The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-07-17
The Investment VIII Pay.

I " Editors Iaatelligencsr Knowing your
interest In the commercial and industrial
interests of our aspiring city, warrant
me in contributing these lines for your
patient consideration, as well as that OF
those who may perchance read them.
From the daily reports in the CONNER
cial world, the. tide of prosperity has set
in, and the South, that has weathered the
late financial storms better than any 9th
.er section, is destined to reap tho greatest
rewards of industrial development. No
country to-day presents greater advan-
tages than does the South, and 80 well Is
the fact known that capitalists are in
yesting their money in Southern indus
tries more than ever before, showing
their faith by their t1orks. But Anderson
is not reaping any Of the benefits thereof,
and why? Our people seem to be want
ing in faith, or II they have it, it Is a
dead faith, as we are not working.
Side-tracked, as we are, By the great
railway arteries, North and South Of US.
with our life -blood-b being an
nually encroached upon, atrophy or dry
rot will soon set in, and in the common
parlance Of the day Anderson may wake
up and find that ssshe is not in it." Like
the man whom the train has left staring
at last seasons show-pictures, she will
exclaim, "Bless my heart, has the train
gone and left me eP' a1dde and time
waits for no man" is as true for towns as
it is for men. Watch that man dancing
around and waiting for people to put him
aboard the train Will he get there :?
Hardly. That is what other people are
busying about getting there themselves,
whether the other fellow does or not.
8 Now, Mr.: Editor, one more great op-
portunity awaits our people. Like 9TH
.ers that have gone before, we may not
realize 1t until It is too late: Some day
in the near future believe there will be
q greet railway trunk line from the At
.lantic coast to the West via Knoxville,
Tenn. Anderson is favorably situated
to be on that line, but this is not the only
route to the great Wast from the sea-
board across the mountains, and the road
when built is not obliged to come by an.
derson. If Anderson had realized this
twenty years ago, she would not have
been situated to- day as she is with refer
ence to railroads. But it is not worth
while now to stop and kick oursef. We
should put oursef in line with the
coming trunk line to the West, or other
wise forever hereafter hold our peace.
If we need anything, and need 1t badly,
it is q trunk line railroad to the West.
Will it pay us to invest in it and get it :?
That is the practical question that con-
front us.
I beg to submit 10 the thinking men of
Anderson-City and County-the matter
as 1t suggests itself to me. I assume
that, in the building of this road, there
would be at least thirty-five miles Of
track across the County. At an assessed
valuation of $4,000 per mile would add
to the taxable property OF the County
$42O, 600 more to what we have already.
At q very low estimation 1t would en-
'hance the value Of real estate within four
miles of the road at least twenty per cent.
Upon this estimate II there were 76,S00
acres, worth say $685., 900 to-day, would
add SIC. 800 more to the taxable value OF
our.property, making total of S496, s00,
or put it in round numbers, say $500, 600.
An assessment Of five mills for County
purposes on this property would bring
us In annually $500. The County,
therefore, could very well afford to vote
q subscription of S50, 900 in bonds, to ma
ture in fifty years, interest at rate not
to exceed five per cent.
What will we have in return for our
expenditure in bonds? A great trunk
line railway to the West. The value OF
our real estate enhanced. Industrial en-
terprises springing up all along the line,
giving employment to the young men of
our country. Disbursement OF money
to employees. Reduction Of freight rates
on the necessaries Of life. The develop