The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-15
From the Charleston Mercury, Ian.
Steams ships and Railroads.

Steamships and Railroads.
We presume that every intelligent in Charleston
has by this time made up his mind that the city cannot
live and thrive by railroads alone. If an original system,
embracing all the good plans that have been thought Of
and leaving all the bad that have been,
about to be- executed had been carried through the po
sition of Charleston would have been very different
Even then there would have been very serious drawbacks
in the communication with the North BY land, such as
energy prudence the part OF the people OF this
State could remedy There would have been between
this city and New York eight nine distinct railroads.
at the terminus OF every OF which there must be tram
shipment Of passengers, baggage and all kinds OF mer
chandse with amount Of discomfort, confusion, and
risk, that only those understand who have expe-
renced it. We referred this matter yesterday in
nexion with the mails, and need not repeat what he
then said.
II TO the purpose to call the attention OF our
citizens the fact that the land route is about TO desert
US. The Wilmington and Manchester road will be fin
shed in few weeks and il is settled that the grea,
mail between New York and New Orleans will be trans.
erred 10 this rou,e aud also that the Wilmington and
Charleston boats to be withdrawn There will then
be no daily communication between Charleston and the
North, except by gong backwards on the South Carolina
railroad 10 Branchville Charleston will then be in a
CYL dc sac 1t will be easy enough get here but in
order get away again. travellers will have 10 turn upon
their track. OF the through travel, North and
South, will never reach Charleston, unless pro-
vide for il adequate and acceptable outlet. We be-
eye this TO be within our power. Ii requires only
daily line of steamships between this city and New York
to a large part OF the through travel We have
had an experience in this kind Of communication thai
ought that the offers safer and more
certain channel of communication than the land. For
more than fifteen years the Wilmington line of steam
boats have daily uaversed coast, without acct
dent to life property during tina, long period, We think
we saey challenge tho world fora parallel instance
of daily business either by land or sea, long
Quoted with such perfect safety of lie and property
Oar second illustration is equally encouraging, and
more TO the point More than years since line
oil ocean ships, the first established in this country
sprsng up between Charleston and New York, which
from small beginnings, always gaining strength ana
pue, has already come be The channel OF bust
| ness communication between the Two cities We take
pleasure in remembering that the establishing OF th
line due 10 the sagacity and enthusiastic persever
| ance Of Captain Berry. But also remember with
pleasure that his efforts appreciated, and his
espoused, by the merchants oil Charleston; and tina
| from the first day TO the present, those who have
taken part in The enterprise have never Lost conf
dence or withdrawn support The line has not only
been great convenience and great source of pros
peiiy 10 the city, but has been profitable TO those
necied with IT, On lis present greatly enlarged basis
| il is believed 10 be and advantageous com.
mercia enterprise this city affords By its connex.
ion with the Liverpool lines OF steamers ii gives 10 ou
mer chants the facilities OF direct steam commu ncation
with Europe and enables them make their imppris
lions with despatch and certainty. 1t does heavy ant
constantly increasing eightng business for large por
ton OF the year, only limited by lis capacity OF
dating il. To travellers il offers the least expensive anS
! most commodons means OF transit North and South
Their. will OF course, be always qualmish part OF III,
travelling pablo, who viii prefer being battered ana
badgeed by land TO being rocked the bu, TO III,
greater portion, this route by its speed, safety, and
| fort, must always be a iayore one-pfovded, that is
| that we can mskeI meet the demand.
/ What then, is necessary TO 10 Chsrleston
The advantages now endangered by her being thrown
of the direct line oil travel by land We answer
Nothing than daily line OF steamers between
Charleston and New York; and nothing Ie.s will
do H. II must be remembered that such line does no
depend wholly or even principally upon travel for il,
support II Will have and vast frciahtipg bust.
ness 10 which il will defy competition 1t would be a
natural outlet for the business of our railroads. and
would pour its rich returns through these channels into
all The interior States with which We are connected II
would give an energy, life and growth TO our business
which would be as sure and lasting it would be great
These are not visions Every experienced man knows
that they the reasonable aneipslions Of ptospery
that invites us to it's fruon Charleston must no, &c
backward and in this age OF activity stand still ID
10 reogrsde aud IN the direction Of progress there il
enterprise promising larger or more certain returns
than the establishment OF daily line OF steamships 10
New York.
/