Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-23

Santee Congaree, the Pee Dees, Lynches Creek
and several other streams adding in all, ten or
twenty times more.
As we know more about Wateree River, and
we believe that no other would yield so much at
so little expense, we can say more about it, and
would respectfully ask particular attention to it,
from Camden to Santee. In straight line, it is
about forty mies-as it runs, l25 miles or more
The fall l8 inches or more to the mile, as it
could not run with less. Reduce the length to
forty miles, and concentrate the fall gives us
FIVE feet, and if the flow increases in proportion,
it would run off in one day as much as it runs
now in one week, and the single channel give
sufficient vent for all the water.
The old river beds could soon be planted
the creeks, lakes, and ponds could be drained by
bitches into the decpened channel, and all or
nearly all rendered secure from overflow of wa
ter, which has been so frequent the last few
years as to discourage the few that plant them
The crops and stock lost in the last ten years
would be a sufficient sum to pay for tho work l
propose.
These lands are greatly needed, for what was
naturally fertile of the high lands, has become
much worn, while these lands once made free
from freshets, are almost invaluable, the quality
of the soil being the very richest, and lying so
as never to wear out. Producing cotton, corn,
or small grain equal to any lands on earth. These
great advantages would not be for few years
only, or require a periodical expense to keep
them up, as most improvements do, but they
will tell and tell we'll for all time to come
An expenditure Of 100000 by the State will
add one million to its wealth. Lands now valued
at five dollars, will be worth fifty dollars per acre;
it is too large an undertaking for individuals,
though they have done much in banking out,
which does not answer the purpose. To en-
bank all the way would cost three times the
money that strai ghtening it would, and then
to the embankments are always liable to break or
be undermined, while the water outside Of them
must lie on the ground which is often an injury
to crops to the ground, and hindrance from
work. The enterprise is so inviting to the State,
so much can be done with 80 little money. Let
it be surveyed by competent man,-count the
cost, make all the calculations, and 90 to work
as soon as possible. Here We have rich mines
which are certain never to fail They cannot be
worked too soon objection might be made to
this magnificent improvement as redcunding too
much to the benefit of few, which l answer by
asking what work of its kind has not the same
tendencyl Where railroad passes land rises in
price. Town property and rents increase in val
ee, where the facilities Of trade and travel are
Enlarged and what is good for a part Of the
people is good for the whole. The State belongs
to the people, and without the people it could
not 90 on. We insist with great confidence, that
this enterprise is practicable, and that it could
CO.. I'M 10 oil
1t looks like this acquisition had been resev
ed for later day,-a day when necessity would
compel movement towards it. To the writer,
who must confess himself sangune on the sub
ject, it presents itself as cheap means Of near
ly doubling the wealth Of the State.
1t may meet the common cry Of humbug or
visionary scheme may be denounced as too ex-
pensive or impracticable; and so it may be, for
great allowances are to be made in exploring
new grounds. We are liable to make over and
under estimates, but let it be looked into; if
worthy of the trial, let the Legislature move
on the subject, and move earnestly; here is
something worthy Of its aid, and just in charac-
ter with the enterprise of our people when they
move at all, and in which our public men have
always been disposed to join. Our State pride
is proverbial. Sec how much has been spent in
improving the navigation of our rivers, BY canals
and clearing out distractions. And now when
they are made safer and better than they ever
were before, is nearly superseded by railroads,
which have also been cherished into usefulness
by the aid of public money. Besides, see what
the State has done to preserve and promote the
prosperity of her citizens; rebuilt the city of
Charleston; built Hamburg see her Atlantic
steam navigation company; her College, her
Lunatic Asylum, her Bank of the State and its
branches indeed her munfcence has been ever
on liberal scale. No sectional interests are
recognized. A long pursuit of this policy may
eventually burthen posterity with our debts, and
be it so, if we put them in possession Of ample
means of payment, to which We are promp-
ted by every duty and worthy motive Can
it be possible that the great author Of all
things who placed these fertile lands where they
are, did not intend them for the use of man I!
They can be used and it becomes us to make an
effort to appropriate them to our benefit; or
shall they remain wilderness or worse than a
wilderness in our midst as it were to taunt usl
Shall we fold our arms and remain as we are;
shall we use no effort to make the waste places
glad, the crooked paths straight, to set our hou-
ses in order, not to die but to livel Should |
succeed in waking up my fellow citizens from
their apparent apathy, to investigate my premi-
ses and push their enquiries in search of new
schemes of utility, I shall feel that have been
the humble instrument Of doing great good. 1t