The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-01-12

tuatng market, lwo.lhird< of the Companys
cars have to he despatched empty, to meet the
unexpected demand. The obvious effect Of such
an operation is to reduce the rate of freight To
the Road, by The enhanced expense incurred in
earning it. Thus during the past month, and
shen you were listening to the complaints of,he
Compan,'s inability, from acknowledgement and
neglect, to discharge lis obligations, lwo.thirds
Of The $4,000 bales Of cotton were transported
by empty cars sent up for said purpose while
one third only was by those trains that went up,
loaded. While therefore the company realized
full rates, or s per bag on one third of the
Cotton descending, they made little more than
one half, or SO cents per bale on the other two
thirds tran s,,orted. 10 secure just remune.
ration for The extra service thus imposed on the
Company's power, and in conformity TO the uni
versal law regulating trade and common car.
riage, by The demand. The freight on Cotton was
advanced to 81 so per bale, believing that those
advancing market, would cheerlul!y award the
most remuneratins rates, which they could not
deny To other common carriers for similar &C.
cornmodalions extended.
This advance became another source of COM
plain,, to which majority of your board yield
ed, and The previous rates were restored, in the
face Of the fact that tho service had to be per.
formed at an enhanced COST and gave TO the
company a just claim for higher rates. There
were other and equally coger.t reasons which
recommended this policy. Freight on Cotton
had been nv u bale, and was so fixed when
The aver . ;yht of Carolina bales rarely
pnunI, ,pd % c,nts mar m H.,
fixed the CHarge o. one dollar. Of late, how
ever. the packages have been made heavier,
and cars which were constructed Tor 40 bales,
occasionally loaded up but 80; and locomotives
of power equal to the hauling of 1000 bales,
were transporting but or 500. Raising the
freight, therefore, with tie corresponding in
crease Of weight to the bale, was so Obvious
protection to the Company's interest, that il is
difficult to conceive how il could be esteemed
otherwise. While other interests were PROS
pering under advancing prices, the Railroad
was to remain stationary, under increased ex.
yenses for erira seruiccs rendered.
1t may appear inexpicable to some, and "a
want Of foresight in the Direction to others,
not 10 he prepared 10 transport every bale Of
Cotton as delivered ;--bu, tho fact stands re-
corded that in two days, at the three termini of
the Road-Hamburg, CuIumbia, and Camden
upwards Of $4,000 bales were crowded into
ho enclosures. The capacity of the platforms
at the above places (Which are now made The
limit Of reception for shipment) will contain
$500, $500 and l000-in the aggregate $500
bales-and which could not with the company's
force (as large as it may appear to some) be
loaded up in less than two days. TO ship and
transport that quantity Zach day, would involve
double the quantity Of labor in scrvice--600
additional cars and 80 additional locomotives,
at an outlay Of 100000 dollars; yet there are
those who would impose tLis heavy expenditure
on The company as chartered obligation, and
deny at the same time the higher Greights which
The charter grants, and which, in such exac.
tious on the Company's power, arc the only
sources Of compensation.
We submit the above views to the consitle.
ration Of the Stockholders preparatory to the
annual meeting in February next, and hope all
will make it convenient TO attend, and Judge
personally on the embarrassmcnts Of the past,
and be prepared with their counsel 10 define the
policy for the government of those on whom the
administration of the Company's affairs may he
devolved.
As pioneer in the Railroad System. the S.
Carolina Railroad has hi to pay heavily for
the experience incident to all early enterprises.
The improvements in the construction of the
lracks--the necessity of heavier rail, and lh'
successful application of steam 10 locomotive
power, have all conspired to impose additional
obligations on it, to keep pace with the progress
Of mechanical science. The gradual and an
nual enlargement Of the business has surpassed
the expectations of the most sanguine, while the
early disappointments Of the stockholders, in.
ducing the Withholding further payments on the
capital, has left to the Direction no other re.
sources for perfecting the work but what the
credit Of the company and a diviled revenue
could accomplish. The progress therefore 10
consummaton, has necessarily been slower
than a more enlightened policy woul'l have re-
commended Still, it has been onward: and an
impartial examination will lead to the convic
ton tha, the South Carolina Railroad will, and
at an early day. realize all the expectations Of
those who have never lost confidence in The
success Of the enterprise.
Respectfully submitted by,
Yours, respectfully,
JAMES GADSDEN.
REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF A SLAvE.-Wc
understand vessel has arrived here from Wash.