The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-25
RAILROADS ARD HIeHwAYs.

~~~~~-~~~>>~S
Mr.. Stokes did not publish In last weeks )
paper the resolution adopted by last Co ~
Alliance in reference to the prospec6ve
Railroad. Perhaps he overlooked it's
wish to say q few words to my brother farm
ers with regard to the Railroads.
Let companies and syndicatcs build as
many Railroads as they please; give them .
warm reception, and the right Of way, If
you choose, but I am bitterly opposed to
any moro County or township subscriptions.
Why, we landowners on North Pacol,t
kno~ there could be q paying Railroad built
over here. A. road built from Chester, cross-s
ing Broad River between the mouths cf
Thickety and Pacolet, and up the ridge be-
twen these parallel streams, right by. or
house, into Polk Co., N. c., without crossing
single stream, aud with scarcely any
grading, and from thence to Jonesboro or
Washington, Tennessee.
Yes, let them build Railroads until We
have perfect network of them; but let
those build who get the money.
1 can tell you how we and our fathers over
Pacolet have been served by railroads. Be-
tween 1850 and 1860, the 8. s. U. Railroad
was built. Our fathers, animated with the
spirit of public enterprise, took stock
literally, for men Of their means The road
was built; went into bankruptcy; was sold
for, think, 100000. They got nothing,
and now, am informed, the road is rented
out for $4,000 per annum. Then, like
prosperous farmers, we voted a subscrip-
tion to extend the road to Asheville, to bring
us, we were told, cheap Western corn and
bacon, giving our money without having any
voice in the mana cement, or a knowledge of
what became ofthc proceeds ofthe road, and
we are allowed only to pay the interest on the
bonds good investment for the owners of
the roal, and a lifetime drain on us and our
children.
Not satisfied with this, they propose n SUBJ
scription to road from, don't know
where, to Gaffney or Blacksburg The land
owners voted almost unanimously against Il;
but $4,000 was voted on us In Draytonville
Township by about ten or fifteen majority Of
negro voters, who own no real estate and (
ought not to have had any voice in the mat
ter. And now, if the road is built It will
only touch the extreme Northeast corner of
the township-just enough to get the money
and not profit us in the least
Did You ever notice the chicanery of Rail-
road Companies? Anxious for us to take near
ty half stock leaving them only small
majority, but enough to cast the deciding
vote and do what they please with the road
and its proceeds. Then they run two or
more routes through the proposed town or,
township. leaving the decided route un-
known till they get the last nickle from
both ways. ---xsry--
will build it, and let us quit being the cats
paw for them
A farmers pet monkey once wanted somo
chesnuts that were cooking in the ashes,
and seized cats paw and raked them out.
The cat enjoyed the pain, but the monkey
enjoyed the chesnuts.
We advocate good public highways, in
stead of the miserable ones We have in many
sections, and hope the resolutions of our
County Alliance will be needed by our Legis-
lature, especially the one that relates to con-
vict labor on our highways. Some of these
lazy vagabonds arc almost willing to commit
some petty crime in order to rest and be
boarded by the public. Put them to hard
work and crime will diminish.
You are right, Mr.. Allianc Editor,
Mr.. Stokes did overlook the rcsolu-
ton, from the simple fact that it was
written on slip of paper upon one side of
which was printed circular headed, "a
word for the Farmers" which had appeared
in the TINES n few weeks before, and we did
not see the resolution written on the other
side until after the paper had been workad
off. The following is the resolution
ResriUed, That this body is pleased to heap
that there arc some prospects Of railroad
crossing Broad River Mt Lockhart Shoals,
and We regard such road crossing at
Lockhart Shoals as being Of incalculnble
benefit to the farming interests of this State.
G. B. FOWLER.