Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-23
THE CENTRAL'S SYSTEM.
A GREAT RAILROAD AND ITS
BRANCHES.


The Augusta and Knoxville and Green
wood. Laurens and SpArtanburg Rsti-
ways-Its Importance to savannah
Condition of the Roads-Needs Adver-
ttsing-DevelOpinga Terra IDcoCntta-
The Line of Route-A Magnificent Re
gion-FiDe Crops-WOod Lawn, Meri-
wether, Ciark's HnI. MOdOe. Parks
willie, Plum Branch and McOermick-
All About that Town Owned by MIL
IiOnaire McCormick-rhe Dorm Gold
Mine-Msnganese Mines-A New COun-
ty, Etc.
This grand old pioneer Of the great high
ways OF Georgia-the Central railroad
which, more than a half century ago,
boldly penetrated the wilderness and
dense swamps of the seaboard, leveled
primeval forests, bridged broad rivers,
cut through the Hottest hills, filed in
tdeep ravines, and finally united withirOn
links the people CT the interior and their
brethren of the sea, continues to stretch
forth its Bri@rean arms in quest of new
avenues of trade and commerce. Among
the latest and most important of these &C
QUESTIONS is the Augusta and Knoxville
aud Greenwood, Laurens and Spartan
burg railways.
This enterprise, when fully developed,
l,besides tapping the Atlanta aud Virginia
! lines of road, and materially shortening
the distance to GeOrgia's chief seaport,
Savannah, is beginning to open up one of
! the richest and most desirable sections
OF the South, hitherto inaccessible to mar
Fket. 1t is strange that this God-blessed
7 region, lying IN such close proximity to
4 no potf hnr h To nf
have remained practically so long
a terra incOgnita." But in these
l.days, when even the telegraph and
I telephone sometimes fail to be quick
henOugh to meet the impatient demands of
( commerce or private individuals men are
I slow to turn aside and waste what they
reconsider precious time in seeking out ne W
and untrOdden fields of enterprise. In
4 deed, in this unitarian age, even the most
1 plausible and tempting projects must be
! made known to the public 10 assure them
! success; and in the present instance this
powerful adjunct has been notably neg
! lected.
The writer has undertaken the mission
OF exploring and recording the resources,
advantages and probable future OF the
broad strip ofterritory traversed by the
recently completed road from Augusta to
tSpartanbIrg. and its projected branches.
1t was bright June morning that your
/ correspondents, after enjoying the ospl-
tally and comfortable accommodations of
mine host of the Globe Hotel in Augusta
! whose rooms, despite the midsummer
! heats, were flied with guests y took pas
I sage on the cars of the Augusta and
| Knoxville and Greenwood, Laurens and
Spartanburg railroads, and gently moved
out from the union depot, crossing sew
eral branches of the canal, whose
| MAGICAL WATER POWER
kept inmOtiOn the ponderous wheels Of
the immense cotton mills, once more
| crowded after the settlement OF their
| recent troubles with happy operatives.
On we went. emerging at length into the
open country, thickiY wooded with oak
and hickory, and ere long crossing the
placid Savannah, 200 yards wide, near
Woodlawn, small flag station. pictur-
esquely situated on the bank OF the river,
! and surrounded by fields of luXuFiantcorn
and cotton. The land was slightly undH-
lating and very fertile, to judge by the
cett0n weed, which was knee high and
fruiting finely.
The ''old Central" true to her history
and antecedents, is rapidly placing the
road in first-class condition by the con-
struction of new and substantial trestles,
enlarging or erecting additional depots,
and in short leaving nothing undone in
the premises.
Winding along by the beautiful Savan-
nab, now passing through the river bot
toms teeming with fertility, then glancing
over hill and valley, brush and brake, the
rural landscape decked with profusion
of CAV flowers and the whole face OF
nature respondent in the glad sunshine,
Merriwether and Clarke's Hill railway
stations were soon left behind.
The latter is lofty emInence crowned
| with magnificent peach orchard laden
with rosy fruit. The cut through the
hill is probably the deepest on the road
and was completed at much cost and
labor. A pretty village has grown up
| here, Boosting several stores and neat
| dwellings.
NEXT COMES MoDoC,
a fiourishing little town with six stores,
express office and post office, and evil
IDENTIFY improving.
Parksville, another station, follows in
few minutes. Here we find three stores
and several private residences. Among
! the latter one stately mansion, hoary with
age which doubtless has a history of its
| own. Both OF these embryo towns are
! located in ricn and charming agricnl-
tural region. Plum Branch, the next
stopping place, is thriving village. with
4 a neat church, three stores, post office,
express Office, etc.
AT Mccormick the train again paused,
| and your correspondent left it, and sought
! lodgings with Mr.. w. A. Branch and his
excellent wife, both recently from Craw-
| f0rdvlle, Ca, who are now keeping the
! Mccormick Hotel. This is an entirely
new structure, just completed by the pro-
| prietor, VINO is one of the most genial Of
! landlords. Here the traveller may expect
| clean beds. good fare and warm welcome.
Those who stop once will come again.
MCCORMICK
| is one OF the rising towns OF this section,
| and owes it's ex istence 10 the advent of the
railroad from Augusta. Soon the s'Sa-
vannah Valley railroad" Of which we
! shuli bave occasion hereafter 20 speak.
| will be finished TO Anderson, and add
greatly TO the prospects OF the place. Al
though incorporated only three wears ago,
in 1883, the town already numbers about
400inbabitants, and contains two hand
| some churches and an imposing academy
building, well equipped, and with a first
class school under the management Of
| Prot. r. j. Robertson, who has gathered
within it's wallis over 100 pupils.
The site, and 1900 acres adjoining, is
owned by the sou OF the millionaire Nc
! COrmick, so famous as the inventor and
| manufactures Of the popular ''reaper"
that bears bis name His presence and
! capital are impressed upon everything,
and II " probable thatthe young city viii
continue 70 ENJOY the benefits Of his fos-
tering care. AS an evidence OF the APP
! probation In real estate, lots which orig