The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-06
THE SAVANNAH SIDE.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES AND PERSONAL PARA
GRAPHS - WATER POWER TO DEVELOP
ELECTRICITY.

the river is the territory of the govern
J ment and under the control OF the
United States.
The Tribune doesn't know where
the line is. 1t is not right sure it
knows anybody who does know but
would be very glad to have some one
who thinks he knows to tell our read
ers where the line is, and why he
thinks he knows it's there.
The development of the great power
on Savannah river which is going to
waste between Abbeville and Elberton
county has been a dream for many
years, and as no great movement ever
goes backward we may confidently
expect to see something done on these
shoals at an early date.
The Savannah Valley Railroad was
talked of for many years; a great iron
highway between Charleston and the
west was for fifty years the hope of our
forefathers; the development of the
great water power on the Savannah,
like the other enterprises, has been in
the minds of the people ever since this
editor was little boy.
The railroads have come, and the
people everywhere along their lines
have realized the resultant advantages.
Commerce and agriculture have re-
ceived an awakening inspiration, and
life and activity is more apparent than
ever before.
The development of the great water
power on the Savannah will give en-
ployment to honest labor, and this en-
ployment will bless the people in Civ
ing them the opportunity of earning
money. In furnishing this opportu-
nifty the greatest good will be done.
Carnegie may we'll boast of his Ii
braries for the rich people and the idle
set of the great cities, but he would do
thousand times more good if he in
vested his money in industrial enter
prises, where honest labor may become
independent without the forfeit self
respect. The recipient of charity and
he receiver Of gifts, when he is able to
help himself, cannot be as indepen-
dent as the man with his proud spirit
and his willing hands-find work to
do.
Carnegie's libraries are well enough
in their way. The cities may be proud
of the elegant apartments, and great
numbers of volumes may line theil
walls, but they are not for the masses.
The elegance with which they are fur
nished and the presence of the splen'
did dressed people who frequent these
halls would exclude the poor. II
their rough clothing, and their lack o
familiarity with the ways of society
they feel unwelcome guests, in sucf
company and such places and the con
sciousuess of deficiency along thes
lines would naturally cause the bes
and the most worthy poor to shrinl
from the obtrusion.
But furnish men and women will
the opportunity to help themselves
t and the blessings which come from
industry and fugality will be theirs
Instend of being the humiliated re
2 ceivers of gifts, honest toll will max
e men and women the proud architect
of their own fortune.
q But we are not preaching. Let tn
town dudes assemble in Carnegie
libraries and loaf there to their heart
content.
= Manly men and womanly womeI
e prefer to go into the activities of lif
where the benefits and the blessin
II of labor may come to them.
e Conscious of their mate worth an
proud of their ability to conquer an
e to be independent they lack only tn
II opportunity to work.