Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-03-04


oy ertusncd it, while that part which was be-
| hind the train was lvit standing. "Dowell PINS
or tenons," with a leverage OF 10 feet, would
Offer but Il feeble resistance to 4 force capable
Of setting in motion Il mass Of nearly 100000
cub;c feet of timber loaded with 800 tons OF
rails, no matter how loosely framed. The fact
is, dowel pins and lemons in the position lndI-
Gated by the report, arc not intended to resist
the battering oil heavy train at high speed,
acting lengtLwiso of the, road, but for differ.
eut purpose. Surprising tie foundation had
been Sc, ure enough to have rendered piles un.
necessary, AS is the case with other and mach
higher trestles on the Camden Branch, and else
where, what mode of resisting so enormous
force would be considered necessary byFfhe
Presilent7 Could he use dowell Plus, teaons
or other fastenings9 Is it usual to pin the mud
sills of the trestle pins OF bridges to the hard
bottom where no piles Can be used
lam informed that the Engineer has made
affidavit that the Train was proceeding at mode
rate speed when the accident occurred. | have
not seen thafpaper and have no disposition, to
dispute his a., and would merely remark, that
the person inguestion is an interested witness,
and is well known on tic road to be 4 reckless
runner who was discharged from the service OF
the South Carolina Rail Road Company by my
order, short timerbeiore the present admins
tration came into power, for piece of care
lessness, which cost the Company $500, be-
lies tie loss of the use of an engine tor two or
three months daring the busy season. am
told that person in and out ofthe service OF the
Company, say they saw the train proceeding
at the highest speed down thesteep Grldc, which
terminates but a short distance from where the
accident occurred. ltmay be difficult to prove
positively, the speed Of the tain at that time,
as the only witnesses to it interested parties,
but we may form some estimate cfitsby other
means It is a notorious fact, that the trains
ON the South Carolina Rail Road, have been
running for many months past at speed lncon-.
sistcnt with economy, over all parts OF the road
and there is no reason to believe that it was 1T
all reduced OF the present occasion. know
no road on which the speed over bridges and
tres,le work, is as high it has been tor the last
wear OH tine South Carolina Rail Road. ltwas
we'll known to all Rail Road engineeba bat no
temporary bridge or work, like th Wa.
teree Swamp, can stand the racking Btlon OF
locomotive Especially of freight ehgine) at
hi.h speed, for any length OF time ); and have
no doubt, ,ttat'the high speed maintained over
this work, for months before this. accident hap.
pened, contributed materially to the extent OF
the catastrophe.
ii have called the work in the Wateree Swamp
temporary, for believe it is well known, that
it was intended to be filed up at the Compinys
leisure. The Board OF Directors, with the en-
perience of the old South Carolina Railroad be-
fore them, never would have consented to the
Of SO large an extent oi trc>tic
.work'as permanent work. With the expecti-
ton. that the tillin. ~ would he commenced at
all early day, all the most inferior timber WAS
removed to Tue end Of the work where the late
accident occurred, with a view to its being be-
Gan at tue end | had no idea that the timber
would be allowed to go to decay before the
process of filling up was begun. The immcdi-
ate commencement Of this WORK was one ot the
few suggestions offered by me to tue present
board before left tie service, winch was not
acted upon It being dctermined'to substllnte
for the tresLle work, ba!orc It's decay, perna'
nent embaukment. IMe grade of The road TnS
raiscIih fret a5ore ethrme high ,cater. The
lever WAS IOunu w W =" . ~.
number of marks above aud below the line. and
on both sides of the swamp. The grade OF
three feet above hg! water was adopted, to
make some allowance for the raising ot The wa
ter bv Tive construction Of the can"el aad was
deemed advisable from experience i'll the Con-
garee swamp, where the emha"kment had to be
raised higher than WAS originally intended,il
having brrn materially injured during its con
struction, BY the water rising above the grade
The work in the Watsrce swamp was material
ly delayed during its construction, by the wa
ter continuing for weeks, Il might say months,)
at time, nca;ly level with tie tops oithc plies
u" one ocs6f1ifGRse, while taree feet below
high wats eg9f present level Of the rails
/ have EneN FED tl'i: for the purpose of
casting ral upon those who have recon-
mcHted dfhefeit plan, but as the reason for
subiccting the Company to the expense o! rails
ing the former work so high; much higher than
seems now to be considered necessary.
Very respectfully, DC.
JOHN McRAE