The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-23
RAILROAD MAGNATES.
The G.. &. e. y. Officials visit Able.
willie.

"Wednesday of last week the high officials OF
the Seaboard Air Line road paid a hurried
trip TO our town. Quite number OF our peo.
ple went to the depot TO meet them, hui the
train was late, and aterward called on them
while they we're in the office OF Mayor Hill
and the city council. Aher q stay In Inc Of
flee they were driven In carriages 10 tne nome
OF Judge MCGOWAN, where they paid their re-
spects to our distinguished lellow-ciliZen.
I'VE have not learned the object or their
coming, but presume 1t had for its purpose n
better understanding, and the cultivation OF
good feeling and friendship between the rail-
road and It's customers.
speaking for the Press and Banner, we are
glad that they came. From the first incep-
tion of the road Abbeville has felt most Kind
ly TO the new road, and when proposition
was made some Two or three years ago 10
build their shops here our people contributed
some $4,000 in cash toward the enterprise
them, and Immediately great outcry was
made by some of them against our town ne ne
cause we were snort on houses 10 rent. 10
meet that demand our people eXerted every
energy and employed much capital ana maze
rial in building houses for rent. About Inc
time an abundance Of houses were bullt the
railroad, because of an alleged spasm oi econ
omy greatly cut down the force and compel.
ed the evacuation OF some of our houses. No
great effort has ever been made by the rail-
road authorities to satisfy our people OF their
intended good faith III taklng our money, az
corporation. and then encouraging our indi-
vidual citizens TO build houses TO supply de-
mand which they afterward SO unceremoni.
ously cut of.
While these gentlemen on their recent visit
we're very chary as to their future intentions,
vet their presence and kindly attention 10
some of our people Is taken as evidence that
they are not unfriendly to Abbeville and that
they did not take our money without good
faith, and that they did not Intentionally en-
courage our citizens to build houses to supply
u demand which should not exist because OF
a change of their own purposes.
Wo q,
while apparently friendly, would have held
out hopes TO our people which would not be
fully realized, and we cannot think that theF
would have Intentionally encouraged our GU
liens to involve themselves n the erection OF
dwelling houses which would not be needed.
Our people who met the railroad men were
glad 10 see them. We hope and believe that
they will keep the faith with us, but our peo-
monious removal Of large per cent: oil the
shop force. They do not understand why thiS
place did not get the benefit Of the "cut rates.
last Summer that was accorded TO some other
places, except the alleged explanation or ex-
cuse Of the railroad that AbbeVtlle was
friendly and would give the road lts business
anyhow. No city or town could have been
been to the G., G. d n, and It seems only just
that the road in turn should deal squarely
and frankly with US.
II the road will take our $4,000 TO build
shops TO be diSmantled; II they Will encour'
age our citizens certainly by act. If not IN
words, to build houses for their employees,
and then remove the employees; II they dis.
because of our trien dship, then 1t is well to
know 1t. If the railroad has not so acted
there should be no misunderstanding ABOUT
the matter.