The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-24
Black Diamond Railroad.

Editors Intelli0enccr: Approaching the
honesty and sincerity Of our townsman,
Mr.. J. L. Tribble, in his recent article on
the Black Diamond Railroad project, 30
clearly and most forcibly presented in
your last issue, permit one who has had
some experience in promoting various
industrial projects to further strengthen
Mr.. Tribble's logical conclusions by stat
ing that every great undertaking, whether
it be the building Of railroad, steam boats,
factory or the development of mine or
forest, when in its incipiency, is due to
the efforts Of the promoter.
To the promoter is due the credit of
having developed the nations vast and
most wonderful resources. It was the
promoter who first conceived the feasi-
bility OF constructing the Atlanta and
Charlotte Railroad, now the Southern,
and by the way magnificent property.
It was the promoter who first gave i'm
petus to the building Of the Georgia Pa
ciic Railroad, which, during it's promot-
ing period, was looked upon by great
many so-called conservative people as
wild cat scheme, and the writer fully
knows the draw backs, disappointments
and obstacles experienced then by the
promoter Of that road, Maj. E. G. Gordon,
the disappointments he had to face, the
deriding attacks that were made upon his
project by other roads, and the opposition
he had to endure.
But in spite of all the taunts and ridi-
cule heaped upon this sagacious promoter
he had confidence in the ultimate outcome
of his project, worked with indomitable
perseverance, and now the Georgia Pa
cific, which also belongs to the Southern,
is one ofthe best paying roads South.
Had it not been for the promoters work
the mines, furnaces, rolling mills, fac
tories, cities, towns and industries in the
State Of Alabama along the line of that
road would to-day lay dormant, dreaming
about the great possibilities of the future,
as they are now dreaming along the pro-
posed line of the Black Diamond.
Capital at first is very timid, never
taking hold of any project in raw state,
always waiting for the promoter to de-
velop his project or scheme into a more
practical shape, after having agitated,
surveyed and procured franchise, right
of way, &C., then the project is presented
to the capitalist.
Mr.. Editor, our people, fear, will pay
the penalty Of over-conservatism if they
do not take livelier interest in the Black
Diamond. Granting that Col. Boone is a
boomer, as some seem to think-well,
what oft? Have you ever heard of any
project of Importance that sprang into
existence without being pushed, agitated
and forced by promoters?
Large bodies move slowly. The Black
Diamond is huge undertaking, I ad-
nit; it requires brains, energy and the
knowledge how to accomplish such a
monstrous undertaking, and firmly be-
lieve Col. Boone to be the man for such
work. Had he not the experience, capa-
city and knowledge how to start such
gigantic scheme, Col. Brice, whose
Lieutenant Col. Boone has been for
number of years, could not have Qccu-
pied such position.
Anderson had better take chances, if
chances it could be called, than dream
about this new road, when some day our
people would wake up wishing they
could have lived on less sleep.
EX-PRoMoTER.