Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-09
HAYNES "DREAM" REALIZED.
Alfred Thorn of Southern's Counsel,
Relates Railway History.

Relates Railway History.
The dream Of Robert Y. Hayne. the
great Charlestonian, was to build in
South Carolina a commercial spirit
and to bring into closer relationship
the south and the west to fight the
encroachments Of the New England
states. Presiding over the convention
held in Knoxville, in July, 1886.
Hayne, at that time mayor Of Charles
ton and a short while before United
States senator from South Carolina,
told the delegates Of four states that
by establishing a line Of railway from
Charleston to Cincinnati, through the
rich intervening territory, his hopes
allied.
1t was Of this dream, now a reality,
the part played in it by the Southern
railway and the Importance Of that
little connecting link known as the
South Carolina and Georgia railway,
that Alfred Thorn, chief counsel for
the Southern, told last Monday as he
paused, in concluding his argument
before Judge Shipp, to turn back the
pages Of commercial history of great
railway lines in the south and middle
west.
Railway History.
In 1927, the South Carolina Canal
and Railway company started the
plans for the building Of the longest
railway then known to the world.
This line was built from Charleston
to Hamburg, a distance of 1877 miles,
and was completed in 1888.
This" said Mr.. Thorn today, was
the inspiration of the commercial
spirit Of Charleston and was to be the
substitute for the pack mule route. "
In 1880 Robt. Hayne made his his
toric speech in the senate, told Of the
possibilities Of a union of the west
and the south. December 20, 1882,
$1,000 was appropriated for survey
Of a railway to extend from the At
lantic waters to the western shore Of
this country. In 1885 Hayne began
the agitation for a line connecting
Louisville, Cincinnati and other west
ern points with Charleston. In 1886
he presided over the convention al
gates from South Carolina, North
Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The proposed line of railway would
run from Charleston. through South
Carolina, into the mountains Of North
Carolina, through Tennessee into
Kentucky. thence to Cincinnati and
connecting points.
Legislation was had in all four
states to carry out this plan. Then
came the panic Of 1887 and the work
was halted.
Tho Links Commenced.
The result was the building Of the
line from Branchville, through
Orangeburg, to Columbia, the first
connecting link with other lines that
were to come through to middle west
ern territory. Here was the beginning
Of the realization Of the dream OF
Hayne.
In succession came the link between
Columbia and Spartanburg. Then
from Spartanburg to Asheville.
Thence connecting lines to Knoxville,
and from there on into the coal fields
and into Ohio. To Cincinnati went
connecting lines and to Louisville;
from Louisville branching to Memphis
and st. Louis by another route.
1t Is in railroad history-the ac-
quiring Of these lines by the South
ern railway. The Southern took over
the line from st. Louis to the juno
Hartman Junction; and the line to
Knoxville, also to Memphis; the line
from Knoxville to Asheville and down
to Spartanburg and thence to Colum-
bia.
Here" said Mr.. Thorn, was had
all the roads dreamed of by Robt.
Hayne. What was the offense Of the
Southern"
All Save tho S. c. and G.
The Southern at this point in rail-
way history had all save the connect
ing link known as the South Carolina
and Georgia, which the state of South
Carolina now says was a competing
line. A natural link, 1t was, accord
ing to course. opening the way to
Charleston, the seaport Of South
Carolina.
What would have been the attitude
of the people Of South Carolina had
the Southern stopped there?' elo-
quently asked counsel.
Would there not have been dis
appreciation, condemnation? There
was a line opening up the west to
Columbia and one gap between Co.
lumbia and Charleston. There was
the historical plan to fall in with.
Yet that Is here made our sin"
Result of Lease.
In the event the lease is declared
invalid, Mr.. Thorn pointed out the con-
dition that that would leave only the
Seaboard and Atlantic Coast Line as
competing lines for business into
Charleston and eastern Carolina and
the one small line, formerly the South
Carolina and Georgia. That no other
line could take over the South Caro-
lima and Georgia, because of the ma
ture Of operations now, was Mr..
Thom's statement, which he fully eX-
planned by pointing out the connec-
tionS Of the several lines.
THE whole Of eastern South caro-
lima given over to one line OF 135
miles of railway that has never in the
history of transportation been able
to support itself" concluded Mr..
Thorn. Leon NJ. Green.
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