The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-21
April 18th, 1886.
RAILROADS.

We publish on the first page thi:
week a very interesting editorial
(:'Columbia's Opportunity from the
Columbia Register, urging prompt
action upon the part Of her citizens
in behalf of the Columbia, Newberry
and Laurens Railroad, and pointing
out the danger Of being cut off on the
southeast by a road from a point at
or near Forty one, on the South Caro-
lima Railroad, to Camden and on to
Munroe, n. c., and on the west by
the proposed route looking from
Orangeburg to Lewiedale, through
the fork to Prosperity, and thence to
Laurens, Piedmont. Easley, and Pick
ems to Knoxville, Tennessee, and on
the north by the proposed road from
Roanoke, Va, via. Charlotte, \. c.,
Yorkville, Union and Laurens, using
the Laurens, Greenwood and Au'
gusta Road from this point to Au-
gusta, Ga. If the matter is delayed,
it states further, that Augusta is put
ting out another Narrow Gauge feeler
for Carolina trade, and that every
thing is looking to sapping the trade
that Columbia must depend on, and
closes by saying, that we must take
the lead in this thing, and do it
quickly, before the opportunity is
gone.
We are glad to find Bro. Pope
aroused on this important matter,
and trust he may succeed in getting
the people of Columbia to act prompt
ly. It behooves US to bestir our
selves and choose at once the best
outlet that will give US a competing
line. We have agreed by resolution
to subscribe fifty thousand ($50,O00)
dollars towards building the Narrow
Gauge from Augusta, Ga, via. Edge
field G. H., to Newberry C. H., with
forty thousand dollars of this amount
to be raised by taxation in No. /
Township and ten thousand dollars
in No. s. It might be we'll for US to
decide before voting this subscrip-
ti0n;n how and where this money Still
be expended, and further; whether
the money spent inSthis way will
bring the largest .r5turns, in view Of
the inducements held out by the
friends of other routes. What New
berry ygBantsais the best competing
line that can be had, in time to pre-
vent the proposed lines north of her
occupying the territory from which
she expects to build up her enter
prises. Will the Narrow Gauge do
this? We are afraid not. In the
first place, it would have to fight the
Clyde Syndicate, and we fear that
this Syndicate would force it to terms
or carry all the freight except the
local freights along the line between
Augusta and Newberry, and then we
could not hope to get any Of Edge
fields trade, as they would ship to
Augusta, and in place Of increasing
the business Of Newberry, it would
drift along the line until the bulk
would be dumped over into Georgia;
and then, too, should the new road
be built across the country via. Clin-
ton, Cross Hill, to Greenwood and
Augusta, we would Lose another strip
of territory which should be brought
ito Newberry. 1t seems t0gSrth2t5f
90 essEfsg3@ ERg@a S1 ma pssao,app, Il
ssssssSsSca sssssssszsSc axe hold Of the Columbia,
Newberry and Laurens Railroad and
tap the South Carolina Railroad at
Columbia or Lewiedale that we would
gain what We most need, a powerful
competing line, and keep our trade
at home and in our own State. and
if the friends and those who have
interests along the route would go to
work at once and complete the road
to the North Carolina line, in place
of feeding another State, we would
have distributed in the counties
through which the road would run,
trade coming from al along the line,
thereby bringing business into our
State, instead ofcarrying it out. We
should remember how the building OF
the Air Line took our trade away
from US. The Greenwood, ,Laurens and
Spartanburg road has also affected US
and if another road is run across the
country between Newberry and Lau
rens, we shall suffer again. Therefore
lose no time in laying hold of the
best inducements offered, and go tc
work and build the road. If, afte'
careful consideration tits determined
to build the Narrow Gauge, let ii
be understood that the subscription
vote shall be expended il Newberry
County. If it is decided that the
Columbia, Newberry and Laurens is