The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-10
A GREAT EVENT
FOR THE CITY OF sPARTANBURG
AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Celebration of the Opening Of
Traffic of the Carolina, Cinchield
and Ohio Railway.

Traffic Of the Carolina, Cl1ncnnei0
and Ohio Railway.
Last Friday was a great day for
the city of Spartanburg and the
State of South Carolina. when that
city celebrated the opening to traffic
If the Carolina, Clinchheld and Ohio
Railway. The railway had just been
completed to Spartanburg, and that
progressive city celebrated the event
in keeping with its importance and
her own dignity as one Of the great
:rade centers Of South Carolina and
| the South. People from all over the
State had gathered in Spartanburg
20 rejoice with her at the consuma-
ion of one of the greatest events
in her history, and partake of her
generous hospitality.
The great event. of the occasion
| transpired on Friday, but the night
before a p]rotracted demonstration
was given that the road was COM
pleted by the arrival Of a train
from Johnson City, Tenn, and other
points, loaded with guests from Ten
aessee, Virginia n North Carolina,
including the officials of the new rail.
way. This train reached S%partanburs
between eight and nine O'CLOCK
Thursday night and was greeted BY
thousands of people who had lined
he track to welcome 1t to Spartan
,urg. The train, as 1t slowly passed
% the Union Station. gave one long
continuous whistle, which wal
answered by the cheers of the as
sembled thousands.
Friday morning everybody, Of
nearly everybody, went out to th'
Fair Grounds, where a first-class fall
vas in operation, and where the ar
rival of that train was to be cele
)rated in a style BETTING its grea'
Importance to Spartanburg and th'
.est of the State. The weather wa
IDEAL, and everything else seemed
20 be creased for the occasion, 81
smoothly did everything pass OF
The crowd numbered many thou
sands, and every one seemed to b.
Happy and entered into the celebra
ion of the occasion with vim ant
enthusiasm.
Spartanburg was happy, and s.
we're all who had gone there to re
~s1~ ,,,th hnr an tho Ordof nnHQ
sion.
A little after eleven o'clock tn
meeting was called to order by Dr.
l.. n. Snyder. President of Woffor'
College, who presided with his usua
race and ease. He introduced tn
speakers who were to make address
IS. AS a preliminary, DR.. Snyde
1aid a glowing tribute to Presiden
George l.. Carter. of the Carolina
Clinchfeld and Ohio railroad, who
le said, had made the celebration
possible. He declared that the link
ng of the rails would bring int
closer relation, not only commercial
y, but industrially, the people Of tn
Cast and the West, so long barrl
:aded against each other bS Wha
seemed to be an insurmountabl
'ange of mountains.
Judge A. A. Phlegar, vice presi
lent Of the new railroad. was tn
irst speaker upon the program, ri
address being delivered eXtemporan
aously. He declared that a bright
,r sun never shown than that whicI
;peeded the departing trains from
Johnson City, and that a warme
Welcome never greeted a party o
travellers than that which the
had found in the city of Spartan
burg, as the train pulled into tn
station Thursday evening.
Judge Phlegar declared that tn
welding of the rails binding man,
States together, not only cemente'
commercial and industrial interest
of many States. but were love-tie
between the various sections of th'
country. And he prayed that thes'
lOpe-lltS uISuI nc even ldollHS. Juu6'
Phlegar touched upon the great cot
ton mills of this section, giving
statistics.
Admitting that the railroads wer,
often in the wrong. Judge Phlega,
pointed to the fact that sometime
the public. too. being human, wa
at fault, and he asked of the people
a square deal for the c., G. G. o
railroad and promised the same IL
behalf of the road. Cheers rent the
air in response to this utterance.
Mayor Rhett, of Charleston. ant
other speakers. were introduced, who
made appropriate addresses. Their
came the barbecue. in which about
twelve hundred guests participated
1t was n Of the best managed and
conducted affairs Of the kind that
we have any knowledge Of. The
barbecue ended the celebration, and
after it was owe the large crowd
that enjoyed it dispersed. The whole
celebration was happily conceived