The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-07


That new branch line OF the
Northwestern Railroad of South Caro-
lima will be extended from Scales Sid
ing TO Heriot's Cross Roads during
the year Is now a certainty unless
some unforeseen circumstances
should prevent the execution of plans
which have been formulated and the
completion OF work already under
way.
Col. Thomas Wilson, president of
the Northwestern Railway, stated
Monday To n reporter for the Daily
Item that he now had force of hands
employed on the proposed branch line
Of the Northwestern between Scales
siding and Heriot's Cross Roads and
that he would endeavor to- carry on
the work steadily until the branch line
was completed. lie expected TO com
plete the line by the first of Decem-
Der OF this year. possibly a little be-
fore that time. IL weather conditions
and other circumstances were favor
able.
The force Of hands. had now been
engaged In the grading OF the road
bed for nearly two weeks and were
getting along nicely with the work.
Cross ties and rails had been secured
and at present so far as ne could see
there was nothing to prevent his car
rying out his plans as they had been
formed. The first survey OF this lin.
was made I'm the summer OF 1911 and
q pumber OF surveys were made sub b.
seduent TO that time before the final
route was decided on.
The present plans contemplate the
1he ru8nfng I'm northeasterly dl-
fection from Scales Siding, and ex.
tending out In a straight line most
or the way to Heriots Cross Roads
The lire is six and rearly half miles
long and extends through the Will
Hanson plantation. now owned by Col
Wilson, the Burroughs Colclough
place, the Law place, which is also
owned by Col Wilson. Maj. Bur-
rough's place. the plantations belong
Ing to Mrs. Colclough and a. w. Kel-
ly ard Ashby Dick. The right of way
has been secured and tnere seems no
obstacle To the extension of the line.
Col Wilson. i'm speaking of the
building OF the branch line, stated
that he had been forced to build IL be.
cause OF the coming into this field
OF the South Carolina Western Rail-
road. In order to hold his traffic In
this section he had to extend the
branch line through It, Before tine
South Carolina Western was built and
established It's station. Scales Siding
had been the nearest station to the
people OF this section and they mad
secured their freight there. But with
the establishment of nearer sta
ton by the South Carolina Western
Road he considered IL necessary to.
meet competition. and In self defense
had constructed this iine.l lie did not
expect To haul much cotton on il. rs
this was generally hauled by wagon
To Sumter. hut he hoped to keep the
freight traffic In fertilizer and other
kinds OF freight traffic which he had
handled formerly on his road.
AT HeriOt's Cross Roads "a station
VIII be built and an agent will be
Kept there. Alreacy the timber for
the station Is being prepared and the
station will be erected as soon as the
line reaches this place.
IL talking OF tho matter Col. viii
fon stated that Re had noticed I'm one
OF the paper an article stating that
the contract had been let to a veil
known railroad contractor. lie had
no idea who this contractor was. for
he was building the road himself and
expected To- have his force OF men do
All the work. The line. ne stated.
would not extend further than Heriots
AZ present. but II might he extended
on To Rose Hill at some time in fu-
lure " he deemed the traffic sufii-
Gent This would probably not bc
any time soon. however. he stated.
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