The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-06-12
THE REASON WHY
Werk Has Been Stopped on the
Electric Railway.
South Carolina Public Service Cor
poration Meets with Opposition in
Some Towns.
Some Towns

A dispatch from Spartanburg re
Gently stated that the engineering
corps Of the South Carolina Publ
Service Corporation, which has head
quarters in Charleston, had discon
tinued all field work The surveying
corps has been at work for some
seven months ard extensive survey!
have been made.
It was said in the dispatch thai
the cause Of calling in the engineers
from the field was tardiness shown
by some cities through which it was
proposed that the road passes in
granting franchises. The News and
Courier says: Mr.. C. R. Van Etten
general manager. when asked about
the discontinuance of work in Spar
tanburg gave out the following state.
ment:
"A number of towns have already
granted franchises that are fair and
equitable to all parties, but there are
several towns where franchises are
being held up that may necessitate a
change in route. In some cases the
limitations and restrictions are such
as would make the investment of
capital matter of questionable pru-
dence.
Some of the conditions imposed
are typical Of the position that has
been taken by the city Of Chicago.
The street railway situation at that
point is eloquent of its results.
The city of New York; has re-
Gently been unable to find any one
willing to undertake the building
and operation Of further subway rail-
roads under similar limitations and
restrictions.
IF these conditions retard invest
ment in centres Of dence population
and heavy traffic they will be found
prohibitive in smaller communities,
and we are therefore obliged to await
action in. the cities concerned before
further plans can be definitely deter
mined"
A letter has been issueu by the
South Carolina Public Service Cor
poration to the committees co-operat-
ing with the corporation In a number
of towns and cities in the state, an
the discontinuaEce OF the
field work until satisfactory -.zz---
chises have been grated. The letter
is signed by the vice president and
general manager of the corporation,
and the following is copy:
I have received the following in
structions from the executive COM
mittee of our board Of directors:
Ion account of opposition that
has developed in certain municipal
ties to granting franchises that Will
permit the corporation to construct
it's railroad and transact its business
on reasonable terms you will discon-
tinue active work in the field until
such time as the lines being surveyed
are practicable Of construction.
LAS matters now stand seVeral
changes may become necessary. II
is manifestly unfair, both to the cor
poration and the property owners
with whom rights of way are being
negotiated, to establish a line that
subsequently might be abandoned Tor
want of franchise in adjacent towns.
IN the mutual interests of all cone
cer,ed I would. therefore, respect
fully ask that the committee IN any
town where the franchises are being
withheld use their good Offices 70
wards an early solution OF this dlth-
Guilty ..,
The News and Courier says the
construction of the electric lines
through the state, which have been
by the South Carolina Pub
lie Corporation, would mean great
deal for the development Of the state
and It is earnestly hoped that mat
ters may be so arranged that the pre-
liminarv work can be pushed Tor
ward until completed.
That is very true. and as soon as
the work of constructions is COM
menced the Public Service Corpora
ton will find no trouble Of getting
the right of way and other privileges
desired. The people are afraid ina.
It is only promoting scheme, and
they are slow to give such concern
ANYTHING. But if the public is con-
yinced that the company mean ousl-
ness there will be no trouble.