The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-06
The New Road From Augusta to
Charleston.

Atlantic Coast Line building q route 70
Augusta from Charleston. The pre-.
liminary work was begun May Slst,
when the survey Of the line vas COM
menced.
Col. Fleming Gardner, of the
Atlantic Coast Line system. was IN
Charleston preparing to begin the
survey of the new road between Ashley
Junction aud Augusta. Col. Gardner
is the engineer who will be in charge OF
the survey. A reporter for the News
and Courier saw him at the Osceola
Hotel and asked him for some in-
formation regarding the proposed road.
Col. Fleming said that there were
yerv few facts which he could give,
but they we're entirely at the disposal
of the public. He had ordered instru-
ments for making the survey down
from Orangeburg. These had arrived
and had been sent out to the Junction.
He expected . party of workmep
down io time to join him at the juno
ton and begin work to-day. He did
NOT mind stating that he had been
ordered to make q preliminary survey Of
the roate between Ashley Junction
aud Augusta aud to furnish at the
same time estimates regarding the
cost of constructing such a line. He
vas 1aprepared :. this time to say
what direction the route would take.
It vas one thing to talk about ..air
lines" aud another to build them. He
had had some experience in building
air lines through the sand bills Of
Aiken and he knew the difficulties
attending such an undertaking. The
air line might get along we'll enough
up to Barnwell Court House, but after
that its troubles would begin and continue
clear to the river. Further than this
he had nothing to say regarding the
new line. He had been ordered to
make a preliminary survey from
Charleston to Augusta, and be would
begin work on it with a full force Of
hands this morning.
The proposed line has begun to
attract a great deal of. attention not
only 10 Charleston but in all of the
cities to the westward, aud the scheme,
at FIRST looked upon as being in the
nature Of a "bluf," is now treated as
q yery serious matter. In the last few
days q reporter for the News and
Courier has heard 3 great many inter-
es,ine discussions concerning it, a
Reproduction Of the leading features
of which will be peculiarly apropos
Just at this time.
When the frst rumor regarding the
proposed line was published a week or
ten days ago it was stated that the
Louisville aud Nashville system was in
some way connected with the scheme.
The belief in this statement has daily
gained ground until now it is every
where accepted that chat system will be
largely interested in the new road
actually a joint owner and controller Of
it With the Atlantic Coast Line OF
course, the Louisville aud Nashville
does not appear openly in the matter.
The survey Is being made in response
to orders from Mr.. II. Walters, Of the
Atlantic Coast Line, and this latter
system is openly announced as the
protector of the new road. Neverthe-
less it is now generally accepted that
the Louisville and Nashville is a silent
partner in the scheme, but a partner
who is taking a very vivid interest in
the new road. Many people think that
the determination to build such a road
originated Immediately upon the sale Of
the old South Carolina Road to its
present owners. Both the Louisville
aud Nashville and the Atlantic Coast
Line systems had an interest in that
sale, and it is an open secret that
neither of them were much pleased
With the result of. it. It is nov con.
ceded everywhere that the Louisville
aud Nashville people we're badly out
generated when the South Carolina
Read passed under the control Of
Messrs. Parsons. That the Louisville
and Nashville system intended to pur-
chase the South Carolina Railway no
one now doubts for an instant. The
system has large interests in Charles
too. At an expense of not less than
81. 600. 600 it had acquired large hold
iugs of the South Carolina Roads sc.
curities. It held an expensive lease of
the Georgia Railroad, and it vas seek
ing an outlet 90 the Atlantic Ocean.
In the face Of these facts it is impos-
eible to doubt that the Louisville and
Nashville management contemplated the
purchase of the South Carolina Rail-
way property. The Messrs. Parsons
bought the road. and what is now the
condition of affairs? The Louisville
and Nashville system saw 81. 900 900
worth of securities wiped ont of exist
ence.- and naturally feel pretty sore