Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-07-14
From the Temperance Advocate.
REMARKS OF ROBT. LATTA, Els

The following Is the substance oil the re-
marks by Mr.. Lalla, at ihe Rail Road Con-
Ib;s
age and great experienced u, Inc nor,snls
sagacity, his high position society, and
The wonderful success which has crowned
every enterprise, either public or private,
in which he may have engaged, or 10
which he may have given the sanction OF
his Judgment, en,itle his opinions. 10 the
yery highest consideration.
These romarks may appear desullory TO
some, from the fact that we have MADE
our selection without special reference 10
the order or connection which the author
observed. A portion Of them, as the in
,elligent reader will perceive, was written
after the adjournment of the Convention
and these we have substituted for some
made in the Convention, for which we
could not make room.
Mr.. Chairman.-As ] have had some
;n,eres, in the South Carolina Canal and
Rail Road Company, ii may be expected
on this occasion that will give.some views
ON the subject. In 1884, purchased S5O,-
OOO worth of the stock of that Company,
when il was sold 10 The Louisville and
Cincinnati Company. subscribed Tor inc
same amount iu The present road, which
continue 10 hold, with The exception oi;the
reduction that was made by the Company
10 those holding large number oil shares.
Some of my most particular trends
thought it as visionary as if the road had
been suspended in The air, and subject 10
be waited into The ocean by The first wind
that blew, and never more to be hoard
from. / told them that considered treal
estate, and that for myself. would prefer
owning it to their land aud negroes and l
am happy to say have not changed my
opiuion. Were instructed 10 take charge
aud attend 10 the business af making rail
roads, have no fear but could make il
as profitable as other investments. ! have
gore so far as 10 advise Mrs. Lalta, thai
in the even, Of my death, line rail road
stock be one Of the last of my investments
TO be disposed Of, or exchanged into any
o,her investment, and not to be induced oy
the opinion of any person or persons te
make sale or an exchange.
MIR. Chairman, further than this l can
no, 20 in favor of rail road stock. vii
here say few words as regards The proht
as the question may be asked. will an
swer, that it has no, been as prohta Bile as
il might have been. The salaries TO Eu
gineers and other persons invested with tht
road, the price given for excavation EN-
bankmen, and The right ofway, and sundry
other things, were TOO high.
One reason why joint stock companies
so seldom succeed is, that the slockhold
ers do not attend 10 ;heir duty at annua
meetings aud Intermediate meetings. VIII
the most Of them, it is a matter of seconda
nv importance, aud frequently the director
are not sufficiently interested TO induce
Them to do their duty. When the busines
is conducted in this manner, we canno
reasonably expect much profit. If tn
stockholders would devote fair proper
q lion of their time, as they do TO other pur
3 suits, the result would be very different
These are The reasons why gentlemen o
capital lwill not invest largely in such un
deaakings. Iwould myself DO willing l.
,ake double the amount Of stock in thi