Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-04-06
From the Charl, ston Mercury.
CHARLESTON AND HER RAILROADS.

Railroads, in which her own interest was moi
obviously aud undeniably involved. Where
us thoroughfares of travel or highways ol
transportation, such enterprises were Of lie.
cessity to be tributary to the wealth, trade
and advancement Of Charleston, it was only
required that we might determine whether
their advantages would be large enough to
repay the outlay, in order to settle the ques-
lion of subscription on the most simple prin:
ciple of business transaction. If we are
to gain more than we contribute, it does not
call for very deep sagacity to determine that
we should contribute.
But the question is not altogether simple.
1t has double aspect, and this we should
never lose sight OF. On tire one hand; by
udicious contributions to these enterprises,
we may indefinitely extend the range of our
trade and enlarge the wealth of our city
| On the other, by closing our eyes and fold.
ing our arlns,-by supinely allowing every
golden opportunity to pass away unimprov-
ed, we may even lose what we have already
gained. 1t is not merely that Charleston is
placed between Wilmington and Savannah,
two cities that, in proportion to their size
and means, have done more for improve
melts than any other two in the United
SALES.--FUTURE are also other cities Tint are
perfectly willing TO drain the sources Of our
trade into their own streams. Mobile will
soon reach the valley ofthc Tennessee, while
Richmond is reaching forward to grasp the
growing trade of Western North Carolina,
and the whole of the rich valleys on the
Western ST. pc Of the mountains. No pow cr
can take til, Sc treasures from US if we use
our opportunities nothing can save them to
us, if from sluggishness or timidity, we hold
back while al the world around US is awake
and pushing forward.
What has been the result Of previous con-
iributions by Charleston to Railroads ex-
tending her interior communications With.
in 4 very few years the income Of the South
Carolina Railroad has doubled. The value
of real estate within the city has nearly or
quite doubled the inhabited area has great
ly increased, and the value of fyms in the
neighborhood is probably fourfold greater
than it was six years ago. This has sprung
from the ure:lt nnlarnannnnt ac -
Charleston, and that, in turn, is the direct
result of the extension OF our Railroad COM
munica ATOMS.
There may be some who will admit all
this, and yet urge that it is time to stop:
that we have done enough. On the contra
ry, it is far more apparent now that it is for
our highest interest to 60 further, than it
ever was before that we ought to move at
all. There was once strong, Plausibilit!y
in the arguments that dissuaded the city
from cmbarking in Railway enterprises
They were then experiments, and the re-
suits, especially for a country like ours, were
in great measure coniectural. We have
done with cxperments-we know what we
undertake when we engage in Railroad
enterprise, and we can calculate both the
cost and the results by those Of a hundred
others. We tread on familiar and sale
ground What, few years ago, was an
unknown world, full Of dangers and uncer.
tainties, is now the beaten track. Moreover,
not only are railroad enterprises now re.
duced to those limits Of certainty which en-
able us to decide, rs in an ordinary matt.r
OF business, upon the character of. the un-
dertaking, but it is demonstrable that even
uadcr all the manifold disadvalt rges of their
experimental character during the las quar-
ter of Il century, Railroads have been by far
the most successful and uniformly profitable
enterprises of this age Of amazing advance
mcnt. We cannot point to u Railroad, fin.
ishcd, in South Carolina or Georgia, that
has not had success beyond what was
hoped for by its friends at tlle time of its pro-
lection. And there is not one Of them whose
future does not now promise success
greater than any they have yet achieved
They are in their infancy, and what g lori
Gus manhood have we not a right to antici-
pate
In the brief statement above, Of the advan.
tages to Charleston from railway communi-
cations with the interior, it will be observed
that the profits OF stockholders form but Il
small item in the general gains. The bene-
fetal results circulate, like the nu!ritive sap
Of Il tree, through tile Whole body Of the
community. The value of ther stocks is
enhanced and secured; real estate is raised,
and its amount enlarged by the growth OF
the city the price of labor is increased, and
its employment made more sure; every de.
partment of city life gains new vigor.
Hence these improvements are eninently
public in their character, and foster the in.
terests of every class Of citizens: 1t is with
illis view, tblt we have urged subscriptions
by the city to the most meritorious OF these
enterprises. AS they were demonstrably for
the advantage of all, the most yust apportion
ment of the cost was precisely that which
was sanctioned in the distribution of city
taxation By using the credit of the city
we do not press upon capital in the hands
of individuals. We gather from the surplu:
OF wealth everywhere, and great enterprise:
are carried through merely y at the present
cost of the interest Of the capital required.
The case now before the city we cousd
er one of the most meritorious and impor
tant that has ever called for her action. W.
need not now set forth the character Of tht
Blue Ridge Railroad. 1t is appreciated b,
all intelligent men in Charleston. 1t vii
open to our market a great country, rich al
ready, aud every year advancing in popula
ton and wealth. We are sure, against al
rivalry, of securing the trade of This region
by opening this route. We do not thin
there are two opinions on this point. Th