The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-11-06

be placed In the position OF apparent
ly opposing a mea sure which 1 an
told would give much needed re-
lief to SOME Of my fellow citizens re-
siding between Sumter and Darling
ton. We In Charleston have suffered
so long and grievously from railroad
rates and service that we have a keen
sympathy for those in like plight.
"Only In the past few days have /
learned Of the misfortunes of the peo-
pie of Lamar and Of Syracuse, the two
stations between Elliott and Darling
ton. who seom to have a. service al
most a. bad as the winter service of
the Coast Line in connection with the
Pee Dee. accorded us in Charleston; !;
and wish 20 joint my protest to
theirs, end those Of the people of
Darlington and Sumter against its
continuance. a'
"But the question upon which I ap-
pear before you tonight Is the order
you have Issued depriving us OF
Charleston of q service OF which we
are In ~ sore need as our friends
Of Lamar and Syracuse. and which we
wore on the point Of securing through
what we had supposed to have been
our own efforts.
Three days ago I received letter
from Mr. A. w. Anderson. general su-
perintendent OF the Atlantic Coast
Lane. Informing me that the train
which had been put on from Lanes
was not the result Of my solicitation
alone. as he understood 1t: and that
while the Coast Line was perfectly in
different a. to which train was decid-
Cd upon. and had % stated to your
honorable body. he wAs sure the train
nom Sumter would answer our pur-
posea A most remarkable letter In
view OF the fact that It most efrective-
" destroys these purposes In a large
measure"
Mt. Rhett then discussed the neces-
ssty for better service between Char
lesion and the Pee Dee section and
contended that this service could be
pss. provided by . train from Lanes
VIA Florence to Bennettsviiie. He
quoted from the records I'd prove that
the passenger service IL now unsatis-
factory and defective. owing to the
fAilyre Of No. 80. the through pas
ssnGer train on the Northea.tern
WaiswSV - naintsln ths b scheduls,
missing connections atS Florence dur
ing the winter season more often than
Il makes them. H. was relief from
this condition that was sought, and
the train asked for by Charleston
would give relief. while the train
from Sumter to Bennettsville would
not sivs Il.
In conclusion Mr.. Rhett said: u
"Since our arrival in Sumter We
have been earnestly studying tho stu
alton to o>asccrtain II there was not
some solution, not too burdensome to
the Atlantic Coast Line. that would
serve the interests Of all the eastern
section Of South Carolina, OF Sumter
Of Darlington, Of Florence, of George
town. Of Lake City. Kingstree, Char
lesion. Bennettsvilie, McColl, Marion
Mullins. Cheraw. Hartsville. of trav-
elers for the Pee Dee from Camden
Orangebu-g and Manning. and II
seems to some Of US that It Is to be
found as follows"
Here Mr. Rhett went on to suggest
that the trains between wadesborc
and Florence, known as Nos. GO and
6s, be changed 30 as to run between
Sumter and Wadesboro, and the new
train between Lanes and McCo1l via
Florence. the two trains to connect a,
Darlington. The schedule suggested
by Mayor Rhett. II put into operation
would solve the problem; would give
Darlington her morning train from
Sumter. and would afford both Sum.
ter and Charleston a certain connec.
ton with all portions OF the Pee Dee
by morning passenger service. The
only additional service required Of the
Coast Line would be changing the run
from Darlington to Florence. a dis.
tance Of ten miles. between $50 and
7.30 a. m. q service which Is followed
In 20 minutes by train from Harts-
ville for a run from Darlington to
Sumter. a distance Of 80 miles. and
there Ii not q single interest neglect
ed.
Senator ID. T. McKeithan. OF Dar-
lington. followed. He believed tina,