The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-12-07
sslazs's opeag1slAlI.yl

For years and years the people of
Sumter, the business men in particu-
lar, have beeSeager TO secure another
railroad that would gsye a close and
dlrecs cornsct tion the seaboard
Air lime system and shus put Sumter
- touch With all df the three great
railroad systems that dominate The
railroad situation in she South To-
day Sumter is nearing the realization
Of hopes long deferred, and the out
come rests with the people Of Sumter,
OF B;shopville and Of the property
owners through whose lands the pro-
posed railroad must. pass. The, period
OF vague uncertaiaEs and rnprohtable
speculation has passed and We as q
community are confro1ted with tan
gible proposition. We must decide
now and at once whether we desire
the railroad sufficiently to contribute
toward it our fair and just quota
E we really and honestly want 6 Sea-
board connection ne have bat to prove
our sincerity by joining hands with
those VINO have blazed the way and
are spending their money, as we'll as
their time. in the effort to secure for
Bishupviile and Sumter and the in
tervening country another artery OF
commerce. That We need for the
well being Of Sumter and Lee coun-
ties the proposed railroad, no intelhss
gent and we'll Informed citizen will
denyand that the benefits to be de-
rived from it will far overbalagce the
maximum cost no one can disprove is
admitted by all, therefore the situa-
tion is simple, there is but one propo-
sition before Us as citizens and prop
'erty owners whose interests and pros
perity are identical with that of the
community at<large: Are We willing
TO do our share as Community and as
individuals to promote the early con-
struction of this railroad which We
have all so greatly favored and theo-
reiically advocated?
The matter has now got down to the
basis of hard facts and the success
or failure of the enterprise depends,
not upon the sbiity or inability Of
the men who have taken the initia-i
tive and hays shown their public spirit
and saith by putting Up the mo-
,Eey for the preliminary expenses to
finance the enterprise, but upon the
attitude Of tue paople Of Sumter and
Bishopville and of the intervening
country toward it. &c Sumter viii
treat this. proposed railroad as other
new 1aiaroads have been treated in re-
spect to terminal facilities, If the pre-
pesty owners whose lands the road
viii traverse between Sumter and Nc
Bee will show themselves liberal and
public spirited in respect to The right
OF way. if Bishoprille+ will do as
much as Sumter hss heretofore done
toward providing a site for terminals,
the Seaboard connection is an assured
fact. If our people show themselves at
this critical. jnDcture to be grasping
and illsber9l, the enterprise cannot
be carried through to successful
issne. The Issue is joined and it is
mp TO Sumter and Bishopville and the
property owners. whose lands will be
quadrupled in value by the construc-
sion OF Ssaboa,d connection, to say
what the issue shall be. Sumter and
Bishopville need this proposed rail
road as starving man need food, as
one suGocating needs sir, and our
own people have it within their power
TO say whether or net this city and
this section shall has4 toe. opportu-
nifty to grow and develop as they
should.
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