The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-07
OUR NEW RAILROAD.
The Double.Track. Ninety Pound
Rail Black Diamond.

AS stated last week, Mr. Tribble and Mr..
McCulley OF Anderson came down on Sun
day night. had private conference with
caucus so to speak. After which our people
were asked TO sign some sort Of pledge to
vote for $4,000 of taxes at some time In the
trains on the tracks Of the road to the Ander-
son line.
Tribble and McCulley, and Of course do not
they speak or what they speak. This news
paper only knows that the editor knows
nothing OF their mysterious ways, or the pa
vilion OF darkness which enshrouds their
plans.
We would, however. be delighted to see the
road built, and would be willing TO pay what
ever might be considered liberal contrlou.
tion from US If such contribution would aid
In bringing about the desired result. but Wlth
the lights before us we are OF little falth.
All the little roads in this section have been
gobbled up by either the Southern or the Air
Line. The southern copid palio aeross f anne nne
Of money much less than road could oe
built across the same natural barrier. II the
start had TO be made at an lns1gnlncant toWn,
with nothing but water, and distant some 2oO
miles from the foot of the mountains. The
Southern's trains branch out to nearly all the
important towns In the State. and business
relations with these towns would make roau
across the mountains many times as valuable
TO the Southern as the same track would be to
the new road with no connection With any
towns except Abbeville and Anderson. Ihe
Southern has all the money and all the credit
1t needs and could build across the noun
tains. If 1t saw proper to do so.
To show the bullheadednesso OF the proposed
road which has long excited the attention OF
the people, single circumstance Would De
sufficient. Because Edgeield refused to con-
tribute TO their scheme for survey, those nav
Ing charge OF the work, refused tn run the line
to the Incorporate limits. Edgfeld's refusal
.l~< lntr no a
city had no faith in the enterprise. The fact
that the road was run through som ebody's
old field, far away from any possibility 70 get
business from Edgheld was enough, surely, 10
con vince any reasonable man that there was
no business sense in the enterprise 1t 1s estl-
mated that Edgdeld does, perhaps, some S70.-
600 or $50 900 worth OF freight and passenger
business during the year. III railroad ls oe,
ing built for business, can any sane man Tell
us, why the road should be diverged as far as
possible from the centre where 30 much ousi-
meas could be had?
We believe the same Is true Of Barnwell.
The road.surveying crowd waded swamps,
lagoons. or other out OF the way places TO nnd
a line in some wilderness as far from the
business Of Barnwell as possible.
When we consider for moment that the
proposed road is to be from 400 to 500 miles In
length, avoiding along It's course nearly every
town where business could be had, and touch
fng in this State, for 25O miles, only Anderson
where there is nothing in the world but q lib:
eral quantity OF salt water, we are amazed
that people should believe for an instant.
that there Is the remotest possibility for a
railroad. Avoiding the towns along the line
and going to q town which is almost deserted
seems to US to be veriest nonsense.
The few ships that we're there have been Or
dered away; the granary Is rotting;. only
about 500 white people live there, and they
have perhaps not better banking facilities
than we have at Abbeville.
With all the facts, which can be seen with
the unaided eye, against the possibility Of
railroad, the mystery Of secrecy is asked to
take the place Of stubborn facts and plain
com mon sense
II Mr.. Tribble and MIR. McCulley had any
hidden facts which they thought would over
power their blunders, or explain the idiotic
action OF their surveyors In avoiding bustn ess
centers. 1t seems to US that they would be
only too glad to show them in the broadest
light OF day.
But these gentlemen do not seek TO discuss
their scheme, which seems impracticable. and
we shall not throw q straw In their way,
while building great railroad which shall
miss every business centre. except Abbeville
and Anderson, and which instead Of going TO
Charleston, where there Is plenty OF deep
water and some business, proposes to 60 to q
little dead town where nothing disturbs the
quiet, except the roar ofthe sea and the lash
ing Of the waves.
Truly, the ways Of secret railroad building
are past finding out.