The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-22
The CDurt.

This Court was remarkable for the number
Of railroad cases which came before 1t for ad-
justment. -
brought by citizens of Lowndesville for the
recovery OF the value Of goods which We're
destroyed by fire some time last year-the Q
goods being either In the depot or on tne
platform Of the company ut Lowndes-
Vile.
on the other hand, much time was taken
up IN the hearing Of the protest OF various
the legality Of the railroad tax which was
levied on that township several years ago for
the benefit OF the Atlantic, GreenVille and
Western Railroad.
not to prejudice the parties at interest IN
either case, but to impress upon our people
the danger Of placing themselves within tne
power OF railroad corporations. we ask
their attention to the facts and circumstances
just now for the reason that 1t Is not fmproba-
BILE that our people may. at an early day, oe
called upon 70 vote away their rlgnts ana
which even II built, might prove to be an un-
profitable Investment
II we understand the case at Ninety.Six, an
election was held to vote upon the I aue,stAl6Sn !, ASo
County Commissioners declared the election
In favor OF ''subscription." The .tax" thus
levied was paid under protest. and suit was
recovery of their money. On bringing the
case to trial the first time they were laughed
out OF Court for the reason, as we understand
ii, that the resiRting tax payers mad not
the Railroad Company. A new suit was then
brought. Thirty or forty witnesses came to
Abbevilie to prosecute their case. They were
and consequently entitled TO come into Court:
No proof was legal, except the production OF
their title deeds. The case was then contin-
ucd for future hearing. 1t came before the
Court last week. The presumptions were in
70 nf contestants
much to prove. They allege and believe that
there were irregularities in the election which
made it Of none effect.
In the Lowndesville case where the railroad
declined TO pay for the goods destroyed on
their premises, citizens have been put to
great Inconvenience, to much expense and
loss of time. Some Of the cases have been
settled. Some stand over for next term Of the
Court.
The people along the Savannah contributed
literally toward the construction OF the road
to Lowndesville.
We do not pretend to Judge of the merits Of
the cases. But we would warn our people
against any further entapgling alliances with
railroads seeking subscriptions by taxation.
railroad is giving aid in the most objections
BILE plan conceivable. For instance, Abbe.
Vile voted $4,000 TO the Cumberland Gap
road, on conditions" To pay the Interest
ON ON this this 'ls people " Of ss5o Think Of it. We
voted on ourselves q tax Of say $4,000, in or
der TO give the railroad a subscription OF
s25, 900.
Again, Abbevile township has already vot.
ed about S2l 900 to the Georgia, Carolina and
Northern Railroad. To pay that 81 900 and
the accrued interest will require something
like $4,000 more, or In all about $4,000.
Isn't this debt enough on our Improbable
farms and unyielding houses7 We venture
to suggest that 1t is.
A word to the wise IL sufficient, and ne that
will not learn wisdom from the experience OF
his neighbors is fool.