The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-03
RAILROAD RACKET.
MISTAKES, AND ABBE-
VILLE'S SUCCESS.

After Declining to Participate in the
Building Of the A. d IL. anu y. v
RaiIrOads, She GETS the g.: Z: a. !.
Prosperity and Material Growth.
Abbeville has many chapters in her his
tory. But in no line has she SO many shift
ing scenes as In the history Of her railroad III
| tereSts.
OUR FIRST MISTAKE.
Many years ago General Bradley, President
of the A. e. X. Road. 1t Is generally conceded
proposed to build that road by Abbeville, II
the citizens In the town would contribute SlO,
coo. The acceptance of this proposition
would have necessitated change OF route
| from Mccormick TO Laurens, going by Abbe
vile and Cokesbury. This proposition re-
ceived no adequate response.
OUR SECOND MISTAKE
delegates TO confer with US, in the Interest o
the Savannah Valley Railroad. We made nc
substantial response, and that road went up
the Savannah Valley, Instead Of coming oy
Abbeville.
DIVISION OF SENTIMENT.
The next proposition was to build the cum
berand Gap Railroad from Aiken through
Edgefield, AbbevilIe, and on to point, fnal,
| Iy conn Getting with Chicago. Public spirited
and patriotic citizens gave for this purpose
largely OF their private means, and long dis
tance OF the road was graded with the money
so contributed. When this money, some ss
600 or SlO, 900 was exhausted, proposition was
then made to issue bonds to the extent ol
some SSO, ,OOO. In this question all Of our peo-
pie became greatly interested either for OF
aid OF the road. An election was held
and the bonds were voted, but were new
er Issued. Because of the immensity OF the
undertaking the enterprise finally fell
through.
THE PEOPLE UN1TE-sUCCESS CROWNS THEIR
EFFORT.
The agitation, however, resulted in great
good to the town. 1t awakened the public
mind, and the desire for new railroad was
felt by every one. Those VINO retusea 10 give '
bonds were just as anxious for railroad, as
With the feasibility of building the road.
which is part Of the road now known as the
Georgia. Carolina and Northern Railway, our
people were more nearly united, and those
who were more enthusiastic were not op'
posed by any, though some were mttle luxe,
warm, because of their lack OF falth IN tne
final success Of the enterprise.
Prominen among the agitators OF the new
road at Abbeville were George G. Hodges,
James T. Parks, I. c. Seal, l.. W. Perrin. w;
Finally, charter was granted by the Legis.
ature OF the State, authorizing the railroad
company to organize as soon as S20,OOO was
subscribed to the capital stock.
In compliance with the requirements Of
that Act the citizens of Abbeville subscribed,
TO the following paper, the amounts set oppo'
site to their names:
SUBSCRIPTION LIST TO THE STOCK OF THE
CHESTER, GREENWOOD AND ABBE-
VILE RAILROAD.
We the undersigned hereby agree TO sub
scribe the following sums to the capital stock
Df ha Greenwood
Railroad, on condition that the said road Is fl.
nally located for construction through the
town of Abbeville, County Of AbbeviIle.
Also, ON the further condition, that II suoscrip-
tion is made by the town Of Abbeville or Alb
beville township, in its corporate capacity, to
the capital stock of said Railroad, and accept
ed by the Railroad corporation. the same
shall be in lieu Of the private SUBSCRIPTION
and the subscribers shall be released from
said subscription, unless desire be indicated
to combine them.