
| Considerable. Charleston is quite ready,
we think, TO help Aiken, Edgelicld nd
Ahoeville, in helping itself but these
counties must be ready to help Charles.
ton, in helping themselves.
| 1t Is proper to say that we haye no idea
| that Charleston would furnish the money
| for grading the road, but if the counties
which the line traverses can make it
ready for the superstructure, Charleston
can complete it without delay. We pre-.
sumo that there will be a meeting in
Charleston, at an early day, to consider
tue matter carefully, and TO give practi-
cal shape TO the currcn. feeling on the
subject. Charleston will certainly do it's
part, if Aiken, Edgefield and Abbeville
will do theirs"
Charleston yet has an opportunity TO
achieve an independent. railroad system,
which can be made to reach the base of
the mountains before next Spring, by
jud!cious action on ner part. The Sa-
vannah Valley Rniluad will certainly
be graded before Fall from Andcrsan to
McCormack's. The Carolina aud Cum.
berland Gap Road is mostly graded
from Edgsiield to Aiken, and also from
Smiths Store to Pickens c. II. If ar.
raugements could be made to consolidate
these two roads, 1t would only be neces.
sary to provide for grading from McCor.
mack's to Edgefield, and from Anderson
TO Smiths Store, distances of about &c
and IL miles respectively. The first is,
We understand, heavy work, while the
latter Is quite easy. Branch roads could
be cheaply constructed to AbbeviIle, and
from Belton by Williamson TO Smith's
Store, which would give every point in.
terested in the present line the benefit
OF the new road. This would be better
for Charleston than to build the original
line, for 1t would shut off another road
between their new road and the Savannah
River, and II would be great deal cheap.
er !san 10 fnish the present line. II
such q combination could be made. n
comparatively small amount of money
would secure the line from Pickens TO
Aiken, and with it equipped and running,
We have no doubt that In the course of a
few years the necessary means could he
obtained to construct the road on through
the mountains to the West.
The Savannah Valley Road Is nearing
completion, and will soon identify itself
with somo independent and competing
line Of road. If Charleston does not
secure it, the advantages of this road
will pass forever out Of her reach
In this connection, however, we would
say that Char "ston, ifshe wants TO relieve
herself Of the present railroad troubles,
will have to do more than amply take a
deep interest in the proposed enterprises.
She will have to wake up and show
some life and public spirit. She will
have to put some money into the enter.
prise. She can we'll afford to do 80. A
little city like Anderson has put s62, 500
into the Savannah Valley Railroad, and
by 1t we are assured Of railroad compe.
tition.
If Charleston wants the same adyau.
tnges she must do likewise, and put up
her money to help the enterprise on.
She may get charters until doomsday,
with the expectation that other people
will build railroads for her, and Micaw.
ber.like che will always be found stand.
ing still, waiting ilr something to turn
up, which will not ,uln up. The offer to
take bonds, after other people grade rail-
roads, will not suffice to inducs new roads
to 60 to Charleston. There 10 no mu.
tuality In such an arrangement, for it is
generally understood that the stock sub.
scribed Is do1ation, while those who
take bonds expect to gtt their money
back With interest. 1t Is, therefore, un.
reasonable to expect that the poorer
In the Stath should make
donations 70 build railroad to Charles. |
ton, whilo she, the richest community in
the State, and the one most to be bene.
fted by the new road, s,ands still, and |
does nothing but assume the bankers |
position--"I have moaey to lend. Give |
me good security, ahero my principal |
and interest Is safe and you can have |
some Of IT," Charlteton, in our judg.
ment, standa very much In the way of |
her own progress when she fails 10 make
common cause with one of the projected |
railroad systems of the State by sub.
acribing her proportionate share of the
expenses of the enterprise. @
90 far as Anderson 10 concerned, w
are safe. 1t is only qneetion of q year
or two uhtil we will have, another rail.
road, which will be operated for our in.
tereat. The IaTRLLIaENcER would like
70 see Charleston and the mountains
connected BY o new railroad system, and
We believe II can be done IL Charleston
will do her part. II remains with
Ohsrlsatos to act or remain quiet. II
aha acts nrnnnntlv and ,,;oo.n,., l.