Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-01-31
sALUDA'S FIRST TRAIN.
Officers of the Road Receives
Royal Welcome. Appropri-
ate Speeches Made
Great Enthusiasm.
Special to The State.

Special to The State.
Saluda, Jan. 26.-The citizens O
this town and community turned
out in numbers to-day to witnes.
the driving of the last spike on the
completion of the railroad track tc
the station in Saluda and to vel
come the incoming of the first pas
senger train of the Augusta North
ern railway. Fully 1000 people
took part in the happy demonstra.
tion. The event marked a great
epoch in the history of this town
and county.
At 1880 o'clock a procession was
formed in front of the court house,
and the line of march, with DR.. J..
w. Pitts acting marshall, was
formed. After reaching Jennings
street the procession halted until
the first passenger train bearing the
officers of the company rolled into
sight. A mighty shout from the
multitude greeted the incoming
train, which slowed up and was pre-
ceded to the station by the line of
march.
AS the locomotive came to a
standstill at the station the demon
stration in the way of noise was
terrific. The crowd was full of en-
thusiasm and gave vent to their
pent-up feelings. Drums were beat,
the band played, the men whooped
and yelled, the ladies threw their
handkerchiefs in the air, engines
blew their whistles, dynamite car
tridges were exploded-in shorl,
bedlam broke loose.
AS the president, w. J. Mont
gomery, and the other officials of
the Augusta Northern stepped to
the ground select choir sang to
the tune of S"Ana,iaa IL 80, 80,
inc words composed by the general
manager, L. A. Boyd, especially
for the occasion:
''Our railroad-welcome thee
To-day we greet with glee;
Of thee we sing.
Long have we stayed at home, Z
With doubts you'd ever come;
But now we're free to roam,
With help of thee.
"No more we'll wait for mail;
No more Wei start and fail
To reach our goal;
But twice each day, tits true,
Our letters, papers too,
Will promptly be sent through
On steel rails roll.
"Long may we live to see
All blessings brought by thee
Shall never end.
Prosperity, then, be thine,
MAY brightest suns e'er shine
On this new railroad line,
Saluda's friend"
At the conclusion of the singing
the committee representing the citl-
zens since the inception OF the
movement eliminating to-day in
Saluda's greatest need, drove home
the last pike" This committee is
composed of the following: B. W.
Crouch, chairman; G. G. Wheeler
CT Ramape. B. F. Forest, Z. w.
Able, J. w. Pitts and w. L. Dan
iel. i,
The following program, with B
w. Crouch presiding, was then car
ried out: Eighth Psalm, rese by
Rev. J. E. Bailey; prayer by Rev
E. P. Taylor; song by select choir
G. J. Ramage was presented and
made a very happy and appropriate
talk. His remarks were frequently
applauded. President Montgomery
was introduced and his respons'
was a very feeling one. He and hi
associates had been taken by com
plete surprise and knew nothing o
the warm reception that was il
store for them until their arrival
1t was very evident that he appre
ciated the demonstration on tn
part of those present.
He thanked the people of Salu
da for the generous and kindly re
ception, stating that from what h
had learned of the good people o
this fair county it was but in keer
ing with their best traditions.
The speaker enumerated tn
many difficulties that had been e1 s
countered in the building of th
road, but pledged himself and HI
associates to give to Saluda one {
the best short lines of railway
South Carolina and schedule th'
would meet every requirement.
H. o.IoI for QQ