The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-09-20

be answered that they all have seriously con.
sidered the question of emigration, and must
seek another home unless arrested by a change
in the resources of Camden.
Then it is time to consider whether we will
throw away the opportunity again presented Of
arresting the ruin and re-establishing the conn.,
merca Importance of Camden. The Lancas:
ter Rail Road presents this opportunityA The
Books of subscription are now open andHsxill
! remain so for short period, and only sh6St
period. The subscriptions of our citizens have,
heretofore been conditional upon the extension
Of the Road to Concord, N. c., with some 9th.
er conditions considered favorable to Camden,
If the road is extended to Concord, we are at
once on the highway of Nations, connecting
with important Rail Road enterprises in North
Carolina, which penetrate nearly every section
of that State, and bring US into communication
with the rich valleys of N. Eastern Tennessee,
and in all probability open Rival equal in
importance to the great Rabun Gap Road
With very little expenditure in addition to the
cost of the projected road to Concord, CON-
nection might be made with Charleston, ma.
terially diminishing the distance, and making
the nearest possible Rail Road connection with
the UPPER portion of East Tennessee. In con-
nection with this communication, an extract is
published from the letter of pwclical, expert
enced, and well informed Engineer now in
North Carolina, showing the importance of
some of the views here presented. Let every
man consider how much he will lose by the
gradual decay of Camden-how much he will
sacrifice, socially and otherwise, toabanden the
home of his choice, for another and strange
land. Let him consider the claims of his
family and children. Let the working men,
the mechanics, the merchants, the lawyers, the
clerks, the Railroad employees, consider what
their condition will be when the anti-climax Of
ruin shall have been reached.
How long will Camden retain her Railroad
connection with Charleston, if new combina.
tions of trade are not effecteda 1t would be
just as probable that bank would pay pre-
MUM to those who borrowed their money, as
that a Railroad would be continued for the
public accommodation after it had become
burthen to the proprietofs. The Camden
Branch is worthless now as an investment, but
it will very sopn reach the point when it will
he dead loss from here to Manchester dow
then will merchants get their goods to and
from market, and PLANTERS their produce?-
By the River and Canal9 Gentlemen, an.ex-
animation of the files of your Charleston papers
will show you that the Canal company will
apply to the Legislature at its next session for
permission to abrogate their charter and close
he canal
BUTT has been suggested that plank road
Will be built to the Wilmington and Manches-
ter Railroad, which will obviate the necessity
I,,f 10 th,t hrao c,nr to
Charleston, via Bulls Bay. A plank road in
another direction, when Camden was better
ahle to build it, would have saved the Railroad,
but the people fanced themselves too poor
then. 1t is apprehended that. the Planters
alone will have to build the Manchester Plank
Road, If ever it will be built. Yes, and the
Planters alone will have to build up and sus-
tain the churches and schools, court houses,
iaiIs and poorhouses, support the paupers, (who
will not be diminished in NUMBER and payfor
| the punishment of crimes and msdemeanors.,
If time permitted, it might be shown ,thatthe
Planters have nearly as much interest In tins
question as any other class. But | have al
ready tresspassed too long on the patience OF
the reader. A NATIVE.
Extract of a letter dated Salisbury, ". c., Aug.
9th, 1858.
The citizens of Camden ought to take great
interest in the construction Of the Rail Road TO
Lancaster c. Fl. Could the progress of events
have been fOreseen at the time of constructing
the Camden Branch, route for that road
might perhaps have been chosen that would
have been better for Camden. 1t is now too
late, however, to mourn over what has been
done, but perhaps not to try to remedy the
mistake. 1t is very evident that if something
is not done, and that quickly, the commercial
prosperity of Camden must 60 down. 1t will
no doubt continue to be resorted to by the
Planters of the neighborhood as a summer re.
treat, but the trade which formerly centred in
Camden is cut off by the greater facilities of.
Tered by surrounding Railroads; and the only
thing that can be be done for Camden, is to in.
crease the facilities Of approach by construct
ing good roads, &c. Had yon constructed
plank road through Lancaster when it was
talked of, perhaps it would have been of more
service to the place than Railroad; but it is
too late to talk of plank road when a Rail.
road has been started.
If Camden has road constructed through
Lancaster to Concord in this State, it will give
you a shorter route from here to BranchvllIe
than by Charlotte by from 25 to 80 miles and
lis you would build better and straiefier
route, it would most kelytake the trade. This
State is now carrying line of survey across
the mountains, and if practicable route is
found, there is no doubt that the State will con-
struct road. If this road is built Concord
being in the direct line between here and Cam
den, the Camden and Concord line would stand
Il fair chance Of the western business of the
North Carolina Rail R0ad
Correspondence of the Camden Journal