The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-11
THE SOUTHERN and CHARLESTON

Tho Great Railway System is Man
aged on Business Principles
Charleston Must Take advantage
OF the Opportunities Offered.
a reporter for the News and Courier
has interviewed Col. a. B. Andrews,
OF the Southern hallway, and secured
tho following important and intcrcst-
ing statement from Col. Andrews
"Tho people OF Charleston should
not get the impression that the South
crn Railway Is going to build up the
traoc OF Charleston, unaded and alone.
we 40 not propose to discriminate
against any OF our other ports for the
benefit OF Charleston. but what we in
tend to do Is to furnish this city every
facility for growing great CONNER
clSlly, and we expect the people to
take advantage Of tho opportunity.
We have no idea Of Givcr':ng anything
to Charleston from our other ports, but
Charleston will be put on an equal
footing with the other ports of the
South Atlantic, and then tho rest de-
pen0s on the people.
"lf | camo down here and told q long
story Of tho very great love tho South
crn has for Charleston and that tho
city would be built up by tho Southern
on that account the people would think
that L was u great fool, or what is
worse, that WAS ono great big prcvar-
lcatOr, not TO mention several other
things that | mighs be called The
South Carolina and Georgia WAS leased
as business venture. and, Of course,
the Southern cannot make IL dollar out
oi 1t that does not benefit Charleston
tho profit, therefore, Is mutual, and
thcrc should be united cirurts between
Il hn ln .>f L.,
city. The Southern will furnish the
rates and tho schedules, and expects
Charlcstonlans to get move on them.
selves, and use the schedules and rates.
| BefOrc we go any further it is best that
this matter should be distinctly under.
stood, so that some people may not
expect too much OF the Southern.
Tho condition OF tho South Caro-
lima and Georgia Road shows that it was
never the intention OF tho owners to
operate 1t. The lack OF many ncccs-
sary improvements show this fact.
| am not complaining, because we
leased the road with our eyes wide
open, but merely say these things to
Illustrate tho fact that tho road has
hHen on the market for some time.
Inc road being for sale, 1T Is, In my
pbiniOn, most fortunate thing for
Charleston that the Southern WAS tho
purchaser. We have the mileage and
that's what counts In building up a
city. suppose some OF the other sys-
tens had purchased 1t, how would
Charleston ever have gotten back into
Western South Carolina, q paradise
for the jObbcrs Of this city? Never on
| earth, my dear fellow, II the jobbing
trade OF this city had come in oppo-
sition to any OF the Southcrn's ports.
We control the situation and you may
rest assured that We will take caro- of
our own, and VIC own just us much OF
| Charleston now rs you folks living
right here in tho city. Our lease
makes us q part and parcel Of this city,
and VIC mean that Charleston will be
ON the same footing as any other South
Atlantic port, in regard to both export
and import tradc.
81 am frCo to admit that the South
crn has hurt Charleston considerably
| in the past, but 1t must be rcmcm bcrcd
that tho Southern had no interest here
thon. It's interests were In other
| places, and these other places had to
be taken care OF, oven II Charleston
did get TIC worst OF IT, This is only
human nature, you know; everybody
looks out for his own. The situation
is entirely changed The Southern
has rs great interest in Charleston
now as it has in any other place, and
l'll guarantee that the bars will be let
down right away. The up country
will be opened to this port, and it but
remains for the people to take hold OF
the opportunity and spread Out. don't
think any one will deny the fact that
The Southern has the power to do what
say we will do. The SUuthcrn's lines
Just honey y'comb the South, and cspcc-
tally that part OF the South which Is
tributary to Charleston, and now that
Charleston is one OF the S0uthcrn's
ports oil the barriers to It's commerce
will be removed Immediately. This is
all can say on this point. Tho South
ern has the power to put Char lesion
on an equal footing with all OF It's com.
peting ports, and will do so. Now will
the people Of Charleston take advan-
tago OF the position Ia which the ci ty
will be placed -
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