The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-01
AIKEN AND AUGUSTA.
The Savannah River Valley ASSOcia-
tion---Thc Cumberland Gap Ron"
---PrOSress in Grading and CHt-
ting CrSSS-sicS .-- Personal EHt'-


tion-.-The Cumberland Gap ROnh
---PrOSresS in TRADING and Cnt-
ting Cro>S-sics.-- .-- Personal EHF"'
ricnccS.
We wc:o i'm Augusta last week. While there
we took 4 run down To- Aiken tO see our ola
friend Mr. l.. G. I.igon, of the Jo"r"tl dnt
Rcric,U, and 10 see the hands ut work on The
Cumberland Gap road.
The night before going down we went 10 the
telegraph office in Augusta. To send Il trlc-
gram, expecting an answer that night, ana
inStructing the Office man To send the answer
To the Arlington Hotel, where we were stop,
ping. The Office man taking our quarter and
promising II send tho answer as rcqucstcG--
if it camc-wc went TO he'd to sleep the sleep
of the just, and to slumhcr the hours away
while the industrious telegraph operator
manipulated the electric current.
In due time the "night watch" had us
aroused next morning. and by carly dawn we
were speeding away toward Aiken. Arriving
received. At that time it had not, but it
came before we left the town. 1t had new
date-Sla o'clock, OH the next day after it was
twelve hours it reached its destination-about
two hours after we got there. While we were
disappointed at the delay, we were Z lad that
other towns than Abbevillc suffer by slow
telegraph deliveries.
We MET Mr.. Schofcld, and are indebted to
him for pleasant drive 10 where dirt is be-
ing thrown on the Cumberland Gap road.
We went out Of town some two miles; we
can now give certificate that work Is being
done. We saw, with our own eyes, crosstes
lying beside the graded track.
If you ask us If the road Will be built to Edge
field, to Abbeville, to Pickens or over the
mountains, we cannot answer. Mr.. Potts has
certainly given evidence Of intention 10 build
to Edgefield. He Is at work at 1t, and IT he
continues the work the road will possibly DC
finished TO Edgefed some time this year we
know no fact upon which to base prediction
as to the ultimate success OF the road. The
building Of road requires much money. we
DO not know where 1t is to come from.
Wen Dr. Croft. 1t was pleasant to meet
him. We like him. His cordiality and his
manners are such as TO win those who meet
him. He said to us one thing which we Will
repeat for the benefit Of those of our people
who may feel inclined to complain of the
beef which we get at our boarding houses and
hotels. He said that the best beef that came
to Aiken went from Abbcville.
The Journal and Reyte'o has an eXcellen l
office in every way, and especially in the job
department which is we'll supplied with new
type Of the latest and best Varlties.
Aiken is town about the size OF ChlcaSo,
with this difference in favor of Aiken-the
houses are not SO much crowded-the build
ings do not prevent a body from seeing the
town. a very good truck farm goes with
every house.
We stopped at the Busch House and got n
good breakfast. People who have nothing to
do stop at the big hotel whose Kitchen CHM
ney looks like q factory smoke stack. While
mules trotted by, wearing rattling chains
they were on their way TO their work on the
Cumberland Gap.
Ateleven o'clock we returned to Augusta.
Augusta is pleasant place to go to-. The bus.
ineSs men are liberal and enterprising, ana
always make the visitor feel at home.
The Savannah Valley Association gave
their elegant banauet In the Arlington Hotel
the Kimbal House, Of Augusta. we were
invite. The invitation was accepted. We
sat at table with Mr.. L. c. Ligon on our lett.
DR.. Gilbert Of our county, and Dr. j: II. Jcn-
nings of Edgefeld were on our right. An
elegant bill Of fare greeted the eye, and ready
servants waited on all to the qualification o!
every one. After the solids ard liquids had
been disposed of, a feast of reason and How
OF soul set In, and for hours we were treated TO
an intellectual repast. Hon. Patrick Walsh
was Chairman. Among the speakers were
the Abbevlle B's-Mr. Benet and General
Bonham. General Bonham's toast embraced
q large subject-the United States. Mr.. Ben
ct was circumScrlbcd-hc replied TO the toast
of the Savannah Association. Both speakers
were greeted with rounds of applause. Gen
eral Hemphil further represented AbbeVille
at the meeting of the Association and
stirred up the Association as he only can do.
The opening of the River is Of great impor-
tance to all parts Of the country. If the work
is accomplished, it seems To us that Augusta
will eventually get ahead OF any city i'll
Georgia.