The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-03-18
THE RAIL ROAD SITUATION.

alkcd rail road, and the views were
many and divergent. The report OF the
delegates to Charleston had been made
through the papers, and n meet
ng had been called for Friday night to
their formal report. The question
IF voting the bonds for $4,000 to the
Cumberland Gap Road, as it is called
brcvity, was being generally dis
And the friends Of that Road
argued ~strcnuously in favor Of immcai-
ate action by the town. In the mean
time those who preferred the road to
argued no less zealously in that
Unfortunately some feeling
grew out Of all this discussion. Some
took sides from motives Of policy
and politics, others perhaps from selfish
motives of interest, and many hon
and frankly differed in their views
of what was best. SO there was threat
cned q serious division Of public Scnti-
mcnt upon Il question the only hope Of
whose successful achievement lies in
the united action Of the whole commu-
nifty.
On Thursday afternoon an informal
meeting Of some Of the citizens was
called in Mr.. Bcnct's office, with Il view
to discussing the situation and %rcconcil-
ing our differences. The discussion
was wholly informal, and nearly all
present expressed their views. But IS
far from eiiectins its purpose + the
meeting seemed TO Increase the
agitation and intensity the bitterness.
Friday n.y. Respecting a scene of Grim
nation and rccrimination, but happily
were disappointed. The temper Of the
discussion was most excellent, and the
action Of the meeting most conservative
and wise.
1t were emincntly unwisc and injudi-
cious to have adopted any cast iron res
olutions that hound. us hand and foot
to either. or indeed both, of the enter
prises proposed. Suppose the meeting
had declared in favor Of the Cumber-
land Gap line and discarded the other.
what assurances have We that Charles
ton will succeed in raising the $5OO,OOO
c~ssctial to it's completion On the 9TH
er hand if it had declared for the Yer
derry cute there is no more assurance
that the Georgia Central would equip and
run the road if we graded It. So it was
clearly the part Of wisdom to hold aloof
from the adoption Of resolutions that
would commit US beyond recall to eth
cr of them. We must wat. 1t may be
n slow policy, but it is safe and prudent.
We have made a proposition to Charles
ton and she is e~ndcavoring to meet it. II
will know in Il few weeks it is said.
she does the Road will be built. We
| Why then recede from our own propo-
sition and possibly lose our last chance
of securing a place on a grand trunk
line Of railway, that will unite US on
the one hand with the Deep Water, and
OF the other with the West. Moreover
we lose nothing by waiting to learn tho
result Of Charlcston's efforts. We have
no charter for the YerderY Road, and
fc6uld not now proceed tpworET We
were .a&tea5o on that route. Moreover,
good faith2rcquires us to nwait-ehurtes
tors action upon the proposition We
have submitted to her. We sent dele
gates to thcm-wc cannot rcpudiatc our
action. Nevertheless, we cannot afford
to say point blank that we will not con-
slider the Verdcry route, for it may be
that VIC shall find it to our interest to
ABORT it, and tha, means may be found
through its medium Of obtaining
promptly that relief VIC so much need.
The fear has been expressed that
Charleston may prefer a connection with
the Savannah Valley Railraad and may
give Abbeville the go-by. We are of
opinion that this fear is groundless.
Doubles a junction with that Road is
desirable and may be affected but the
present Directors will never consent
that this shall be done at the expense of
Abbcville and Due West and the other
towns on the upper end Of tho line. In
addition to this, the charter, We are in
formed stipulates that the Road shall
run by the plac IS named therein.
Meantime don't let there be cngendcr-
cd any bad feeling in our midst. We
have seen in the last week cx-
hibitions Of feelings and motives
on both sides of this question that
arc not To the credit Of those who
entertain them, nor calculated to adj
vance the interests they advocate let
US discuss these things dispassionatcly,
and decide them upon business princi-
pies with an eye single to the good of the
whole community meantime, then, out
of all this agitation will grow an enthu.
siasm and spirit that will. before another