The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-30
THE sEABoARD CONNECTION.
Prominent Business Men of BishopviIIe
and Sumter Have Joined Forces to
Build the Much Needed Railroad.


Ever since the publication of the
fact that an application had been made
to the Secretary Of State for COM
mission for charter for the Sumter
& Northern Railroad Company, new
railroad to he built from Sumter
through Bishopyille to McBee, on the
Seaboard Air Line, there has been
great interest manifested in the pro
posed enterprise and everybody in
Sumter has been eager to ascertain
what was behind the enterprise. The
Daily Item, as always, alive to the
interests of Sumter and the surround
ing country has been infatigable in its
efforts to obtain all the facts that it is
wise to make public and has within
the past two weeks sought information
from dozen OF more men who were
generally supposed to be associated
with this railroad enterprise. Much
information was obtained, but nothing
for publication, as the plans of pro-
mcters were not sufficiently developed
for publication. Today, however,
Mr.. r. I. Manning, consented to be
interviewed for publication and he
made the following statement:
"The construction of railroad from
Sumter to Bishopgille and on to a
point on the Seaboard has been con-
sidered by our business men for some
time, as a distinct and inestimable
benefit to Bishopville and Sumter,
and to the country through which the
railroad would pass.
"The benefits to be derived from
such railroad are manifold, and are
so apparent that they need not be
dwelt on now. The large railroad
corporations have shown no willing.
ness to undertake this enterprise, and
it mas seemed impossible to get the
matter started.
"But the matter has taken shape and
a few of our ciJizens have determined
to join forces and undertake it as a
private enterprise.
"They show their faith in it by
spending their means and giving their
time to the undertaking. They al
ready have engineers in the field to
make preliminary surveys.
"Messrs. R. E. Carnes, W. R. Scar
borough, J. E. Stuckey, Thomas G.
Mcleod and others of Bishopville,
and Messrs. ". Il. Ingram, Neill
O'Donnell, Marion Noise and Richard
1. Manning, of Sumter, have organ
lied for the p7rposed of building this
road. They have examined the land
and believe that the construction of
road can be carried through, provid-
ed the people of Bishopville, and of
Sumter, and the landowners along
the lire will 60 in with them with
enthusiasm and liberality to the exsnt
of giving the rights of way. Such an
undertaking involves money and work,
with the gentlemen above named are
willing to contribute to the extent Of
their ability, but they are undertak.
ing this work IN the interest of the
public.
"The promoters of this. road are
men who believe in the future OF
Bishopville and Sumter and consider
that the country through which the
road will run offers strong induce
ments for railroad in freight and
passenger traffic They stand ready to
do their part towards the development
of Sumter and Bishopville and the
country traversed by the contemplated
road, provided they receive the sup
port and aid of those who will be
benefited thereby. and VIC are author
lied to make the statement that II
Sumter and Bishopville will give
terminal sites, and the land owners.
over whose lands the line will run,
will give the rights of way, it is con-
fdently believed that the gentlemen
named can carry through this most i'm
portant undertaking to a successful
consummatiOn.
1t can be stated in addition that the
preliminary survey is being made by
railroad engineer of many years ex-
perience and that his report will be
accepted as authoritative and final Dy
the financial hackers Of the local capl-
talists and promoters, who have under
taken the enterprise Oh sheir own re-
sponsibility and at their own expense.
The preliminary work will be com
pleted within week or two and the
future success Of the enterprise WILL
then depend upon the attitude OF the
people of Sumter, Bishopville and the
.A, a~,o,o ~ rho land through