The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-28
THE SUMTER. .OLANTA RAILWAY.
Secretary RcardOn Explains Steps
Taken and Reasons for Delay
Road Was not to Go by Sardinia,
He Says.

were at SARDINIA, Secretary ReardOn
says he thinks that the Sumter Cham
Der Of Commerce ought to be correct
ly quoted regarding the statement
that the Chamber Of Commerce of
Sumter had promised to build a rail-
road to Sardinia, and had not done
re. The Sumter secretary says that
no such promise or guarantee was
ever made by any one in Sumter, but
that the Chamber of Commerce had
tried to help the people of Sardinia
to get a railway line from Sumter via
Sardinia to Olanta.
The minutes Of the conference, held
on July 10th, 1914, between Mr.. G..
A. Lennon, chairman Of the special
committee on survey of proposed Sum-
Turbeville-Olanta Railway,
Secretary Reardon, and Messrs. w. N.
Rush, r. E. McFaddin, w. j. Millsap,
LinwOOd Gamble, j. H. Garland, D. r.
DuBose of Sardinia and nearby points.
CESS, and w. J. Troublefield, of Sum-
ter representing the Sardinia section
also, will show, as follows:
"The object Of the conference was
to discuss the advisability of chang
ing the survey for the proposed rail-
way line so as to go by way of Sar-
dinia.
Mr.. j. H. Garland having been Sc
lected as the spokesman for, and
chairman of the Sardinia delegation
was authorized to make, and did
make the following proposition in be-
half Of his delegation, those of his
delegation concurring therein by
unanimous consent.
They agree to furnish free rights of
way from Black River to Sardinia,
and site for depot free of cost at Sar-
dinia, and rights of way, free Of cost
from Sardinia to New Zion, with free
depot site at New Zion, and free
rights of way from New Zion to Pud-
ding Swamp. They also agree to as
sist in securing free rights of way
from Black, River to Sumter.
1t was further stipulated and agreed
that this delegation from Sardinia,
and Sumter, representing themselves
and other interested parties of Sar-
dinia section, that they will pay r. F.
Mcclellan for making the survey of
any new line or lines that viii have
70 be made for the proposed line 90
Sardinia, provided that the railway IS
built to SardiGIa, that is 20 say that
this delegation pledges themselves 10
reimburse the Sumter Chamber of
Commerce for any monies paid for
this proposed survey, according to
agreement, if the line is so run that
the railway is built to Sardinia. The
survey for proposed Sardinia route"
to be from Sumter to Olanta.
And Provided Further, that this
delegation agrees to pay r. F. McLel-
Ian one-half of the cost of this survey,
or to reimburse the Sumter Chamber
of Commerce to the extent of one
half Of any amount this body may
pay Mr.. Mcclellan, whether this rail-
way is built to Sardinia or not, if this
survey is made to Sardinia from Sum-
ter, and thence to Olanta.
This survey was made, the Sardinia
delegation paying down to the Cham
Der of Commerce $500 and the
Chamber Of Commerce paid Mr.. Nc
Lellan the rest of the money, s931O,
total cost of survey being $16S.10.
1t should be understood that the
original survey did not contemplate
running the proposed railway by Sar-
dinia, but lad been made in a straight
line to Turbeville, as Sardinia is con-
siderably out of the way Of the direct
line surveyed to Olanta from Sumter.
The Sumter Chamber of Commerce
collected and paid out for the three
surveys made, necessary maps, pro-
files, and other expenses incidental to
a survey and securing of rights Of way
for this railway the sum of $6S7.05.
And there were other expenses this
organization paid for.
The Sumter Chamber of Com
merce is perfectly willing to have this
proposed railway run by Sardinia or
to have a branch line run into Sar-
dinia, as we would like to take in
Turbeville, Sardinia. and New Zion
on this line Of transportation. The
Sardinia delegation, however, were
told and thoroughly understood that
the Sumter Chamber Of Commerce
could not control the exact route Of
the proposed road from Sumter to
Olanta.
The parties who were representing
the financierS who will huild this IN n :