The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28
TWAS EVER THUS
The Vanished Black Diamond-Col Boone's Great Rail
road Project Has Faded Into Nothing, But the Boys
Who Went Snpe Hunting at this End of the Line Are
Still Holding the Bag.

Inc NASHVILLE AIueElCtlu sSSLho W ~ '>'
informed as 10 status Of the great double
track back action Diamond Railroad ut tha'
end of the line, but the boys who went snipe
hunting on this end of the line are still! miss
ing. It's presumed, however, that they are
some where on Long Cane still holding the
open-moutheu bag.
AS soon as we hear from the Anderson pro-
moters at this end OF the line, we will give
particulars as TO the eastern division oil
the double-track back-action Diamond Road
in these parts. About year ago the Ander'
son promoters secured 5000 in cold cash from
innocent citizens Of this city, and the party
OF the irst part have not thought 1t well to ac-
count TO the party OF the second part Oi
course the money has been safely Invested
few years ago Colonel Boone came IL
Knoxville 10 Ohio with proposition 10 build
u railroad from Chicago 10 the sea throug n
the mountains OF Kentucky, tennessee ana
North Carolina. This road, declared It's pro-
moter, would free Knoxville from the slavery
In which It WAS held by the Southern road.
Col Boone-he was q paper colonel, having
served on Brownlow's staff, possibly, white
the latter was Governor and Boone was llv-
ing in Tennessee-descrlbed himself as the
"Pathhnder," had his picture printed In the
papers and in circulars, hired brass band
ard capvassed Knoxville and Knox county.
He called his progressive road the Black
Diamond" and painted glowing pictures G oi
countless and endless coal trains that would
roll constantly over his great trunk line, CIV
ing 10 Knoxville cheaper coal than 1t ever
dreamed Of. At that time Knoxville owned
SlCO 900 OF stock In the X. & y. road, the best
paying road In the South. Knox county
also owned 100000 OF the stock. Anderson
county, adjoining Knox. also owned $4,000
OF stock in this road, which @ 1t nag helped 70
slave emancipalor, determined TO make a
play for this stock, and he went after 1t with
his drums a-beatipg and his band playing
With the moderation and modesty character
istic OF the professional promoter, he asked
the city and the Two counties to vote him this
stock In the h. q o. and receive In return
stock in the Back Diamond-the grand trunk
line, the dOuole-track system that was to
paralyZe such little roads rs the southern.
He would sell the K. & .. stock and invest
the money in making surveys and buying
rights of way for the Black Diamond and in
building belt line around Knoxville, which
would soon be lined with factories. Several
enthusiastic gentlemen went forth and select
ed manufacturing sites on tne proposed beit
line, and dreamed OF wealth which never
came. The Pathfinder was as dent talker
He was glio OF tongue as gold orlcK PED
dler. He carried O large collection OF beAutl-
full maps and thrilling charts which simply
astounded that class OF the publ 10 which
MIR. Barnum once referred. He also marshall
ed an array OF figures whlcA created an im.
preston similar TO that made by the startling
arguments and liberal offer OF the smooth
Iaklr whose business IL TO follow the pumpkin
fairs and coax the coin from the pockets OF
the contiding SONS OF toll and tlllers OF the
globe The Pathfinder WAS not there to max e
money for himself. His ambition was 10 do
something for his country; 10 0ulld douolt
track monument for himself aud 90 down TO
glory and the grave as one who far excelIed
Abou Ben Adhem in love of his fellow men.
Col. Boone declared with pride which apes
humility" that he had no money but he also
boasted that all he had To do was TO whistle
across the sea, and the millions would come
rolling and tumbling from English pockets.
He was as firm as he was generous In Insist
ing that the people OF Knox county ana
Knoxville should DE protected by iron-cdd,
copper.riveteu, brass-iped. rrnor-sheathed
agreements and contracts by which IL would
be i'm possible for any old railroad or pronot
er to rob, cheat, euchre, muict, nlmnam or
hoodoo them out OF so much as penny.
The Pathfinder, assisted by the Colonel, who
was also the Pathfinder waged his campaign
with great energy; he Il led the air with Ian
guage and bggers; the band played thirty
spieIers made speeches at so much per; there
was no organized opposition; those who rldi
culed the scheme were denounced as hire
lipes OF the Southern railroad ;" the Southern
railroad said and did nothing but wink Its
eve, for II owned the X. o. and 1t was walt
ing 10 buy the stock which the Pathfinder
was doodle.bugging from the yeomary. Inc
elections were held, the Pathfinder received
the stock. and sold II 10 the president OF the
X. O.-S3OO, 900 OF stock for $4,000. The stock
was not paying dividends al The time because
OF the desire OF large holders TO ouy al thal
municipalities or countles-whlch Is point
er for those who favor voting au Investment
in q minority interest In a railroad.
The Pathfinder IL back In Ohio, the Black
Diamond exisls only in paper, the belt line Is
AZ far away rs the rings OF Saturn, Knoxville
has lost it's Sl0O 700 In stock, Knox county has
lost its Sl0O, ,OO0, and Anderson county mas lost
Its 500 OOU all of which reposes in the strong
box of the president Of that ROAD, and none OF
which could be purchased for considerably a.
bove par. This, in brief, is The story ofone rail-
road promoters method of making a living.
II is the last experience Knoxville has had In
building great trunk line. 1t has tried II
several times before It's last venture before
the ack Diamond investment being to vote
s225,OOO to the Knoxville, Cumberland Gap
and Louisville, which was built 10 Cumber.
land Gap. q distance offs miles. 1t is now a
part of the Southern, OF course. The Louis
VILE and Nash Vile could have had 1t If IL had
desired. Knoxville refused 10 pay its sub
scriptions and escaped on techncal!ty. This
was also TO have been grand trunk line. NO
promoter ever wastes his energies or patriotic
endeavors on anything OF less consequence
than grand trunk line or a system which Is
To connect oceans and hemispheres. The
Black Diamond Ia still as nebulOus to the
naked eye as the Milky Way.-Nashville
American.