Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-12-01
CONDITION OF THE SOUTHERN.

The following Is from the Yorkville
correspondent Of the News and Cour-
Ter, and published in that paper, In Its
issue Of last Saturday, is of interest
to the local public. The correspondent
of the News and Courier is Mr.. g: NJ.
Grist:
Since September g., when that unfor-
tunate disaster took place on the
Southern railway at Fishing creek tres
lie, two and half miles east OF York.
vile, there has been a great deal OF
talk throughout the territory traversed
BY the Kingville and Marion branch,
as to the condition Of the road-bed,
track, trestles and bridges. Many OF
the takers said that the road was a
veritable death-trap, and that acci-
dents were liable to happen at almost
any point on the line because OF rotten
ties, trestles, etc.
For the first few days after the col
lapse OF the Fishing creek trestle, the
prophets predicted the next to go would
Ue that over Bullock's creek, about nine
miles west Of Yorkville. AS will be re-
membered, the grand jury inspected
the structure and pronounced that IN
it's opinion the trestle was dangerous,
and recommended that 1t be repaired
without delay, and also recommended
that new ties be put in at certain
points.
In less than two weeks after the vis-
1t Of the grand jury new trestle had
been substituted for the old one at
Bullock's creek, In fact the railroad
people had commenced the work before
the recommendation had been made,
as rapidly as they could be gotten
and placed in position, and the work is
still being pushed.
Notwithstanding the extensive I'M
provements that were being rushed
forward by reason of the superior IA
cilities Of the Southern railway for Do
ing such work, in the language Of
well-known local character, some peo-
pie continued to run their mouths" as
to the supposed dangerous condition Of
the road, and recently have devoted the
major portion Of their attacks to Man.
ming branch and Kings creek trestles
Two Of the highest on the road between
Smyrna and Blacksburg, in Cherokee
county.
The talk has had It's effect on the
pul lie, deterring some who would 9TH
er.gise have done so from travelling
over the road. About two weeks ago
your correspondent determined that he
would, in the interest Of tn public and
in justice to the railroad, investigate
conditions for himself, being satisfied
before he started that they were not
exactly as represented by the mouth
runners"
The investigation has convinced him
that the road from end to end is In far
better condition than 1t has been at
any time during the past ten years,
and Is as safe so far as passengers and
employees are concerned as any road
In South Carolina
AS expert, disinterested proof Of this
it is only necessary to quote remark
that Mr. Cliff Lee, one Of the oldest
engineers in point Of service on the
road, was overheard to make at the
depot here recently, and which was
made by him with no thought that 1t
would ever be printed. He said: Il
have been running on this road about
twelve years and 1t is In better condi-
Hon now than at any time since I have
been on It," OF course, If Mr.. Lee had
not known that his statement was cor
rect he would not have made 1t, as he
could not possibly gain anything by
misrepresenting conditions. And right
here it seems to be In order to ask who
Is in better position, and, therefore,
better prepared to judge as to the ply
sical condition Of q railroad track than
a locomotive engineer who passes over
it daily?
In this correspondents investigation
the condition Of Manning branch and
Kings creek trestle were especially
inquired into, and it was found that
during the past thirty days a large
force Of men have been at work on the
latter rebuilding 1t. and that in a very
short time it will be brand new
structure, and that. the Manning
branch trestle has been gone over
carefully and every piece Of timber
that was found to be defective re-
placed by a new one.