The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-11

We hear no complaints as to the service
ae is giving the people. When Re-
cecer amberlain operated il, the road
fell behind paying its operating ez.
peases $4,000 per aonuu, for several
years TIE present management has
paid operating expenses ard deserves
our con sratuauons.
The Charleston aud Savannah Rail-
way has beea improving its terminals
in Charleston, and ts efficient superln-
teudent is keeping its service up to its
usual first class standard This road
operates the Green Pond, Waiterboro
ard Brapchvile Railway.
The Port Royal aud Augusta Rail
way is still in the hands of Receiver
Averill, who has managed it with his
usual ability, and, notwithstanding the
strong competition Of the Savannah
River. he has been able to improve the
physical condition of the road and
gradually increase its revenue
Receiver Cleveland still has charge
of the Port Roya and Western Caro-
lima Railroad. and the recent iuspeation
of this property shows more substau-
tial Improvement iu the way Of filing
up trestles. prtting 10 steel viaduc's,
building new depots, ETC., than obtains
elsewhere ir this State All the money
made by this road is put on the phys
ical betterment Of the property not
one cent has been paid out as interest
This property is advertised for sale by
the courts; if it is left in the hands Of
its present management few years
longer the owners will have desirable
property for sale, and the State will
have adother first class railroad for the
benefit of the people.
The Atlantic Coast Line Rrailroad
has purchased during the year the
Charleston, Sumter and Northern Rail
road It's mileage has been divided
amongst i,s system as follows: TIE
Cheraw and Darlington Railroad opera
ting that portion of the road from
Darlington norhtward, and the Man
chester and Augusta operating from
Darlington southwark The absorption
Of this railroad by a competing road,
with the changes Of management, has
brought some friction and inconvenience
to the public by charges Of schedules
and connections, but the assurance has
has been made tnat one system can rem
der better aud cheaper service than
can be rendered by two systems occu-
pyiug the same territory. aud the Com
mission will insist on the Atlantic Coast
Line giving the public along the old
Charleston. Sumter and Northern Bail
road as efficient service at they have en-
joyed heretofore.
All the roads that 90 to make up the
Atlantic Coast Line System ip this State
are in 6ne coudtion, and the entire
service is one of the best 10 the country
Considerable work has been done by
this system to their terminal facilities
in the cit Of Charleston, hree hun
dred feet have been added to their al
ready large city depot, making it one
of the most commodous in the South
The short roads 10 the State, like the
Branchville and Bowman Railroad,
Carolina Midland Railway. Georgetown
and Western Railroad, Hamp;oa and
Brauchville Railroad, are in fair ope-
rating condition.
During the year there have been va
rious complaints to the Commission as
to interstate rates among these the
most important one has been the COM
plant of the farmers shipping water
melons to the Northern markets The
Commission are of the opinion that
these rates are too high.
Recently Mr.. Havilaud Stevenson,
representative of the Interstate Com
mission, visited the South Carolina
Commission for the purpose OF discuss
ing these matters. and the papers filed
With the board from the complainanis
were turned over to Mr.. Stevenson to
be laid before the Interstate Com merco
Commission. This Commission has
every assurance that the matter will be
fully investigated aud some material
reduction made in the rates on water
melons.