The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-23
NEWBERRY-EDGEFIELD ROAD.
Letter From Citizen of Edgefeld as
to the Proposed Line.-Wants to
Come to Newberry.

The Herald and News takes the fol-
! lowing extract from personal let
ter, which the editor received from a
prominent citizen Of Edgefeld, touch
ing the proposed trolley or railroad
between Newberry, via Saluda to
Edeefeld and Augusta. We are sat
iSfed that it will be read with inter-
est by our people, and it shows that
at least a portion Of the people of
Edgefeld. and we believe a majority
of them, desire that the road shall be
extended to Newberry.
The Herald and News will have to
take issue with its Edgefeld friend,
however. on this point. Newberry is
as much a seat of commercial and in
dustlial progress as either Green
wood or Chester, and is as large IN
population as either one Of these ci-
ties. They both have the advantage,
however, in the matter Of railroad
facilities, being located on trunk
! lines.
:'In reference to the proposed rail-
way or trolley between Edgefeld via
Saluda and Newberry-Newberry has
furnished in the past and is now
supplying her proper share Of public
spirited and broad-minded men. The
great good works that the Hon. John
B. ONeall lid during his life was an
honor to the states. He was not only
an ornament to the bench, brilliant
writer and historian, and noble ex-
ample for temperance, but I dare say
he never did a more permanently
beneficial work, than the construction
of the railroad whose every depot IN
your county is now the centre OF
prosperity. When I look around in
the state at such seats of commercial
and industrial progress as Green
wood. Chester, Spartanburg and
Greenville, whose lands are not as
fertile as Newberry or Edgefeld, [
feel constrained to say that 1 do not
think Newberry has in the past made
a proper Use Of her possibilities and
has allowed certain tides of success
to be diverted to other fields, which if
they had been taken at the flood,
would have led her to a higher plane
Of advantage.
:Please do not think I would be-
little what Newberry has done, and
is doing, but we call aloud to our ab'
ler brother county to give us a hand
and help herself by helping US and
Saluda, who is our offspring.
EI have read with pleasure your
able articles in The Herald and News,
and also the communications Of Mr..
J. K. Aull, whose official duties have
carried him to Saluda and who often
visits Edgefeld, and I am pleased at
the names of the progressive and hon.
orable citizens who have been ap-
pointed to confer with Saluda and
Edgefeld-I know these men to be
doors and not dreamers or mere talk
ers, and the parties named in Saluda
are also very practical business men.
"There is a graded road bed al!
the way from Augusta to Newberry:
via Edgefeld and within only few
miles Of Salpda and it could easily b.
graded from near Richardsonville to
Saluda and the people have to be
taxed for this work and it is on their
land.
"Mr. Mitchell started to build
narrow gauge, you remember, and it
was bottled up and claims to be in
control Of the Southern Railway but
belongs to the people.
"You have heard the old story
about Sam Mabry and the hotel keep
er here years ago. Mabry was witty
but inpecunious lawyer and had got
behind in paying his board. The hotel
proprietor found him sitting in the
piazza one day at the hotel reading
the papers. He explained to him that
he had to pay rent, butchers bills.
&C., and added: Nov to be very
frank with you, Mr.. .Mabry, I just
can't afford to run a hotel unless my
guests pay up
L" Mabry put on face as grave
and serious as a Roman Senator and
remarked: 'Yes, my friend, land
lord, you know have been thinking
of this very same matter, and my ad-
vice to you is that if you can't at
ford to run this business, you had
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