Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-06-13
THE REASON WHY
Work Has Been Stopped on the
Electric. Railway.
South Carolina Public Service Cor
pOratiOn Meets with Opposition i'm
Some Towns.

pOratiOn Meets with Opposition i'm
Some Towns.
A dispatch from .Spartanburg re-
Gently stated that the engineering
corps of the South Carolina Public
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 and extensive surveys
| have been made.
1t was said in the dispatch that
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.. G. H. 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 it's results.
THE city of New York; has re-
| la. Il -
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 he 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 number
of towns and cities in the state, an
nouncing the discontinuance Of the
| field work until satisfactory fran
chises have been grated. The letter
general manager of the corporation,
and the following is a copy:
i have received the following in
structions from the executive COM
mittee of our board of directors:
On account of opposition that
has developed in certain municipali-
ties to granting franchises that will
permit the corporation to construct
its railroad and transact it's 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. 1t
is manifestly unfair, both to the corr
poration and the property owners
with whom rights of way are being
negotiated. to establish n line that
subsequently might be abandoned for
want of franchise in adjacent towns.
In the mutual interests of all cone
cerned ! would. therefore, respect
fully ask that the committee in any
| town where the franchises are being
withheld use their good Offices to-
wards an early solution Of this diff
Guilty"
The News and Courier says "the
construction of the electric lines
through the state, which have been
proposed by the South Carolina Pub
lie Corporation. would mean great
deal for the development OF the state
and IL is earnestly hoped that mat
ters may he so arranged that the pre-
liminary work can he pushed for
ward until completed.
That is very true. and as soon as
the work of construction; is com
81. I,,l.
ton will find no trouble of getting
The right of way and othe. privileges
desired. The people are afraid that
it is only a promoting scheme, and
they are slow to give such a concern
anything. But if the public is con
vinceCl-that the company mean busi-
ness there will he no trouble