The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-07-16
LOCAL NE w q. .
COUNTY CORRESPONDENCE.
An Important Enterprise.

An Important Enterprise.
MEssRs EDITORS Townville has good
people, and some good things, such as
Churches, schools and stores, but it has
also many necessities. The fret Of these
is railroad, and that is needed ever 30
badly, and all the time. It is sixteen or
seventeen miles from Townville to An
derson, fourteen to Westminster, and
twelve to Seneca. To Anderson and Sem
eca the river and creek hills are always
three places during q great part of the win.
ter the roads are almost i'm passable by
reason of the mud and mud holes. Yet
they are Obliged to be travelled over from
dire necessity If there was railroad
large part-the chief part-of the business
could be done by it more expeditiously,
more easily and more satisfactorily in
every way. The cotton raised in this
community could be sold and delivered
here, the fertilizers needed. could be
brought here, the merchants here would
enlarge their business and give the same
advantages offered at Anderson, Westmln-
ster and Seneca and when persons want.
ed to go to any place at distance, they
could take the train here without the
worry and trouble which is now the case.
But it is said it takes great deal OF
money to build railroad, and Townville
hasn't enough Of the "si,ae q,ta non.'' Very
true. Still there are heap Of people from
Westminster to Anderson city, and all of
these people will be benefited by railroad
running between these places, and If every
one will lend helping hand, or even
large part, in one way and another, the
money can be raised and the road be
built speedily, or in reasonable length OF
time. Westminster will help to build It
of course she will, aud that right bravely.
These enterprising, wide.awake towns
love to have the honor OF being called rail-
road centres, and to be connected via
Townville with the City Of Anderson vii!
be next to being linked with the city OF
Messrs. Mason, Zimmerman, Anderson,
Stribling, Elrod, "et alias" will cheerfully
put down their hundreds, may be thou
sands, and give the enterprise hurrahs,
too.
Then Anderson city will help. When
the Savannah Valley Road was proposed
to be built she put down the pretty sum
of $25, 900, and she was then but in her in.
fantile state as city, and now that she Is
full grown, with vastly increased re-
sources and facilities, of course she II sub
subscribe to the anderson, Townville &
Westminster Road, just to begin on, the
very moderate sum of 100000, and we'll
shout bravo! for Anderson city.
Still again, when this road shall be
built, the long talked of corporation that
wants to come through this section OF
country will be ever so glad to buy the
road that it may be part OF the great
trunk line that must pass this way in the
near or distant future.
But to accomplish all this beginning
must be made, and why should it not be.
gin here in Townville2 There are
amongst US men of intelligence and busi-
ness enterprise; let these men start the
matter, agitate it, boom 1t. talk it over
amongst themselves and their neighbors,
appoint meetings here, at Oakway, at Far
mer's store, over the Seneca river from
Sloan's Ferry, and consult with the au-
thorities at Anderson and Westminster.
In this way the Greenwood and AL
eusta and tho Savannah Valley roads
were built. The writer remembers very
well to have heard much talk before the
late war of the Savannah Valley Railroad
to be built, &C., &c. It remained, how
ever, for one old man to put the ball In
motion, and this be did by starting it to
roll first from Greenwood to Augusta
few years after the war, when everybody
was poor by reason of the disastrous re-
suits of the war, and the worse ravages
of the radicals then in power in this State.
That man was Gen. P. 81. Bradley, plain
farmer, living fifteen miles west from
Greenwood, and about same distance
South from Abbeville @. n. Perhaps
there was not more unpromising line for
railroad in all the State. I do not think
there was a single rural town on the entire
line. There was one place called "Trick-
en-" now Troy, but when the writer knew
it 1s55 to '59) there was only one dwelling
house, one store and one blacksmith shop.
During and just after the war it was
nearly, or quite, abandoned. At MoCor-
mick, then Dorn's Gold Mine, think there
was nothing save the veins of the old mine.
Notwithstanding all these discourage
ments Gen. Bradley conceived the idea to
have railroad, and though old and
Heshy besides, he brayely mounted his
horse and canvassed the entire route from
Greenwood to Augusta, held meetings OF
the people, made speeches, and had others
to speak, and the result was the road was
built. and he was made its first President.
Then after that road was built MI. j. M.
Latimer, q farmer of Lowndesville, under.
took the task Of having the Savannah
Valley road built, and by dint OF hard.
work and perseverance he accomplished
his end BY connecting it with Gen. Brad
ley's road at Mccormick. Thus it will be
seen that two very important roads We're
built largely by two plain farmers IN the
| face of almost insuperable difficulties.
| And the benefits of these two roads to
| the people are incalculable. Several
| thriving towns have sprung up on both
| lines, and the advantage of good markets
have been brought to the very doors o,
the people. The population of those
towns, too, are constantly increasing. and
hence there is growing demand 10!
country produce, consequently small far
mers and large ones can readily dispose
OF whatever they may choose to raise
The benefits also are plainly to be seen
from the fact of many improvements hav
ing been made in the way of new and bet
| ter buildings, and the painting and Other
adorning Of the same, and in many othel
ways.
Hence, if other roads benefit other peo
ple in other sections of the country, surely
a railroad will benefit the people from
Westminster to Anderson, and vii
greatly benefit the good people of our OWL
Townville. So, fellow. citizens, one and
all, let US arise in our might, and In oul
weakness, too, and have US railroad ir
very truth and very deed.
Let the married men help to build 1t thai
they may take their good wives and chill
| dren to ride on it, and let the bachelors
and widowers and young men help tc
build it that they may take their pretty
| sweethearts to ride. And let all the ladies
young and old, encourage the gentlemen
10 arise, aud to begin to build this sc
| much needed road. o, yes, let Us begin
| right away. C1Y1s.
F. S.-Since writing the above have
seen our good friend, J. Waddie Rowden,
Of Anderson County, who is so deeply
and actively interested in a railroad to he
built and run from some point in Ten.
nessee to some point on the Coast o
South Carolina, by way Of Westminster
Townville and Anderson, and he says the
r. r. authorities are now ready for en-
couragsment from the people in the grant
OF right of way for road bed, donation o.
land, cross-ties, &c. Bravo! Let every
one help forward this 30 much needed
work. C1yIs.
Tovnv;lls, July II, 1891.
Reunion 18th S. Z. Y.