The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-02-18
TRAVELLERS REST.

SkEkSN iLLE (OtNTS, February IL.
yo the EIitor "f tie News oma iow,.;r. :
feel unwilling that the grand scheme 81: n
short line raIlruad, extending from Charleston
through the center If The State to the rap
ld'! growing srctinn of the Piedmont belt,
| and thence across the Blue Ridge Ia ,h, rnm,
ing Empire "f the West. should be fnrcver
given up by the citizens of Charleston until
they more fully, than they probably ,lo. under
stand the views and sentiments IF the IN
country upon the matter. Grcruv;lle, in COM
mon VIII! charleston aid the whole upper
part of the State, has for many vcnrs been
suffering from adverse railroad influence and
the monopoly of the Clyde combination. In
the Language of Mr.. Blaine upon n different
occasion }: they have seized upon every
ruilrond connection and extension, both fin
ishcd aud unfinished, throughout a large cx-
Tent OF our country. and now, like Julius
CSsar arc ievyinX nibutc upon their con
quried 'pforincGs.~
Grecnville has:long determined to obtain
some other railrord outlet, than over the
CLYDE roads, and "compctitive railroad ~ratcs'
has been the dcsidcratum for years. To SC
cure this the Greenviile and laurcns Rail-
road has been graded, to meet tho Georgia
Central system, when that is completed to
l.aurens Courthouse. This is almost accom-
plishcd, and with the $50. OOO Of surplus
which we have after completing the grading
OF The Laurens rond, our citizens have nalu-
rully looked forward to n bu sincss arrange
ment whit the Georgia Central, by which We
""'a'h SpHiIc'l'NC IutcS, ana llCS
would benefit by tho traffic of IL. city OF nine
thousand inhabitants, numerous adjacent
factories aud the surrounding country.
Doubtless many Of our business men and
citizens still think this alliance would benefit
GrteHville tr0rc than would an ailiuucc With
the Midland schrmr. But on the other hand
II am convinced, (snmc newspaper GORE.
|Sp"ndents to The Contrary Notwithstanding, }
that u lagc majority of our business men
ana citizens OF the county generally, are
/ I a n IN 4 nvnr al lHnsfeN.v l.k 49, lI
with the city of Charleston in building the
South Carolina Midland Railway if there is
any assurance of its success, even from
Columbia tQ Greemvillc. There would be no
difficulty in having the road to Lauren. w.tl,
its surplus of $4,000 put into the scheme,
with such an assurance. ! am satisfied that
ten ut least Of the thirteen dir. ctors OF the
Grecnvillc and Laurens Railroad would fayur
It. To cross tho mountains to the west, this
city and county q will speak for no other
Private subscriptions of over $1,000 have
recently paid for the survey of Can't. Kirk
across the Sa!udn and blue Ridge Mountains
to ilcndcrsoavillc and Asl,cvilIc. Tie mini
mum grade upon this magnificent route is
69 fcect to the mile, or unprecedented in
crossing the Appalachian range /" the great
valley vt the Mississippi.
1t Charleston is really interested in this
grand enterprise its early completion is i
matter OF certainty. LHurcns would be Il
S'"lS'''" WI u ldTEc Ih'TttDu Ol
the cotton t;nde OF Grccnville, unless tins
city, by the completion Of the Laurcn4 Road
obtains competition rates bef"r. the opening
OF the next cotton season. For this rcasur
The disposition Of the Greenvillc and I.aurcns
Road is II matter that will be determined
upon definitely ut M early date. I, with
many others, am most anxious that this road
should form a link, for which it is most nd.
inlrably adapted, in the South Carolina Mid.
land Railway. Will Charleston nni let u.
hear fr"m her in the noar future in such Il
way as to set ut rest either our hopes nr fra,
for this great enterprise?
Sine. writing the above, and before mail.
ing it, | nm happy to see bv the ruLiic print,
and through private letters l have Just re.
ceivcd from Il distinguished citizen ni
Charleston that there is life and hope for ths
"Midland" yet; and it may 10 that a yer,
lew wears will see it as a grand artery of trade
and travel, pouring a tide Of wcnlthland pros.
perity through the very heart and centr.
of the State. SIS. c.