Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-05-20

anu YlO,OuO uoIe-r1Oo,ooo, hootiieo
in all remain-out menace to the fu-
ture progress Of the property. These
bonds-the 100000 just referred to
fall due in July, 1901, and practically
all of the S45O,0O0 of new bonds above
referred to not otherwise accounted
for, are being held for the purpose of
refunding the hostile bonds.
Now then, few suggestions as 10
the possible intentions of the unknown
people represented by Mr.. Marion. If
they are prepared to give satisfactory
guarantee of n standard gauge through
line of railroad to Bristol, Tenn, or
some other point beyond the noun
tains, within a reasonable length of
time, their proposition might be en-
titled to serious consideration; but
without such guarantee, the county
board of commissioners are doing well
to go slow. For instance, there is no
telling but what, after all, the really
interested parties in the background
are the Southern people.
The Carolina and North Western
railroad is now paying operating ex-
penses and fixed charges and gradual
ly making some improvements. II has
no surplus money, it is true; but un-
der all circumstances, its financial con-
dition is something remarkable. By a
little calculation it will he seen that
if Mr.. Marion's offer of $3.50 share
should prevail, he will be able to get
control of this property for about S..
600, and the control of a $3.50, 900
property for even s25,OOO, is right in
teresting proposition.
OF course, as matters now stand,
the stock of the Carolina and North
Western railroad that has value, is
one share over half. Ifthe road should
be changed to standard gauge and ex-
tended to Bristol, Tenn, then all the
bonds will be made worth par but
there is another side to this PROPOSE
ton that is entitled to consideration.
Paralleling the Southern for ten miles,
and crossing it at three different places,
the Carolina and North Western rail
road is right smart of a competitor to
the Southern. Mr.. Marion does not
represent the Southern, he says; but
suppose he represents other people who
do. The Southern could we'll afford
to pay $4,000 or even 100000 to get
rid of the competition of the Carolina
and North Western railroad, and if the
property should fall into the hands of
the Southern under the circumstances,
there is another possible development
that appears as likely as change into
a standard gauge and extension to Bris-
tol. At either of the prices mention
ed the Southern might run the proper
ty in the ground as it did before, when
the Southern was the Richmond and
Danville, and instead of Pullman sleep.
ers and coal gondolas being an every
day sight through middle York coun-
ty, people along the line of the Caro-
lima and North Western might again
be forced to the necessity of hauling
cotton and other produce from station
to station in farm wagons.
But the York county board of COM
missioners is studying the matter. 1t
is true that these gentlemen may have
hayseeds in their hair; but they also
have their eyeteetb cut. They might
make the mistake of refusing "some-
thing for potbing;" but they are a
pretty conservative lot, and when they
do act, the public may take it for
granted that they think they know
wbay they are doing.