The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-03
A Trip to Aiken.

the interest Of the Carolina, Cumberland
Gap and Chicago Railroad, an effort was
made to send delegation down from
this place, along with other delegations
on the line Prof Hood aud the writer
were requested to go.
W., confidently expected to meet with
recruits from Abbeville at Hodges.
Gentlemen from there had been invited
to 20, but it turned out that court com
plctely locked up every one there. Mr..
II. G.. Seal got a jury summons just
preparatory to starting.
The swift horse with sinews Of iron
and breath Of fire." soon brought us to
bustling Greenwood. Here we were to
lie over three hours. There was pour
ing rain falling, and after having our
baggage transferred, a lady accompany
ing the party, we examined the hand
some and splendid depot on the Augusta
and Knoxville Railroad. This is the
finest depot in the up-country and con-
venicntly arranged and filled with
freight. Getting an umbrella, VIC took
stroll over town. Mr.. II. +. Riley'S
hotel is one Of the prominent buildings
of tho place, and has been recently en-
lsrgcd and remodcl'ed. The workmen
are giving it the finishing touches. Riley
gives about the best meal we get in Il
hotel. 1t is thoroughly Southern. We
took peep at the post-office aud drug
store Of DR.. Parks. 1t afforded US pleas
urc to enter and look ut the handsome
stock Of furniture Of our friend Mr..
Lcavell, with all his elegant styles. BY
the way, he is the graceful "I.." of the
MEssENGER from Greenwood. Messrs.
j. X. burst & Co. were exceedingly
Kind aud showed IFS through their mann
moth stock. Their two handsome stores
are quite elegant aud city like. and most
neatly kept. They each have depth
of 100 feet. Mcssrs. j. w. Payne. 1.-The
Augusta taa-House,' and J. I. Simmons
establishments range next, and are hand
some buildings. Walking further up
town we came to Mr.. c. A. G. Walters
store, filled to its utmost capacity with
a fine assortment Of goods. Next door
is the establishment of that staunch
merchant and genial gentleman, Mr.
Reynolds. In this house Mr. II. j.
Hood, Of this place, has position, and
seems to he succeeding well.
The conductor halloos Gall aboard,
down at the Augusta and Knoxville
Railroad, and we go whistling down the
road, and are Joined at Troy by that
delegation, consisting of Major Young
blood and Mr.. George Bradley. It
rained steadily all day and the train was
delayed, getting into Augusta about 7:3O
O'Clock. Tarrying here only one hour,
we rolled out for Aiken, 20 miles dis
tant. On this road we passed the Lang
ley and Graniteville factories. Both Of
these are making excellent goods and
are strong financially, especially the
former. Mr. Sibley, of Augusta, is it's
president, as well as of the Sibley Mills.
Five hundred to six hundred hands are
employed in the Langley Factory. and
they clear about 40 per cent. dividend.
We landed at the Aiken depot about IL
o'clock that night, in the rain and dark.
A son of ebony guided us to the Bush
Hotel, and we took i'm for the night.
Next morning @c arose and began to
tulk railroad. TO our astonishmcnt the
proprietor took square issue against it.
Some of our party walked up to the
barber shop before breakfast, and while
there inquired, "How is this town on
the railroad ?'' The barber, who was
negro, replied: "Wcll, Boss. III Just
tell you how it is; the Dutch and the
niggers are all against the road, and the
white people for it." Now, here yon
have the situation about as we'll as it
can be told.
After breakfas. we walked up town
and struck the Recorder office. Asking
friend Drayton how he stood on the
road, he replied "Well, my paper is
neutral" In the conversation, however,
the fact developed that he was a bitter
opponent. We learLed afterwards that
the Germans had stock in this news
paper, and threatened to withdraw and
set up new paper if it did not 60
against the road. AZ the previous elcc-
tion the Recorder was q rcd d-hot railroad