The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-20

u "nh ilHe would De Dullt frOm HartS-
VILE, Via Lamar and Timmonsville to
Charleston. the business men Of Tim
monsvile being eager To secure a
Seahoard connection and Offering
rights of way, terminals and other
| substantial inducements. 1t is =
TACT mat surveying corps was at
work on the proposed line to Tim
monsNille when MIR. Manning. of the
r1 road committee of the Chamber
ol commerce communicated with
Mr Bonsal ana asked for positive
statement as to the probability or
possibility Of the Sumter BishopvilIe
line being built. Mr.. Bonsal replied
mat If Sumter was prepared to en-
tertain business proposition he
would be in position to submit one
within few weeks. The surveyors
We're called off the I.dmar-Timmons-
vile line and a hurried preliminary
survey was made from lIartsville to
sumter by way of Bshopville. AT
the time there was considerable r,,vs
terry about this survey. as the men in
the party refused all information to
inquiries, coming and going without
communicating with any local peonle
ana oecunins to tell whom they
represented n week or two later
Mr.. Bonsal notified MI Manning that
he was ready to submit a definite
proposition and that, to avoid use
less correspondence and protracted
negotiations, he would say positively
at the outset that the proposition
submitted would be the best and only
terms he was authorized to consid-
er. The proposition submitted as
mas been heretofore stated a number
OF times was: Mr.. Bonsal and assO-
c!ates would enter into an agree
ment to build standard railroad
from Hartsville to Sumter. via Bish-
opville, 10 equip it with first class
rolling stock and have it in operation
To sumter within twelve months from
the consummaticn Of the agreement
on condition that the rights Of way
from point two miles south Of Bish-
opNllle to and through the city Of
sun ter to point two miles south OF
the city of sumter together with a ter
minal. 150X100O feet in size in the city.
be provided free of cost to the rail-
road.
Upon heceipt of the proposition a
meeting of citizens was held in the
hall of the Chamber of Commerce.
which was attended by large num-
ber. some OF whom were residents Of
the county but not of the city. Mr..
Bonsars proposition was laid before
the meeting and it was accepted by
unanimous vote of those present.
after a full and free discussion. Mr..
Sumter accepted his proposition and
would comply with the prescribed
conditions.
A special committee to represent
the interests of the citizens of sum-
ter i'm dealing with Mr.. Bonsal and
associates was appointed as follows:
r. !. Manning. chairman, Neill O'Don-
nell. III. ]. McLaurin, Jr.. J.. c. Strauss
and W. III. Ingram. Subsequently up
nf
lumbia Mr.. ID. ID. Noise was added to
The committee.
\ finance committee to devise
ways and means for raising the non
ey necessary to procure the rights Of
way and terminal site was appointed
as follows: l.. -. jennings, ID. d..
Noise. Il. II. Belser, ID. Il. McCallum.
Jr., X. l.. Wright, r. @. P'urdy, II. ID.
Barnett, c. NJ. Hurst, j. NJ. Chandler.
II. c. Haynsworth.
The action Of this meeting of citi-
zens assured the building of the
Seaboard branch into Sumter. but the
important matter of raising the large
sum OF money necessary TO carry out
the agreement 10 provide the rights
OF way and terminal in the city vet
remained to he determined. A rough
estimate OF the sum required was
$4,000 to $4,000, and it can readily
be appreciated what momcntous
and difficult problem the committee
had to solve-how and from whence
was this large sum to he obtained?
AZ ilrSt there WAS talk Of trying to
raise the money by popular sub
Scriplion. calling on public spirited
citizens Of the county as well as
residents of the city of Sumter to