The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-09-26
DAYS OF Y0RE.
1nc Early Days of tho CrcenviIle
6 Columbia and Sparfa nbure
& Union Railroad.
INTERESTING LETTER
Writ n by the First Presidenf of
the q. q @. x. r., Judge John
BclfOn O'NeafiAM MiieaSc
Then and Now.

Bsieon n o;Nss3Itl1 ); MiI 1Sdss M;iss. "a John
Then and Now.
Newberry Observer.
The following letter written bv
Ju age O'Neall in 1858 gives a
glimpse into tho early days ofthe G..
Z G. rsilroad-that portion of tho
Southern extending from Columbia
to Greenvillc, with its branches. It
was written from Union, where he
had gone in the interest Of the Spar.
tanburg and Alston branch. The
letter was written to The Southern
STANDARD.
Unionville, Feb. 0, 1853.
81 reacbo | homo from Charleston
: Saturday, 29th Of January, and was
much gratifi'd to fiud all we'll, nv
fields plowed, my grain growing
beautifully and everything proni :
ing we'll for the approaching year of
agriculture.
AT Newberry dspo. C l. G. r
IL | was astonished to see 10, 900
bales # cossen, purchased by tho
enterprising merchants # Newberry,
ard awaiting transportation. On
Monday 1t began to m,ve off rapidly
aud merchandise to return.
AT Broad rirer large and active
force Of bostmen are actively em.
ployed in carrying cotton from the
western to the eastern bank and
merchandise and railroad iron from
the eastern to the western. The
bridge is going rapidly up. One
span went up last week aid another
Is, | presun,, nearly up ere this. l
hope before l return to your city, at
your court, the engines will, on
wings Of steam aud wrea,hcd in
smoke, pass Over the river.
%, Taesdry | re,uta.d, to Co..
iembis srd on Friday passed to
'Sthe head of the road at Donaldsville,
los miles west from Columbia. TIE
road is in beautiful order. At and
from D.nalds to Greenville (38
miles) there are excellent hacks
daily and running through in day
light. Travellers will find every.
thing calculated to subserve their
comfort and convenience, and I hope
the enterprising individuals who fur.
aish such accommodations, and who
intend to follow up the road to its
completion, will be- literally patron
ICED.
We are pushing the iron on with
the hope Of completing and reaching
Abbeville, Anderson and Greenville
bcf,re | take leave Of the work,
which has engrossed my attention
for the last six years. In next July
l hope, by the blessing Of God, to be
able to announce the union of tho
seaboard and the mountains and to
say to my successor There is the
road and the horse; ride safely, sue
cessfully aud prosperously.
Yesterday ] attended the rail-
way meeting here, aud am pleased
to say that there is good reason to
hope that the Spartanburg and Union
railroad will be built. The people
seem to be in earnest to raise $780,
600 Of additional or new stock, and
thus to entitle themselves to $780,.
600, from the Ststc, instead of $l25,.
600. which was previously given.
The work, / understand, from
Aston to Ashford's Ferry, on the
e"st bank of Broad river, is all let
and tho contractors are vigorously at
work.
II hope the work will neither
s'umber nor sleep until the iron horse
poars hi. shrill whistle upon the
ears Of the delighted Spartans. If
It can be accomplished by sctive, en-.
ergetic men, think President Con.
nor and Engineer Mills will do it.
II have taken tbs liberty If writ.
Ing you this hasty note in the hope
i would be agreeable, inssmuch as I
know how much you are Interested
In railroad improvements generally,
and especially in the Greenville and
Colombia railroad and iu the Spar
tanturS and Union railroad.
II pass to Spartanburg tomorrow
an.l the next day to my Greenville
place, called Prospect Hill: thence
l shall return home as rapidly 81
possible. 1t may be 4 may write
again in few days.
Your friend.