The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-04-15
LAURENs. s. G., April 15, 1908.
Laurens and the Coast Line.

Bape5 at a number OF dangerous cross
ings. The railways have of course OBJ
jected to the ordinance and meanwhile
its enforcement has been deferred,
pending investigation of the subject
matter.
In the city of Laurens are several
railway crossings which seem to be
constantly menacing to life and limb.
The crossing in North Harper street
near DIR. Poole's home is dangerous.
The crossing in east Main street
near the passenger depot is especially
dangerous. lin fact, the location of
the passenger station as related to this
crossing constitutes what is a contin-
uous peril. In our deliberate judg-
ment the city of Laureps should sys-
tematically appeal to every known
legal resort to require o complete re-
formation of the passenger station fa-
cilities. This should be done regard
less of expense to the railways, the
wretohed and dangerous blunder of To-
eating the station where it is having
been made by them.
The railway crossing in Fleming
street near the oil mill is especially
dangerous. Vehicles approaching from
the west are cut off from view OF the
trains coming from the south. Mr.. j.
o. O. Fleming and his little boy have
twice had narrow escapes from being
run over at this crossing. The cross
ing is a constant source of danger.
The crossing in Chestnut street, rear
of DR.. Aiken's house, is full of danger.
The crossing in Hampton street
near 7. III. Nelson's is n of the most
dangerous in Laurens-and this is put
ting the case strong.
THE ADVERTISER has never been I'M
friendly to the railway companies. The
ADVERTISER is not of the class thai
rejoices in verdicts against railways, o
large proportion Of which are alb
surdly illogical and unjust. The AID
yERTlSER deprecates the settled Gus
tom OF the public suffering in silence
the illiberal treatment often accorded
by the railway companies and wreak-
ing its vengeance in big yerdicts In fa-
vor of individuals who are sometimes
unworthy. Without doubt, these yer.
diets are frequently just but in most
cases damages are fixed by juries by
guess-work. 1t ia the fault of the legal
system rather than of the %jnries, who
are given little guide.
This is the condition of affairs: the
railways as a rule act on the principle
that the people are their natural en-
emies, that the people are predatory
animals, bent on robbing them. The
people, on the other hand, act on the
principle that the railways are preda-
tory animals, that they are bent on
robbing the people. The result ia that
the people take advantage Of opportu-
mites to visit penalties upon railways
in damage suit verdicts, the whole
benefit of which is frequently reaped
by undeserving persons. The rail-
ways, meanwhile, yield as little as pos
sible consistent with maintaining traf-
fc and deriving revenues that would
help the public generally.
This town is wholly dependent on the
Atlantic Coast Line Railway. 1t oper-
ates every passenger train entering or
departing from Laurens. We must
travel by thai system or stay at home.
So far as we know, not one of the high
officials of this great system ever saw
Laurens, unless in o casual trip
through. The interests of the town
are wholly subordinated to the inter-
ests of the road elsewhere. Laurens,
Gray Court, Clinton and other towns
are scarcely known to exist by the
n OF the road.
What are we going 10 do about it?
We a do a great deal. We, our peo-
pie, have contributed about $500, 900 to
the construction Of these Atlantic
Coast Line properties. We are entitled
not only to fair but liberal treatment.
We are in a position to at least compel
the railways to observe the letter of
the law. We can compel the abate-
ment of the passenger depot nuisance.
Our city council a act and act again
and again until remedies are provided.
We can appeal to the railway commits
sion. III the railway commission does
not do Its duty, Laurens county can
mark the men who fail, remember
them and poll three Thousand solid
votes in q Democratic primary against
them.
When q city and county like Lau-
rens are in earnest and act together
they can obtain what the statutes
promise.
We should say in conclusion that the
division officers of the .. 81 w. O.. and
the @. N. & l.. are not largely If at
all, responsible for the condition of af-
fairs here. We know enough of rail
reading to say hat division officers
have very limited powers and count for
"mighty little" in the policy of a great
system like the Atlantic Coast Line.
We believe that Superintendent AM
derson and President 'Childs are
friendly to Laurens, as naturally they
should be, but the men who hold the
purse strings ignore us.
So
The Abbeville Press and Banner
which is deeply interested in the rails
ing OF the Hampton fund Is
respectfully informed that the county
r. - n.xis.. s.al .l.1.trs0f nnn