The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-02-04
THE LAST HOPE.

hSAS~ oN" S' R"f>''
1t will be seen that the meeting has
adopted a resolution plcdging the citizens
Of the town to subscribe bonds to the
mount Of s per cent. Of the taxable
&. & c. r. R., upon condition that the
towns along the line Of the road sub
scribe a like amount. and the citizens of
Charleston subscribe an amount equal
to that thus raised.
1t is demonstrable that the amount
thus collected will grade and cross tie
the road, ready for the iron then the
9. G. r. r. will haul the rails supplied by
the company with whom Mr.. Schoficld
ha%scontracted, and the work Of construc-
tioncan go rapidly on. The meeting was
essentially representative o fthe business
men Of the town. 1t was marked by an
earncstness that is indicative of good
results.
Gcnl. Hcmphill thought we had better
not issue bonds, and wanted the money
expended within our County. But that
is not practicable. The work must be-
gin at Aiken, in order that We may obtain
the aid Of the S. C. road in transporting
the rails.
Now, the above is the plan that Able
vile has suggested. Will the other
towns join us? We believe that they
will. Will Charleston come to our aid ?
We believe it must! Already Charleston
is restricted in her South Carolina trade
tn the scope Of country below and cast
of Columbia. The Georgia Central sys-
tenn has laid her hand on six Of the best
counties in upper Carolina, and is full Of
bold and aggressive energy. Charlcston's
trade is languishing her merchants feel
the full force Of hard times the Midland
scheme has failed, and it would seem
that every consideration of financial
policy must impel her to join in this
enterprise. Her safety from commercial
ruin depends upon her securing a con-
nection with this section Of the State,
and an outlet to the West.
What more practicable scheme has
been presented to her consideration than
this we now propose? Surely there can
be no hesitation upon her part. She
ought to jump at the opportunity.
For ourselves, We have all to make
and nothing to lose by this proposition.
Our subscription is conditioned upon
terms which, if complied with, will raise
a fund sufficient to put the road in that
condition which will enable its officers to
raise upon it's bonds the money to com
plete and equip il. Five per cent. upon
the assessed value Of the taxable prop
erty of the town will raise in the neigh
horhood Of $4,000. It is proposed that
the bonds shall run for twenty years,
aud the addition to the annual taxation
necessary to meet the interest, and retire
the bonds will not he oncrouS. The
townships of LowndcsviIlc, Mag
nolia, Calhoun's Mills. and Bordeaux
have for four years paid a railroad tax
of seven andeight mills to the Savannah
Valley road, and by the time the road is
completed will have paid forty or fifty
mills. The city of Anderson has sub
scribed $4,000 in bonds to the same road.
Surely, for the great ends we have in
view, we can risk $4,000! Nothing
venture, nothing gain"
Moreover, we have rcnchcd that pass
when something M 1st be done. Green
wood, by her indomitable energy and
pluck. has secured a railroad competition
that enables her to sell bacon at from /.
to l cent per pound, and corr Mt from six
to seven cents per hushcl less than it
costs our merchants to lay these arti.
cles down in Abbcvillc. We do not
begrudgc our neighbor her prosperity
md success. On the other hand, we re-
Joice at it, and admire her courage and
spirit. But we must emulate them, or
else give over II town to the bats and
the owls.
The fear is entertained by some that
this project will fail. and will delay the
plan OF building Il road to Verdery. We
do not think so. This matter will be
determined within thirty days, and if the
other places interested. and Charleston
refuse their corporation. it only remains
Tor Abheville to raise the $4,000 neccs.
ssry, md build the road to Verdcry.
1t seems to US, rs Mr.. Bradley said in
the meeting, that we have reached that
tide in our affairs which, taken Mt it's
Hood leads on to fortune. Neglected,
we shall live to repent and regret it.
This Is n plain business transaction in
which every citizen of the community
is vitality interested. It Is really Able
ville's Last Hope" 70 achieve that con-
n"ction which is absolutely essential to
her welfare and prosperity.
Let US work together, and in harmony,
and inspire the other towns along ahc
route with the confidence and energy