The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-14
THE CAROLINA MIDLAN RAILROAD.
The South Carolina and Georgia Railroad
Wants It.

The South Carolina and Georgia Railroad
Wants 1t.
A gentleman who professed to know
what he was talking about told re-
porter of the Augusta Chronicle that
negotiations were in progress looking
to the control of the Carolina Midland
railroad by the South Carolina and
Georgia company. He said that the
papers had already been drawn up and
signed by some of the interested par
ties, and that if no hitch in the pro-
ceedings came about that the transfer
in the management of the line would
take place at no very distant date. 1t
will be remembered that some time
ago when the Security Construction
company had just been organized, l,
and when it seemed certain that the
Charleston and Macon line was to be
built, the Carolina Midland was ex.
pected to become an important part OF
the new system of roads. The prop
erty had been leased to the Greenwood,
Anderson and Western company, the
road projected to the upper part of the
state and contracted by Col. Mike
Brown. Then came the troubles in
that concern resulting in q receiver
ship and a final termination OF the
lease of the Carolina Midland. The
property then went back into the
hands of its original owners, and there
it remains today. The receivership
had appeared to put an end to the
Charleston and Macon enterprise so
far at least as the Carolina Midland
was concerned. And now comes the
gentlemen, who was referred to above
with the statement that the road is
to be absorbed by the South Carolina
and Georgia road, and thus become a
part of the system which the Messrs:
Parsons are building for this city and
section. The Carolina Midland has
for the greater part of many years
maintained close traffic relations with
the Carolina and Georgia. Having
no natural outlet OF its own, it has in
large measure been dependent upon
its connections. The South Carolina
and Georgia road being the most avail
able and prominent of these the rela-
tons between it and the Carolina
Midland have, in the nature of the
case, been very close. 1t is true that
for some time, and in the last year or
so especially, the business men OF
Charleston have been taught to look
to the Carolina Midland as an availa
BILE link in a new system TO the west.
Many of them had hoped to see the
line extended to the up-country. In
this way they had thought to see
Charleston the water terminus of two
great lines, one that referred to, and
the other the South Carolina and
Georgia road, working in conjunction
with ths Louisville and Nashville
system. Barring the possibility OF
the Carolina Midland being extended
to Charleston, there is, however, no
way in which it could be rendered OF
more direct and practical aid to
Charleston than as a part of the South
Carolina and Georgia road. The new
management Of that company has but
recently acquired control of the
Augusta Southern, and in other ways
it has evinced q desire to build up a
stronger railroad combination than
she has possessed in many years,
stronger, probably, than any system
ever before operated in the exclusive
interest of Charleston port. In the
construction of such system as that
which is apparently contemplated by
President Parsons the Carolina Mid.
land would appear to the ordinary
observer to be a natural link. The
gentleman who gave the information
to the reporter said that, as he under:
stood it, the South Carolina and
Georgia road would sbsorb the Caro-
lima Midland, issuing new securities. on
the property and guaranteeing them;
No direct confirmation Of this could
be obtained yesterdy, but is based up.
on authority which is deemed worthy
of orodit