The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-26
AS TO THE "CUT-OFF."
Superintendent Simpson. of the South.
crn, Tells The Columbia State
Why Trains Didn't Stop.
Columbia State:

! 'llthpld 'Nlitt.
Some time ago correspondents Of
The State from Newbcrry and Green
wood in telling of the drawing off Of
the pond at the "cut- -off' on Saluda
river near Old Town somewhat pleas
antly took the Southern Railway
company to task for not stopping the
passenger trains at that place. There
were some editorials Of more spicy
nature in the county papers.
The state at that time cnlcavorcd
to get Il statement from Mr. II. T..
Simpson. superintendent Of the divi-
sion. but he was out Of The city. Sat
urday, while "ctlin" information as
to the construction work being done
ON the division. Il reporter Of The
State asked Mr.. Simpson if he wish
cd to make any statement. "Nothing
at ali.' he replied. "but if YOU wish
[" you may read the entire cores
pondcnce in the matter and every
person on the entire line is welcome
to the same privilege
The correspondence shows that this
"cut-off' has been standing for more
than a quarter of n century. It was
large area of water which in the
summer frequently became sta"nant
and Is alleged to have endangered the
health Of people livin" in The COM
mnnlty. There had been frequent ap-
pcalS To the Southern Railway COM
pany To have the place drained. All
of these requests were declined on the
| ground Of impracticability, for the
pond is said to be on a level with the
river and at every frcshct it would
Till again. This was the report of en-
"inecrs sent there to make eXamina-
ton. They reported that it would
cost 5000 to put in the pipes to drain
the pond into the Saluda river. The
railway management has consistent
y declined to do what is considered
useless work. The pond was once n
part Of The bed Of the river
The grand jury reported the mat
ter to the railroad commission early
in This year. The commission referred
the letter to Mr.. Simpson, who had
just come into office. He made a per
sonal inspection Of the situation and
although he believed that if the
matter were brought TO an issue the
commission wouN deny the petition,
."ct he went to see the manager of
the Southern. in fact caught the man
a"cr in passing, showed him the "cut-
! off, and told him that it would do
40 harm to open the pond. and it
might do some good. The expenditure
therefore xAs authorized and the
work of draining YEAS proceeded with
aS soon As the usual procedure wa
complied with.
1t appears that Mr.. Simpson. there
fore. has gone ont Of his way to com
! ply with the wishes of the people of
that section. although he believed at
the time that he could not be COM
PEELED by law TO do 50.
When the announcement was made
that the pond would be opened on a
certain day the parties interested To-
rally arranged to get up fish-fry and
barbecue, for which tickets we're tc
be sold at 81 each. Mr.. Simpson had
nothing to do with this. The other
parties gave it out that the trains
wouid stop at the "cut off,; but Mr.
| Simpson says he was not consulted
about that matter at all and if Suc!
advertisement VAS made it was not
with his approval. lie feared that
The pond would not drain in one day
if at all. This is not in the cores
nnndcncr. but is Mr.. Simpsons state
mcnt.
The day before the opcnin" Of the
pond he was advised by his agent at
thappclls that there would he Il nun
her of people who wished to ~ri of
at the "cnt-oif''. Mr.. Simpson states
that there Is no passenger station
there and therefore no passenger rat
:" that point and. had he established
: n special rate. some people might
have accused the road e trying tr
make money ont Of tn" occasion
, Furthermore one Of the most string
cnt rules Of the Southern Railwa,
= company IS that there must bo no stoJ
of passenger trains at non-stODpin!
@ points without permission frcm III,