The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-08-19

apply for charter was appointed. Tho
corporation was chartered i'll 1878 under
the name of "The Savannah Valley Rail-
road" Meetings wore hold in all of tho
Townships along the route i'll Anderson
aud Abbcvillc Counties, and various
gentlemen participated in speaking for
the road, but Messrs. Latimer, Hum
phreys and L. B. Murray, attended the
meetings all along the route, and the re-
suit of these meetings secu rod subscrip-
tions from ovory Township, aggregating
some lilty-five thousand dollars, Which
sum was expected to do the grading, but
tho company failed to secure convict labor
free, and hence dead halt was necossi-
tated when the money was gone. The
experiment of working convicts OH the
Greenwood g. Augusta Road, for time
stopped the working of conyicts on
railroads by producing a public senti-
ment against such employment. Mr..
Murray secured the passage of bill CIV
| ing the road $50 convicts until completed,
but it failed in the Senate.
After doing an invaluable work in So
curing rights ofways, and in making the
people along the route friends Of tho road,
Col. Latimer resigned the Presidency and
was succeeded by Gen. Humphreys. under
whose administration the Townships in
Abbeville subscribed $4,000 additional,
and the City of Anderson $50,000, making
total of $135,oO0 subscribed, of which
the City of Anderson gave s62,5Oo. Gen.
Humphreys originated and completed
the negotiations by which the Central
road became interested in this line and
finally completed its construction.
This is brief outline of the more I'M
portant events connected with the con-
struction of this important railroad line
to Anderson, and its completion will
doubtless realizo all that the friends of
the road hope for.
Tho realization of the enterprise W hich
has been on hand so long with such
varying prospects justified the rejoicing
| which our people celebrated on last
Thursday
THE CELEBRATION.
When it was first decided to celebrate
the completion of the Road, our people
determined to make the occasion equal
to any ever held in Anderson, and so it
was. The morning dawned bright and
clear, and it was not long before the peo-
pie were flocking into the city from
every direction. BY 10 clock the streets
presented lively scene. All business in
tbe city was suspended, and everybody
had turned out for pleasant holiday.
The first excursion train over the Sa-
vannah Valley Railroad came in about
10 o'clock, bringing. near 300 persons
from the various stations along the Road
as far down as Mccormick. The crowd
continued to increase until about III
o'clock, when the Young America Cor
net Band appeared on the square going
in the direction of the University campus,
where the speaking was to take place.
The greater portion of the crowd followed
tho Band to the campus, and when we
reached there everything was in readiness
for the speeches. The famous old stand
that had been used at the great political
meeting in 1876 had been repaired, and
was occupied By the speakers and num-
ber of distinguished gentlemen. The
stand was neatly decorated. A large
number OF seats had been arranged in
front of the stand, and these were all
occupied. Numerous carriages filled
with ladies and children, were scattered
around through the grove. The Young
America Cornet Band was stationed on
the left of the stand, and at the conclusion
of each speech rendered fine selection OF
music.
The exercises were opened with few
appropriate remarks from Maj B. F.
Whitner, who had been appointed by
President Humphreys TO preside during
the speaking. At the conclusion of his
remarks, he introduced Mayor Tolly as
the first speaker.
Mr.. Tolly said At the last moment
| have been assigned to welcome this large
and intelligent audience to Anderson andit
| is duty that I scarcely know how to per.
form. Our city has put on an holiday at
| tire for the purpose of celebrating the COM
| pletion of the Savannah Valley Railroad.
| Our people have long wished for this event,
and our noble women have prayed for it.
Anderson rejoices that the Road is finished;
she rejoices that by its completion she has
made new neighbors. Our city will do
more for the people OF this County now
than ever before If. She with only one
railroad, could compete with sister towns
in selling goods, how much more can she
do 1t now? Anderson is q live, progressive
CITY, and we welcome you, friends, to our
homes and firesides. The latch string is
hanging on the outside of every door; take
hold of it. I extend cordial, hearty vel
come to all. We hope the people along the
| line of our new Road will come and trade
with us. We can sell goods cheaper than
any other town or city in America. We are
happy and rejoicing to-day, but there is
something that mars our pleasure, and
that is the absence of one who worked so
hard, using his time, energy and money to
complete this great enterprise. I refer to
James M. Latimer, who, for o number Of
wears, was President Of the Road, but
| whose frail bark has passed into its eternal
port. Let US all keep him in memory.
Again my friends, extend you hearty
welcome to Anderson.
Hon. Joseph Canahl, distinguished citi-
zen of Augusta, was next introduced, and
spoke, in substance, as follows:
We have assembled day to congratulate
each other and rejoice over an event that
is but an incident Of this century. Steam,
that great creative power, which was intro
duced less than one hundred years ago, has
linked Anderson and Augusta together. 1t
was but sixty years ago that the completion
of the first railroad in the world was cele-
brated, which occurred in England, and
this celebration to-day is as important an
event to this section as that was to the
mother country. Anderson and Augusta
are old friends. We are fed by the same
stream. Where were your products carried
and where did your merchants buy their
goods years ago? We are naturally allied
and are bound together by physical and
other ties. Augusta should not he spoken
of as stranger. The completion Of this
Road brings us close together, and we come
back.to renew those ties of friendship that
were found by our fathers. It required ten
days in their time to visit us, but now, my
| friends, you can make the round trip in
eight hours. In future our ties of friend