The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-02
COMING TO THE PIEDMONT.
A Great Scheme In Restsed-Bosio"
Capisalists Want 60 Build Railroad
from Deep wnier 90 the West.
-SreepVIlle Noun talneer.

~Greenville Noun ntaineer.
Several yenrs ago there Was u proJected
railroad from Southport. n. c. to this section
OF the Stale, with the View OF connecting that
scheme with the railroad known ~ the
c., X and W. across the mountains 10 n nox'
from Southport in this direction, aud u cou.
adorable amount OF money vas spent In the
prsiimiuary work by persons who were ln'
teresied In the development OF southport,
which Gas represen ted m an excellent mar
6or and shipping point. The project then
was 10 bnild y railroad nom SoathpGit 70
Camden. 3. c., thence 10 xinnnboro, Uoion
and Sresnys Isb,s o wsy S sc,os.
the mountains 40 as 10 reach knoxvilIe ny
the easiest and most pracucablo route
Another part OF the schemS was 70 densct
at Camden from the main line and build .
branch To Chester, thence 10 Gsnney. - e..
Rutberford,on, N. C.. A.hevilie. n. C., and
on 10 Knox Vile. who're the main line would
plan OF The projeciors, who did not ask AID
frum Hpy community on the linea indicated
for preliminary work or unavoidao'e e4
Among the promoter and influential per.
anna cun ected With the project wna Mr..
@ ,orge Morton. OF b ston, who vistted our
city several times, and who made numoei
geuiiemanly conduct while here. His prac
tical methods and business ways Impressed
those with whom he came 10 contact, and
while hs was st considerable expense 10 Tue
work he was doing There Was nevera hint that
he expected any assistance from this section Of
the country. which In striking cootrast Win
other promoters OF railroad schemes. MI:
yearS, but . gentlemen from 0reenville was
steamer between New York Ind Boaton and
I ns ,os.
enquired. "Hows Gfeenville p and 10 MS
great surprise Il proved to 6e Mr.: Morton.
fhey hsd . lengthy conversation that niEni
about the rs,IrUad from Southport, when Mr
Norton told him the project was very much
alive, and that plans we're being periected ioi
buildipg the contemplated road. This much
T.s%na'y % mn sais. Ss I Of
Morton, and which is given ior the enlighten-
msnt OF our readers:
I: Boston capitalists carry out prc)eri
Ina viii In ibe near future have several mOIs
miIea OF railroad. The State railroad com.
mission has received letter from Chiei En.
g,peer A. 2. Lrring. OF the Boston Elevated
Q peV Railroad line capitalists there are pro-
posing to build hom southport, N. c.. g.
Knoxville. Tenn, the line lying principally
ssrS:s the opps5 ESt.on o. s1 on name, ready
TO be presented TO the capitalists Interested.
Tney wish 70 cui through and open up new
territory, and run from the coal neids, sup
tho cotton mills OF the Piedmont and givinr
sn exceIient new port, as we'll a. feeding the
port OF Charleston through the Coast Line, the
scnsoe.n. the o. X ana =. ana S she SesSo@ta ,n
line TO be OF great bvnent 10 AL south Caro-
lima ports and towns and adds THE pro
posed line IN about 200 mile. 10 length; u
mi0ht Day as an East and West lire through
0 productive country, but would depend on
connection North and south. bave mol
failed to notice that the railroads In you
state apPear to BE- I.ying E"E'neers are
glance at tho map shows that such Hoe
would give railroad facilities TO portion o:
South Carolina nos almost without service
and West line from Lancaster 10 Chester.
All the upper tier OF coao,les woaid br
touched from Horny Cd The West TO Oconet
through The gap in the Mountains which tbt
Bloc Ridge rosd was dssigned To use. Ths
distSnce 10 the Tennessee Coal fields wouid b.
msterisify shoftened.
msdiatsly furnish the engiueer with ali ID.
ID formation possible m 10 The portion oi
Suuth Carolina propoxed 10 be DO touched
The Moun;ainrer says:
sAen tt staiel that tho engineer who hss
been 10 communication with tho railroad
com missioner 10 none other than the v-r.
satiie and accomplished Col. A. Z Boone. Of
Black Diamond lame, who tnuicied the citi.
Ieus :of Auderson and Abbeville 20 heavily
q few years ago We uouid not do Col. Boont
unfavorabie impression when he talked
about building . doub'e.tracked raiirnsd
from Chicago 20 Port Royal with an equip.
msut Gar ahead Of any system In the United
States, aud running more tralus day titan
the Pennsy lvanis can Afford between Phils
dslpbia sud New York. He may be ali riEh,
and worthy or credeDer. but IN promoter he
takes awsy the breath Of ordinary mortals.
not 10 speak Of The shekels that 60 aionr
with it. Col. Boone can get the right Of va!
20 deep water and across the mountains With
out any trouble, but ws cannot bestow ans
confidence upon his schemes. and sincerely
hope be Ii not behind the movemdut when
it comes to the development OF southport
and Knoxville line, which beers on Its lace
the evidence Of q plausible and tangible prt,-
jsct. because OF the territory chosen for iis
construction, bringing the cotton mill in.
tsrest into cloae connection with q desirable
port. where competition and roiisf would be
afforded ~ once.