The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-08
The Midland Railroad.

Nothing published IN the NeW3 lot u
long time has aroused rs much interest
in this city as the announcement Of the
arrival of Mayor Courtenay, of Charles.
ton, and the meeting of the directors of
the Greeuville and Laurens Railroad.
The people generally felt that they were
at last face to face with question of
vital Importance to the city and that the
time and circumstances demanded the
most earnest and careful consideration.
The railroad question was the leading
one everywhere, and those who favor the
union of the Greenville and Laurens
with the Georgia Central and those who
favor combination with the Midland dis
cussed the advantages and disadvantages
of the respective plans with absence of
heat and prejudice, and proved the gen.
eral disposition to be guided only by the
best possible judgment.
The great propoDderance of sentiment
seems to be in favor of the Midland con.
nection, but the minority is strong and
able. Very few, however, dissented
from the opinion that if any assurance
can be given by the Midland of an ex-
tension over the mountains it will be to
Greenville's interest to back it with all
she can command.
Capt. Courtenay met the directors Of
the Greeuville and Laurens and num-
Der of prominent citizens at the Office of
Isaac NJ. Bryan at half.past 10 o'clock
yesterday, Alex. McBee, Hamlin Beattie,
VIM. wilkins and Mayor Townes being
among those present beside the directors.
There was IN informal conference last.
ing an hour and half, during which
views were interchanged and questions
asked and answered on all sides. The
twelve directors then met at the office of
r. @. Donaldson, adjourned, after ses.
sion of two hours, until the evening, and
met again at 7 o'clock, remaining until
10. The policy of the road for the imme.
diate future was discussed carefully and
elaborately, Capt. Courtenay being again
present by invitation.
The following resolution was finally
adopted:
"Resolved, That this Board has heard
with great interest and satisfaction the
statement Of Mayor Courtenay as to the
intention, scope and possibilities of the
proposed Midland Railroad company, and
that we concur in the opinion that it is
to the interest of the counties of Laurens
and Greenville, and the city of Green
willie, that the Greenville and Laurens
railroad line, now graded, be made part
of the Midland railroad, on equitable
terms, when that company is organized
and a sufficientamounto of stock subscribed
to assure the success of the enterprise
the terms and conditions of such consoli.
dation to be agreed upon hereafter, and
that the interests of the present status of
this company demand prompt action on
the part of the corporators of the Midland
railroad.
"That a certified copy of these resolu-
tions be handed by the secretary to MIR.
Courtenay."
1t is understood that this action is sat-
isfactory to Capt Courtenay as the rep.
resentative of the corporators of the Mid
lane Road. His visit here was for the
purpose of obtaining a basis on which to
work and that is secured by the resolu.
tion. 1t is stated that the road was orig
inally projected by thinking men whose
attention was attracted by the phenome-
nally low price of steel rail and other
railroad material and supplies. They
concluded that now is the time to build
o. road from Charleston to the interior if
auch road ever is to be. The purpose
is to form an alliance between Charleston
and the upper Counties and to build the
road in the quickest possible time between
Greenville and Columbia, with the ulti.
mate purpose of further alliances to ex-
tend to Asheville. 1t is estimated that
the road from Greenville to Columbia
can be built for 81 1,0U0,000 or S1,l0O,oOO
and can be completed within six months.
From Columbia to Charleston there are
two river lines, with either or both OF
which satisfactory traffic arrangements
can be made.
The success or failure of the road is
now practically left with Charleston. If
she sufficiently supplements what can
be given and subscribed in the upper
Counties there is nothing in the way of
success. Mayor Courtenay seems to be-
confident that with the assurance OF
liberal support in this section there will
be little difficulty in obtaining what is
needed from below.-GreenviRe Nears.