The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-04-29
orr Mistake About Railroads..
Nh. |.

Long ago the people Of the city or Anderson
Kent delegates to confer with the citizens oil
AbocviIlc, md to ask their cooperation IN
building a railroad to Augusta or to some
point OH the Augusta and Knoxville railroad
The delegates from Anderson put up ut the
hotels, and some OF our people did them the
honor to meet them next day In the Court
House. Some help from Abbeville and q liz
Tie aid from Due West would have secured
the location of the road through here but
We folded our hands. The Anderson dele
gates returned to their homes, and they after
wards appealed to the people along the Sa'
! yannah side, and they contributed as much
rs their limited means would warrant, An
dcrson city gave the balance, and the road is
now nearly graded. Mr.. Raoul has agreed 10
iron and equip 1t. The contract only necds
, tho ratification Of the stockholders which Ills
supposed will be done ut their meeting In
Lowndcsville, which takes place on tue 18TH
day Of May.
The scarccrow about the Savannah road
combining with the Cumberland Gap ROAD 10
cut us Off from its connection may therefore
now be taken down, II thrown aside with
the useless rubbish.
MISTAKE. 40. Q.
Again. when the Augusta and Knoxville
road was being built, common report had ~
that Augusta was more anxious TO come 10
Abbeville than she was to go to Greenwood.
The leaders of the people of -Abbeville did not
believe that 1t would ever be built. and we
had no money to put into the enterprise.
That opportunity to get a good road was lost.
MISTAKE, NO.
Afterwards, It became Il liked fact TINT the
Augusta and Knoxville railroad would be
built. Then n number Of public spirited cit1-
zens subscribed n large amount toward the
grading OF a railroad from Troy to AOberille
and Due West. After about ten thousand
dollars had been spent and a great deal OF the
work Ind been done, onr people transferred
the road and It's franchises 10 the Carolina,
Cumberland Gap and Chicago Railroad on
condition that the new company would I'm
ish the lob, but no forfeiture clause or limita-
ton MS 10 time was put in the contract. The
paynen Of big salaries to Idle officers was
Immediately commenced, n the work OF
shovellins dirt was soon stopped. although
the officers luXuriatcd in sumptuously iur'
nishcd offices and muniiiccnt salaries. Such
of the road which We graded, AS has not
been washed away, now stands as II did years
ago.
MISTAKE, No. 1.
The stockholders Of the Cerolina, Cumber-
land Gap and Chicago Railroad propose Tor US
to vote q tax on ourselves for tho payment OF
the salaries OF the officers OF their roau, ana
bonds nave already been voted Mt various
places. If .Abbcvillc votes the bonds this Will
he mistake No. 4. and the greatest and most
fatal blunder Of all.
The repeated mistakes Of our leaders In the
past, is not calculated to inspire confidence In
the wisdom Of their present proposition.
THE LINES CLOSING IN UPON Us, y OUR
TERRITORY SLIPPING FROM OUR GRASP.
From the repeated failurcs in the past. and
when we note tho fact that our territory IL
now nearly occupied by railroads, 1t will be
seen that Abbeville has little that Is bright TO
look forward to. The Savannah Valley Road
will be finished, and Abbeville will, OF course.
lose a large trade which Is ours by right, n
which we could have held If we had only
reached out our hand md gave q 1.-THE OF the
money which we are now asked TO give.
So far rs VIC are able to see, the only possible
chance for us to get q now railroad Is to con-
meet with the Georgia Central. and our opin-
ion is, that Enrlght's store, or some more d.
rect line towards Elberton Is our best chance.
The Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chicago
Railroad runs almost parallel with the Au-
gusta and Knoxville Road until 1t comes to
his community, and then it runs almost par.
allel with the Columbia and Grecnvlllc Road,
until after 1t passes Williamston-orer one
hundred and twenty-five miles along the side
of other roads, md In this county between
W roads, which would cut or from 1t nearly
all business. Even II the track was graded, q
CAPITALIST could not be found who would equip
II, and If equipped 1t would not pay running
expenses.