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


Columbia State:
Some time ago correspondents of
The State from Newberry and Green
wood in telling of the drawing off OF
the pond at the "cut-of'' 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 endeavored
to get statement from Mr.. R. 3.
Simpson, superintendent Of the divi-
sion, but he was out Of the city. Sat-
urday, while getting information as
to the construction work being done
on the division, a reporter Of The
State asked Mr.. Simpson if he wish
ed to make any statement. "Nothing
at all," he replied, "but if you wish
to you may read the entire CORES
pondence 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 quarter Of a century. It was
large area Of water which in the
summer frequently became stagnant
and is alleged to have endangered the
health Of people living in the COM
munity. There had been frequent ap-
peals to the Southern Railway COM
pany to have the place drained. All
of these requests were declined on the
ground Of impractieability, for the
pond is said to be on level with the
river and at every freshet it would
fill again. This was the report Of en-
gineers sent there to make examina-
tion. 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
ly declined to do what is considered
useless work. The pond was once a
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 per
sonal inspection Of the situation and
although he believed that if the
matter were brought to an issue the
commission woulG deny the petition,
yet he went to see the manager Of
the Southern, in fact caught the man.
ager in passing, showed him the "cut-
off," and told him that it would do
nd harm to open the pond, and it
might do some good. The expenditure
therefore was authorized and the
work Of draining vas proceeded with
IS soon as the usual procedure was
complied with.
It appears that Mr.. Simpson, there
fore, has gone out Of his way to COM
DIV 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 so.
When the announcement was made
that the pond would be opened on a
certain day the parties interested To-
cally arranged to get up fish-fry and
barbecue, for which tickets were to
be sold at 81 each. Mr., Simpson had
nothing to do with this. The other
parties gave it out that the trains
would stop at the "cut-of'; but Mr..
Simpson says he was not consulted
about that matter at all and II such
advertisement was made it was not
with his approval. He feared that
the pond would not drain in one day,
if at all. This is not in the CORES
Dondence. but is Mr.. Simpsons state
ment.
The day before the opening of the
pond he was advised by his agent at
Chappells that there would be num-
her Of people who wished to get OFT
at the "cut-off". Mr.. Simpson states
that there is no passenger station
there and therefore no passenger rate
70 that point and, had he established
special rate. some people might
,oo,,cod tho road 1f irving TO