The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-01
RAILROAD FROM SUMTER TO
CAMDEN.

.Mr. Editor: This is the road that Sumter
needs in its present direful condition What
we want is an Independent road TO Camden,
built. owned and run By Sumter, and Sum
ter County citizens. Then Sumter would
not be bottled up as she CIV is. We would
have an ootlet to the West, and TO the North
by connecting with the Three C's, and The
South Carolina Railroad at Camden. AT
Chester the Three C's connects with the Sea-
board Air Line, giving direct connection
With Norfolk, Va. The Sumter merchants
could get every pound of their Northern
freight via Norfolk, Chester and Camden, and
from Charleston via Camden or from the
North by steamer via Charleston and Camden
to Sumter. This would make us in a great
measure independent of the Coast Line which
now has Sumter completely at its mercy.
Sumter at PRESENT. only a way station for
the Coast Line.
This thirty miles of road could be built,
owned and run for many years, at least, by
Sumter and Sumter County capital, not to be
leased to any syndicate. We find ourselves
in the same predicament now that Charleston
6rds herself 10, after her 20 years of Rip
Van Wrinkle sleep. She wakes up and finds
her City by the Sea, almost deserted by bust
ness and railroad facilities. So much so,
that she has come to the conclusion that she
must build an independent line Of road to
Knoxville, TEMP, or some other point In a
westerly direction. IF Charleston had done
this, or controlled the South Carolina R. R..
twenty years ago (instead of going TO Sleep
she would not be in the condition she now is.
This should be a good lesson for Sumter. aud
she should not wait until she becomes desert.
ed also. 'God helps those who help them
selves"
1t is generally supposed that this piece Of
road could be built at a cost of about Sc, 900
a mile, this would be cheap.
Th:- ronte was surveyed three times by the
Three C's Road, and if they see they connot
build it themselves, no doubt they would be
willing to give US the benefit Of their survey
aud estimates ; aud perhaps they would be
willing to turn over to US tbeir charter for
this piece of road, if they have one Still in
force.
We think they would at least act IN n
friendly spirit and give us all the aid they
could, as we did towards Them a few years
ago, when they asked US to turn over TO them
a charter, which we held for a road from
tide water to the mountains via Sumter.
Another great consideration is this {;
Everybody knows that Bradford Springs,
lust about II lines from Sumtr sic, one Of
the healthiest localities in South Carolina,
free from malaria of any kind, and possessed
of the c~learest, and coolest springs of water
to be found anywhere in the State.
It would make a convenient and healthy
summer resort, with a 6rst-class hotel. No
doubt many of our citizens would also build
summer cottages, where they could live
with comfort during the warm summer
months. Business men could 60 up in the
evening and return next morning in time for
business.
This road would run through as fne q body
of timber. as there is in the State. Saw mills
would be started up along the route, which
would be a paying card for the road. We
feel confident that the farmers, who " the
lands through which this road would run,
would grade portions of the road bed at their
own expense, as we'll as giving the right Of
way free Of charge. 1t would pay them to do
so, az they would be in a large measure bene-
6ciaries. We also think that some R.R. con-
tractors could be induced to build the largest
part Of the road aud take some stock 80 well.
Many far seeing citizens with whom the
writer has talked on the subject, are OF the
opinion that this is the most important
scheme, that Sumter can entertain at The
present time; that the completion of this
piece of road would put Sumter on another
boom, as the C. S. h N. did. Everybody
comedies the fact that something must be
done and that quickly, OF we are lost. This
will not interfere with other schemes and en-
~terprises if any are on foot let them also &c
on. So don't throw cold water on the en-
~terprise good friends, but put your shoulders
to the wheel aud stop prating and crying
hard times, but With your voice and purse,
help US out of a terrible dilemma.
II has been suggested that our Board of
Trade call a public meeting of the citizens,
IN our new S35, O00. 90 opera house, and let
this, as we'll as any other scheme that may be
brought up, ne fully discussed. If either OF
them, or all Of them, are found to be feasible
it will, at least, be a commencement towards
accomplishing something. II this or any
other scheme should be found to be worthy
Of consideration, a temporary organization
could be effected, and committees appointed
to carry out the preliminaries, and report at
a subsequent meeting to be called by the
chairman-more anon. R-n.
A railroad contractor who happened to be
in town Friday was asked what it weuld
cost to build a railroad from this city to
Camden. by a gen tleman who formed his &C.