Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-25
THE sourHERN's PATRONS.

Mr.. ]. S. B. Thompson, general
agent Of the executive department OF
the Southern railway, spent a day In
Yorkville this week. He arrived In
his private car on Wednesday morning,
and left for Rock Hill yesteday.
Mr.. Thompson Is engaged In MAX
ing a general inspection Of the con-
ditions throughout the Southern
system. 1t Is his business to exercise
an oversight Of all departments, and
to make such recommendation as
seem calculated to improve the effect
iveness of his system in whatever line.
There has been more or less COM
plant as to the unsatisfactory sched-
ules that have been in effect on the
Charleston division, especially between
Rock Hill and Blacksburg, and part OF
Mr.. Thompson's business here was
to see whether or not 1t was practica-
BILE to improve existing conditions,
and If so, how. He talked to num-
Der of Yorkville people on the sub
ject, and learned from them the hard
ships to which they are subjected In
being unable to travel any considera-
being held up for a wait of from four
to twelve hours within twenty or
twenty-five miles from the starting
point. He seemed to be very much
concerned about the situation and ex-
pressed himself as intending to see II
he could not find a remedy.
In the course Of a conversation with
the editor Of THE ENQUIRER, Mr.
Thompson recurred to the recent ac-
cident at Fishing Creek, and discussed
the matter in a sensible, business-like
way. Among other things he said: 81
would not like you to understand US
as trying to dodge our proper respon-
sibility for that accident: but at the
same time we think that thoughtful
people can very we'll afford to be
somewhat conservative about subject
ing us to wholesale condemnation
You will probably remember that
when we took charge Of this property
about fourteen months ago, 1t was In 8
runned-down condition physically and
otherwise. For instance, among Other
things. our engineer reported thai
100000 feet of lumber would be re.
quired for repairs on bridges and tres
ties between Camden and Marion
This timber was ordered at once, and
up to the time Of the accident at Fish.
ing creek about 1,150,000 feet had beer
put in. Very likely We could have had
1t all in had it not been for delays ir
delivery. And there Is another thing
hat might be taken into consideration
don't want you to construe this
either, as being offered as an excuse
Cor the Fishing creek wreck; but 1t IL
a fact that you cannot tell dangerous.
ly decayed timbers by a mere casua
examination. You must bore or cut into
them, and again 1t Is frequently the
case that timbers which appear to be
dangerously decayed are unimportant
and may be removed without weaken.
ing a trestle. AS to what caused the
wreck at Fishing creek, of course
cannot say, because I do not know o.
my own knowledge, but I do know Il
70 be a fact that at the last expert ex.
animation, only a short while before
the trestle was reported as safe anc
capable of bearing a locomotive o.
one which fell through was only 1000
pounds" Furthermore our official:
who investigated this trestle repor
that it was in no sense due to the con.
lition Of the trestle, but altogether tt
the breaking Of the wheel Of the en-
gine truck, causing the punching OF
the ties and the pulling down Of thu
structure. This break Of fifteen OF
more inches in the wheel shows fol
itself"
Mr.. Thompson made quite mum.
Der Of inquiries as to the popu'
lation of the town and county, thu
character and extent of agriculture
and manufacturing industries, ane
other kindred matters, and he gave
the people with whom he talked to un'
derstand that the Southern railway II
of and with them to bear it's full share
Of responsibility to the laws Of thu
country, and to do its full share In tht
development of resources Of whatever
nature. He made an agreeable I'm
preston on all with whom he came II
contact.