The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-06
The PROSPEROUS PIEDMONT.
RIDE FROM COLUMBIA TO SPAR.
TANBURG SHOWS THIS.
Senator Smith Appears to Have Many
Friends An the Piedmont--How
Governor 8lease Stands.

section If South Carolina has enjoy
ed a prosperous year, and especially
are the farmers reaping full returns
Tor the labor of their hands. AS a
result business is fine, and that great
manufacturing and agricultural sec
tion OF the State is looking forward
to Christmas with pleasant anticipa-
ton.
A ride from Columbia to Spartan
burg on the "Carolina Special" en-
ables one to get a good view of the
work which the Southern IS doing to-
wards improving and making it the
finest Of condition their Spartanburg
division. The roadbed all along the
route is being worked on, much work
being done in raising the roadbed
along the river, and in putting in new
crossties Near Parr Shoals the plan
seems to be towards laying a new
piece of track to the right Of the pres
ent and farther from the river. There
are several forces of hands at work
and it is evident that the Southern
plans to put the Spartanburg division
in first class condition.
In THE City of Success much
new building is being done and the
new commission form Of government
is undertaking the work of putting
in modern streets on a. large scale.
Solicitor Albert E. Hill is a good
Spartanburg booster. and when one
enjoys the privilege Of a ride about
that thriving city with him he will
get glowing picture Of the wonder
full progress which has blessed Spar
tanburg.
Greenville continues it's amazing
growth and the improvements and
changes there in the past five years
arc little short Of marvellous. Its
wide Main street reminds one very
much of Columbia, and Greenville re-
sembles Columbia in push and energy.
New buildings are going UP on every
hand. and the streets full of happy
throngs presents a picture of happi-
ness and we'll being, which is a priv
ilege to see.
In former days it was necessary to
go from Greenville down to Bolton by
train and change there for the Blue
Ridge Road into Anderson, but now
one can take the interurban cars on
Fthe main street of Greenville and
within little over an hour get of in
the heart of the city of Anderson.
The Interurban is well patronized.
has a convenient and quick schedule,
and runs through the manufacturing
towns and thickly settled farming
communities, which are at once the
glory and strength of the mighty up
country.
Anderson is getting her share of the
progress Of the Piedmont section. Lo-
Gated in the heart Of a rich farming
section and with an abundant number
of paying cotton mills Anderson is
holding her OWL and still refusing to
admit supremacy on the part Of eth
er Greenville or Spartanburg. The
interurban lines have brought Ander-
son into close and quick touch with
the rest Of the up-country and the
cars, which run into Anderson every
hour. are usually loaded down with
people coming in to shop or on other
business.
1t was raining when the party
reached Bolton Saturday. where the
Southern train for Columbia connects
with the trolley from Anderson. At
Belton the first dissent to the SEEM
ingly Blease sentiment in Anderson
was encountered. Two farmers
waiting on trains volunteered the In
formation that they thought Govern
or Blease was losing ground He has
lost lots OF farmers in this county,"
remarked one significantly. His par
doning of some people lots of folks
around here don't like and 1 tell you
he will see it in the race for the sem
are next year"
How is the feeling among the
farmers Of this section towards Sem
ator Smith," the informant was ask
ed. They like him." he replied. He
hasn't antagonized anybody and has
done lot for the farmers, and we are
going to stick TO him"
do you think any considerable
portion of the farmers, who voted for
Governor Blease last summer. but
who supported Senator Smith in 1908,
are going to vote against Mr. Smith
next year" the newspaper man ask
ed. We'll. l tell you." he said, the
farmers like Senator Smith, but voters
4