The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-23
A STADNCH EN- TERPRISE.
The Solid Growth and Persistent Eff
forts at Progress which Character
ICES The G.. e. w. C. Railroad.

The Charleston and Western Carolina rail
road traverses one OF the most iertiie ana
prosperous sections of South Carolina. Inc
marvellous growth and development along al
lines OF business throughout the Piedmont
Belt has not abated. The stringency OF the
money market aud the hard times generally
TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
During the past decade there has been q
steady i'm provement. The hustle and hustle
Of the live towns. the splendid fields Of grow
ing crops Intervening, and the thrift and en-
terprise Of the people, as whole, are gooo
evidences OF q lasting prosperity. IL does
not seem to be unreasonable, therefore, that 9
section OF so m uch push and energy should
expect Its railroads TO take the lead In deVel'
opment and enterprise.
The charleston and Western Carolina has
long since appreciated the spirit OF this truth
patrons and friends no people ever labored
harder or succeeded in building better than
the present able and efficient management.
TO those accustomed 10 travel over this
road, there is nothing so striking as the
seeming permanency OF all the improve
ments. Where it was practicable, all trestleS
have been removed and dirt filling placed
instead. The grades have been wonderfully
reduced, the road bed drained, and tie cuts
rendered free from land slides.
AT the stations, water tanks, and all along
the line you see the unmistakable evidences
of fine management.
During the last three or four years OF busl-
ness stagnation and depression, when the
whole country was in a state OF political tur'
noil over the finances of the government, nc
railroad held It's own better than the Charles
ton and Western Carolina.
Having worked up the road bed TO state o
excellence, the management has succeeded In
inducing the new owners Of the road 10 eX'
pend a large sum OF money in rolling stock,
steel bridges and terminals
Thirty miles of new sixty-three pound steel
rail has been purchased, and Is now being
laid upon the heavy portion OF the road be
tween Parksville and LuIaville. New steel
bridges are IN process OF erection at Whale
Branch, ). C.; also over the Augusta Canal
over the Savannah River, II miles above Au
gusta. and steel bridges will be erected during
the summer over Warrior Creek, north o
Laurens, and over Little River at Laurens.
Thirteen new locomotives have been pur
chased. $50 airbrake box cars, I5 air-brake
flats, 80 air brake coal cars, Is cahooses and Il
passenger coaches, This equipment Is thor
oughiy modern and up-to-date in every re-
spect
In addition to this improvement. the man
agement Is spending about sixty thousand
dollars In erecting new docks and warehouses
AT Port Royal, aud re modelling them To ia
cilitate the handling Of export traffic.
The new terminals at Augusta, which will
occupy the entire river front, parallelline
nue. of the city, W III cost in the neghborhood
OF 100000. New depots and office buildings
will be erected, yards and transfer tracks ar
ranged.
In addition to this, the management has
arranged with the Johnston Line for regular
monthly services during the summer months
from Port Royal, ). 4. During the winter
months the service will be much more fire
quent. These ships have been running regu
larly since April, and have carried out mis-
cellaneous cargoes. consisting of all OF the
principal Southern products The road IL
being put In first-class condition so as tC
place it in position TO enjoy the traffic OF the
enterprising communities which IT serves.
Too much cannot be said of the present
management The fact that the new owners
OF the road have expended so large sum In
Improvements. is 81 sufficient compimen,
within itself to the eminent fitness of those
composing the management.
Both Mr.. Craig and Mr.. Anderson have
worked their way up from humble service
. and by close application and indefatigablt
endeaVor have been most prominent in build
ing an enterprise of which they have every
reason to be proud and which deserves anC
merits the support of its friends and patrons
They do not indulge in riotous living
travelling in palace cars and sporting tiashn Of
diamonds-but they are the best of genial
hearted gentlemen, strictly in the swim TO
business.
They both enjoy the best wishes of every
one in their efforts TO make the future OF th
Charleston and Western Carolina all they de
sire II should be. Chas. II. Baker.
Lowndesvile, S. c., June 2lst, 1897.