The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-19

The proposition to give seventy-hve
thousand dollars to to the Three C's
railroad Company to assist 10 the ex-
tension Of the read from Camden to
this city will most certainly be met with a
refusal. We cannot afford it in the
FIRST place, for we are an impoverished
people eroaniog under the burdens
already upon us. The experience OF
other places that have voted bonds to
promote railroad construction would
deter us. even we're We able to make 80
muni6ceut gift to the railroad company.
There is no knowing how soon rival
lines will combine and leave us more
firmly in the grasp of a monopoly than
ever before. Darlington's experience
| With the Charleston, Sumter 4 North-
ern railroad is q case in point. She
gave $50, 200 bonds to the road SO that
Darlington would be Independent of
! the Coast Line. Where is she to-day?
Absolutely in the possession Of the
Coast Line, and no hope of escape.
What benefit did the gift of $50, 900
bring to Darlington? About three
. z
years freedom from the sway OF the
Cast Line. The benefits never equal
the expenditure in the cases we are
familiar With; and under the existing
circumstances it would be nothing less
than extravagaps folly for the town
ships of Sumter, Providence. Rafting
Creek aud Bradford Springs to bond
themselves to the extent Of $75. 900.
We are all anxious to have a railroad
connection With the West, and will
patropise q road to the extent Of our
ability, but We are Of the opinion that
T if it is to the interest Of
syndicate to build a railroad
T they will build tito the point that is
most advantageously situated. It would
be foolish to imagine that a. big road
would build road that would not be
beneficial to the system, to secure q
bonus of few Thousand dollars. They
build roads that will yield revenue.
aud if they do build road to secure a
bonus that is the sort Of road We don't
want and the very kind We cannot at
ford to vote bonds to.
Ifthe Three C's people build through
from Camden, Sumter will give their
road such support that 10 few years
will amount to more than double the
amount now asked for We believe that
it is to the interest of the road to make
a connection with the roads that center
in Sumter, and when they have fully
considered the matter the mem bers Of
the syndicate will reach the same con-
clusion.
Grover Cleveland, President of the
United States. is killing South Caro-
lima ducks. Now is Ben. Tillman's
time. Let him ges that pitch fork and
head Grover off in Winyah bay.
George Washing ton Murray received
one vote for United States Senator.
This will be but colo comfort to the
soul of George when be reflects on the
seat he lost in Congress by the redis-
tricting Of the State.
The statement given out by Gov
Tillman in refutal Of the charges con-
taiDed in the Perry letter and similar
charges previously made, are satisfactory
on their face, and until there is direct and
iudispusable proof to the contrary it
would be much more sensible to leave
such charges uumade.
The railroad question is again excis-
ing interest in this section. The
possibility that the Coast Line may not
be able to consummate the trade for the
G. S. & N. R. r., has. in the last
few days, assumed the appearance of
reality that makes those, who fear bot
ting up. hope against what they have
lately regarded as an accomplished fact
The Plant System still entertains the
hope of obtaining possession, and may
yet do so when the road is sold under
n rder ef the cnnrta