The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-05-06

offered to obviate that objection Gen.
Hemphill was still in opposition. Mr..
Bonham then proceeded to show the ad-
vantages Of a through line of road over
q short one.
Capt. J.T. Parks said, This is the first
time since l have been a citizen Of Alb
beville that ] have participated in a rail
road meeting. | should not have spoken
tonight had it lot have been for the ear
nest solicitation Of Judge Cothran and
Hon. W. c. Benet urging an expression
from those who entertained different
views from themselves on the question
Of voting a bonded debt Of $2S, 500 to the
c., G. e. & G.. Railroad.
regret exceedingly that I am com
PEELED to take issue with my friends on
the other side who urge the citizens Of
Abbeville to vote n BONDED debt which
IS to hang Tor twenty years like q mill
stone around the unwilling nccks of ut
least n very large minority Of our tax
payers. If we had n guarantee that we
SHOULD have in u reasonable time a rail
road completed to this place; if the con-
*truction company had been required to
give n good bond and security for the
faithful performances Of their contract
and success assured beyond any con-
tinScncN then this debt would not be
so alarming. a tax assessed from year
10 year upon certain conditions prescrib-
cd by act Of the legislature to build a
rail road will not last long and leaves no
blighting influence behind. comparable
to a bondsl debt. All conditions to he
a safeguard to the citizens must b.. set
forth in the act, before voted upon by
the electors. You may roll up condi-
tons mountain high subsequent to tho
passage Of the law and they will prove
futile. When we vote the Tux asked for
the assessment will DC commenced and
collected year after year until our part
OF contract is completed. If our bonds
IRE made negotiable they will be used,
If they are not made so you can never
expect capitalists to take them and yen
are thrown upon the other horn Of the
dilemma, yoa will Fave no rail road.
Mr.: Chairman, at a public meeting
held in this place in January last, =
proposition was made to assess nil Of our
real and personal property to the amount
OF live per cont. o itStaXaLle value pro-
vided certain other towns along tho line
Of the rails road did the same thing,
which amount was to be supplemented
by IL like amount by Charleston. Troy
has responded, Due West has also spo-
ken, but what Of Charleston, her bust
ness rien haye met in consultation she
has had a'freen and full conference with
delegates froni. the u%p-country and her
decision has been announced through tho
Aces n Courier, one proposition has
been respectfully declined, she will not
subscribe one dollar in stock to assist in
building this rail road. The utter indie.
ference and refusal Of Charleston to re-
spond to our proposition releases us of
nil Obligation TO carry out our part of
the covenant.
Is it practicable to attempt to spend
u time anil means OH All enterprise
which would contribute moro to her
property thau ours until she wakes I'm
from her. SAUNDERS. Can the country
unaided build a'rail road which is to cost
$l5.OO0,tU without the sympathy of
monicd resources ali along the line and
particularly ct its terminus.
In conclusion, Mr.. Chairman, The fail
ure of the financial agent Of the g.. G.
G. Il G. rail road ~ negotiate their bonds
shows that the capitalists Of this county
and Europe have failed to see in the c.,
G. e.. & G. rail road a good investment,
would 1t . be wise in us to have a
guarantee that we shall DO fully shield
cd by every restriction in the power
Of our legislature before we take nnoth.
or step which, may involve US in II debt
which IS to last well nigh Il generation.
There is n van Of confidence in the
company's financial and construction
ageut which compcls many Of our citi-
zcns to withhold their support from the
&C. G.. & G. 'Railroad and, they cannot
do otherwise, VIC received him by. faith,
we %.iudge:him by his works.
Mr. l.. W. Rerrjn said he supported
the Cumberland Gap Road for two rea-
"i*t. BsSsa,,se: of tn, granauer and i'm
portancs ..of the scheme. \ similsr
schuae engaged the attention IF leading
statesmen sin the past, and was looked
upon nv an Important and almost ncces-
sary achievement to the development
and future prosperity of nur State. BY
piercing the mountains and establishing
direct connection with the great North
West, we open our State to the emf
grants Of that section, where there Is
fast becoming a great surplus Of popu-
lation. We open our State to easy nc
cess to Immigrants, and are able to Of
Ter them q County uncxcelled in it's
inducements to thrifty and encrg:ti:
settlers. *Abbsville especially may
expect to profit by the completion or
this ro,d. Being the largest town or
1T, South Of the mountains, and situated
as the county'seat. in one Of the princi-
pal agricultural counties of the State,
would in all probability DO the .priSci-
pal. point from which to distribute Act
tiers and,a centre for supplies or a
large section : OF our country, The
town !of:!Abbeyille being the county
'seatana having q large accumulation OF
capital inyasted in merchandising, need
o fear the competition at the depots,
which may be established in the coun-
tty, for with. equal r. R. facilities and
her superior advantages in other. re-
spects, she will always be able to keen
and increase her trade. =.
I'd. He supported the scheme bcca,Ee:
ne believed it was the only scheme that
offered any probability Of success.