The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1906-05-30
Railroad Meeting.

a number of Mannipg's business
men met in the court house last thurs
dav afternoon to discuss the new rail-
road scheme for this town. Mr.. D. w.
Alderman was present by invitation.
Mavor Bra6ham was selected to pre-
side and as the main feature of the
meeting was to hear Mr.. Alderman,s
reasons for threatening this town with
a treatment Of progress, that gentle
man was asked to address the meeting.
Mr.. Alderman had with him map
of a tentative route from Alcolu to
Wright's Bluff; there was also on this
map a switch off from direct air line
which required one mile and "a yards
more railroad building to reach this
town. and it was this switch OF the
business interests are especially inter-
ested in. Mr.. Alderman is not an ear
tickling speaker, but what he says has
the ring of business earnestness about
it, and always direct to the point. He
said the survey already made was ten
tative only, that he had never deter
mined up to the present to extend MS
road any further than Motifs Cross
roads in Florence County. He had been
approached to run to Timmonsvllle. on
to Hartsville, and connect with the
Seaboard Air Line az McBee, but to
do so would take large amount OF
money and for the present there IS
nothing in sight. ae has also had some
communication with parties in Char
lesion looking towards running his
road to Wright's Bluff and there con-
meet with line Of steamers. There IS
in this proposition nothing definite. 1t
lies largely with the people along the
line to say whether Or not they want
additional railroad facilities. y con-
nection with line of steamers would
be of advantage from Wright's Biutf to
Motifs, as a water rate on heavy 1relght
such as fertilizer could be secured, and
probably save to the consumer 30 cents
ton on fertilizer alone. The Alcolu
Railroad is owned entirely by the Al
dermar family, and he would not care
to see the roads change hands, but at
the sametime he is not married to It,,
but would not stand in the way OF the
country's development, and would sell
TO a syndicate that would give US a
competing freight rate. Mr.. Alderman
thinks, if the people from Alcolu to
Wright's Bluff want railroad the bet
ter plan would be to organize a sep
arate company, or if the business inter-
ests of Manning desire his ROAD to
come here, the estimated cost for con-
struction, equipment, right-of-way,
terminals, etc., would be about $50, 900,
of which he would be willingto take
one-third of the stock and bring his
road here, if suitable contract can be
effected. Mr.. Alderman's talk was
highly appreciated, and while he did
not come here asking for anything, he
did manifest a willingness to help in an
enterprise which appealed to his ousl-
ness Judgment. It is q clear proposition
which must appeal to ali Of US: that at
present Manning must reach out for
more trade, the Alcolu Railroad IS
running through the Salem section OF
this county, and if the business men
of Manning will go into their
pockets deep enough to induce this
railroad to come direco to Manning, the
investment will prove a paying one,
even if the road never reaches McBee
on the one end and Wright,s Bluff on
the other. True, such road Will not
give US competitor in freight rates, out
| It will draw to this town thousands OF
dollars annually, which would other
wise 60 elsewhere.
To extend the Alcolu railroad to
Manning will cost $50, 1000, roughly es'
tinated, but what is that compared to
the amount Of trade to be drawn from
such a rich a section. The Salem sec
ton is the equal if the superior tc
the famous Santee lands. anu as that
section developes, and With good rail
road facilities it is bound TO develope:
it will be the greatest wealth produc
ing section in the county. Then it i:
plain to see, we must get IN closer
touch with those people, and this We
can only do by helping to build thl:
mile and little over Of railroad tt
Manning.
1t was decided by the meeting that {
committee, with the Mayor asits chair
. man be appointed to look into this mat
ter, communicate with the steamboa
parties and other sources, and also de
, wise the ways and means to bring thl:
road 10 Manning. The following is the
committee: Mayor D. NJ. Bradham
, Mai. Abe Levi, ". E. Jenkinsou, W
, c. Davis. E. L. Wilkins and Loui
l..