The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-24
Another Railroad to be Bull
Into Columbia
A Direct AR Line From the Yadkin
Valley r. r.
Stale Jau. IA.

State Jau H.
The one thing needed to make Co.
lumbia the greatest railroad centre 10
the South, aud make ythis city on the
main line Of the shortest possible route
from North to South, is about to
transpire, and i: will be a happy day
for this city, which now seems to be
on the very eve Of entering upon ber
long desired and long awaited era Of
prosperity.
A well authenticated report reached
some prominent gentlemen in Coluna~
bia last nigh, that the new owners Of
the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley
Railroad we're now arranging to build
their road on from it's present termi.
uus into Columbia, and would begin
the work at an early date Those who
have information on the subject here
are very reserved about talking about it
beyond confirming the report.
At FIRST blush the man who is not
thoroughly acquainted With the net
work of railroads leading towards the
South from the Virginia border. would
mot see much 10. the announcement
that this road was going to build into
Columbia. to cause great delight. But
it simply means that it this road is
built to this point an air line will be
established that will annih;late as
much distance 10 the line from North
to South as old the South Bound road
and The extension of the Florida Gen.
trail and Peoinsular road between this
city and Savannah. and SavaDnah and
Jacksonville respectively.
The important portion of the road
runs from Smitbfield, n c.. via Fay
etteville. N. c.. crosses the Carolina
Central. portion Of the Seaboard Air
Line system, at Shoe Heel, just across
the North Carolina line, and running
thence to the terminus at Bennetts-
vile. the whole making direct air line
Now the proposed extension will
continue on an air line FROM Benefits
vile to Columbia, passing through
Marlboro, the southern portion Of Ches.
.ter6eld or northern portion Of Dazzling
ton counties. By Camden and thence
straight into Co'umbia-a distance
from Bennet..ville to Columbia Of
scarcely more than ninety miles At
present it ia we'll known that through
travel has to come around either by
Greensboro and Charlotte, making a
long detour, or else from Wilson, n.
c., via the short cut to Florence and
thence into Columbia via the Coast
Line making another lengthy detonr
to get into Columbia At present the
through trains of the Coast Line sys-
tenn make a much greater detour to
get Southern connections, going via
Charleston to get to Savannah. Now
if this connecting link is put in, miles
upon miles will be cut of by both the
New Short Line and the Coast Line
system. The road rnus into Greens
boro from Fayetteville. and at that point
all R 4 D. through travel could be
diverted over the shorter line. Then
again this road runs into Raleigh on
direct line from Smith6eled, and
through business could be thrown on
the R. & D. main lioe at that point
right on into the North.
With the Coast Line connection
could be make at Wilson. aud the
trains could be diverted for through
business there, giving a much shorter
line provided the Coast Line people
take. a shorter route from Columbia
on down. By bringing the through
trains by Columbia miles and miles
of travel could be savad This is per-
haps the secret Of the extension OF
this road from Bennettsville into CO.
lumbia It is either that or the R. 4
D. and T. c. l. P. people intend to
make their new short line shorter by
many miles. and carry trains through b
from New York to Jacksonville and
other points in a much shorter time
than the most vivid fancy every pic
tured.
No matter which of these schemes
may be at the bottom of the building
of this road into Columbia, this city
is bound to be made the finest rail-
road centre to be found, and q section
of the State heretofore undeveloped
will be developed to its fullest extent.
In any event too, the distance from
North TO South is certain to be great
ly reduced, and every one in this State
will welcome the coming Of the new
road with the happiest expectations
He Knows a Good Thing.