The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-12-05

ing1 If f, and authentic Information, for their.
guidance, were in possession OF the people, the
prominent motive being Withdrawn .bnI t"w'
would elect to dissolve the tie that connects
them with home, kindred and lrlen.!s.
tits personally known TO me-, that there are
millions of acres Of hiahlana, suited TO the rich
| est crnps of the world still in a state "t nature:
that where. from exhaustion, extensive tracts
have been abandoned, the means OF resusc''a.
ton are a, hand; and that an mmensr area OF
| swamp and low ground. valurrss in lis present
condition. is ready to reward the efforts ot or
dinary industry. My late tour through the
northern districts convinced me, that whist
the railways and other r'E,ds, in the progress
of construction. will effect Il radica! chang" in
onr agricultural habits and practices, they will
introduce the people ofthe middle and lower
| countries to reg ion unsurpassed tor The m'n'
u!ed beauty and grandeur OF lis mountain seen.
ery, purity of water, invgora,ins atmosphere,
and for the various purposes of extensive and
profitable farming. and other industrial occupa.
tons
TO ascertain with correctness III" resources
of country which a beneiicent Being has s"
prodigallv endowed, is among the paramount
duties Of the representatives of the people
Their development and Improvement. when as
cer,ained, nigh. properly be entrusted to the
people themselves,
As inseparahle from the enterprise. should
the wisdom OF the Legislature determine to
prosecute il recommend the careful collection
of statistical information on all the branches OF
industry. BY the possession of facts and mate.
rials, lucidlY arranged and methodizcd, we shall
he furnished with complete data as to the pres.
eni slate ofIhe population, white and coered'
concerning agriculture, commerce, naV'sa,'nn'
manufactures, trades, finance, health. and in
deed whatever may be Interesting to our clti'
zens aud their rulers. Under our political or
eanizalion, and in the con diion OF society which
The Sou,hrhern states exhibit, the value of this
knowledge will soon become manifest and dnIy
estimated. 1t will tend materially to facilitate
! manv OF the most important duties OF the r'lhlic
fuuctionary; enable the Legislature TO ADJUST
and regulate the various in,eresls'of society,
and TO reduce chaos Of details on matters re
ouiring their actian, into order and srSem.-
Nor will the people themselves be less beneht.
ed 10 know all that concerns the land o' their
birth, is matter fprde and deep interest. II
the results of an agricultural exploration satisfy
them that South Carolina, in all the elements OF
strength and prosperity, occupies higher rank
among the members of our great political fam'
ly, than is now generally conceded, con'entmrnt
with its inspiring concomi'antS, will impart IN.
creased enetgy to the arm, and lntuse new blood
into the veins.
The late geological survey having laid the
foundation for the graduates ot our colleges to
erect superstructure upon, c"ncernIng an I'M.
portant branch of knowledge. pracIlca! and
more satisfying effort should now be made to
dilfiise the benefits which an acquaintance with
the resources Of the State are SD Well calculated
to hesiow. Under this conviction, sonnd poll.
cy and the public good induce the TO advise, that
a competent person be chosen to make tho.
rough agricultural and physical examination OF
Svuih Carolina, and to collect iu!I statistical
Information Oh every industrial pursuit, with
The addition of vital Statistics further, that the
task OF collecting statistical information he re.
newed every ten years.
RAILROADS AND OTHER PUBLIC
HIGHWAYS.
The railways in this State already finished
and in progress, furnish strong evidence that the
foresight and enterprise OF our citizens have
been awakened Oh this important question OF
industrial progress. When GreenvllIe, Spar.
lanburg, and AbbeviIle, shall have been con.
necied with The great western Columbia branch
i, is supposed that not an avenue OF conlnuni
cation, which can protably be opened and
maintained by steam power, will remain unrs.
tabiished. To consunlatr purpose 80 intimate.
" connected with the prosperity of the State,
trust that the power "r the Legislature Will
no, he withheld, should assistance be required
The three principal railroads under culIracl,
and the lesser ones on which operations may
shortly be expected 10 Confluence, with the
Columbia and Hamburg Road and is branches
will exhibit, when completed, Il net work OF
railways, equal to AL extended line OF 59l miles
in ID territorial arra of 10000 square mies.-
Except the main trunk, the great work will
have been executed by the planter aud his
slaves, and at Il cost, too, probably lower than
any similar undertaking in the United States.
As these iron roads will s,on have rnonopoi!zrd
the public or general traffic. ii becomes impor.
tani, in view of local communication, that the
carriage ways OF the Stale should bc rendered
as efficient as practicable.
Plank roads in localities, and better scheme
for working and Keeping in permanent repair
our common roads. suggest matter OF no ordin-
| ary interest.
1.-THE former be question for the people to
determine the latter is one for Legislative de-
cision. The positive and collateral benefits Of
good roads are too obvious for special roin,n"ni
! They increase the demand for the products of
industry; create new markets; dcvrl"pc CON.
merce save labor and time; diminish expense
aud exercise accunulative, moral and political
influence on society, which has rarely been
properly estimated. From long personal ex.
animation aud inquiry, have arrived al the
conc ln> ion that nur urrScnt rnal sYs,rIn Is rnl