Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-01-21


Augusta, the freight will be but 90 cents. If
our Granitville cloth, the product of South Car
olina industry, 20 10 Charleston, it pays 25 per
cent. more than similar goods from Georgia.
although we are ten miles nearer. If we send
our goods into Georgia or Alabama, we are
charged Is cents hundred pounds for ten miles
to Augusta, which is the price of freight from
Charleston 10 New York, and equal to the third
of the freight on similar bale from Liverpool
to Charleston, and Of the price of shipping
bale of sheetings ITO miles on the Georgia
road.
Although the South Carolina Railroad has
been in operation, may say, quarter Of
century, the country along its line is compare.
lively wilderness. Finely tim bered lands i'm.
mediately alongside of the road, have been
sold, since l847, for 25 to 50 cents an acre, and
that within 3S miles of Charleston. When
Graniteville was established in l846, Is cents
to dollar was common price for we'll tim
bered, lands on the railroad, and within ten
miles of Augusta This is truly q commentary
on Mr. Gwynn's notions and quotations from
DeBow's Reyiew-remarks which are attached
to his report on the Blue Ridge road, which
speaks of how much the South Carolina road
has done for the country along the line Of road.
The truth is that it is the interest and policy
of the South Carolina Railroad TO keep all that
country unimproved and in wilderness state !;
and it always will be SO until they are compell-
ed to look for business at home, or the people
of the country find other means OF transporta.
ton to market. From few miles above
Charleston timber, cross.tes and fuel men have
no market but the railroad, except it be imme.
d;ately on the Edisto River. All the wood and
timber along the line of the road belongs to the
South Carolina Railroad Company as etfectually
as if they had 4 fee simple to the land Those
who furnish the company do it for prices which
will barely pay for the labor, considering the
timber to be worth nothing; and am only sur
prised that the Railroad Company should have
held so long as they have 100000 worth of
land.
This explains at once why that country has
remained so long wilderness, while it abounds
with the finest merchantable timber on earth.
There has always been such pressure of
through Western business on the South Caro-
lima Railroad that it has not been the interest Of
that establishment to seek local business. At
certain seasons of the year there has always
been such food of both up and down freights,
that the President has never been able, if he
were willing, to say 10 lumber nlen, bud mills
on the road, bring ranging timber, shingles,
staves, &C., and it shall be taken TO Charleston
promptly, at all seasons of the year, and at fair
rates. Nothing has been done in that way to de-
velop the resources of that vast wilderness
country, which lies an idle waste, and living
reproach upon our enterprise.
In The Summer season, when business slack.
ems. lumber and heavy articles are carried at liv-
ing rates. But rs soon rs the Western trade
sets in, every thing of the kind is thrown over.
board, the freights on lumber, bricks, and all
heavy articles are raised 10 4 scale of prol-
bition.
Some may suppose that this is sin that ought
to be brought down upon the heads of The
President and Directors. But / think not, it
grows ont of very nature of things, and if you
expect much better from them, you look for
more than reason would warrant you TO look
for.
In The absence of competition il will always
be so, TO the great detriment of the country,
and remain draw back on the prosperity of
Charleston.
That the South Carolina Railroad is 4 mon
opoY beyond all control, we are all willing to
admit. Phat it will remain 80 until competition
relieve US is equally apparent.
1t is also equally as obvious that every new
railroad which has its terminus 80 located as to
have no other outlet than the South Carolina
Railroad must inevitably increase that evil and
| warn this Legislature Of the necessity OF so
directing her investments as to mitigate and not
increase this evil and burden upon our country
think tilat gentlemen who bave carefully
examined the Presidents and Engineers reports
on The Blue Ridge Road must have come to The
conclusion that il will fall to the lot of The State
Of South Carolina to furnish the means to do
pretty nearly the whole work, and that if she
does not tire and abandon it before the work is
half completed, the means will be supplied so
reluctantly and slowly, as to renden it very
costly work. Judge Frost informs US that in
paying part in stock, part in bonds and the
balance in cash, it enhances the cost, so that he
gets no more for dollar than 7oc in money
would command. Where is the capital TO come
from to relieve this difficulty? What has
Georgia done, and what will she do! The peo-
pie of that State have subscribed $4,000 TO-
wards q work which is TO cost $685., ,404O0.
What has North Carolina done! Literally
nothing the people of that State have subscrib-
ed $55,4o0 towards building n road seventy
three miles long, and which is 10 cost $780,
10000. What has Tennessee done? Very little
indeed her subscription amounts to no more
than S25O,OOO, raised principally by the issne
of county bonds, the legality of which is to be
tested by legal investigation. The sum total is
$3.50, 10000 TO build road firty-three miles
long, and which is TO cost 81 Sl,5369lS,0o
The State, of Tennessee has passed an act for
the purpose of aiding in the construction Of
railroads in Tennessee. That act involves the
issue of bonds to the amount of the enormous
sum of seventeen millions of dollars for works
now in progress or about 10 be. But how differ
ent that act is from the proceedings of our
Legislature in subscribing and loaning to the
Blue Ridge Road.
The act of The Legislature of Tennesse all.
thorizcs the issue of State bonds to be loaned
to all new railroad companies in the State,
sufficient sum to purchase the iron and build
the necessary bridges. The road, before it can
receive the bonds, must be graded and the su-
perstructure on it, then The State takes a first
morig on The road The State in that way
may loan her credit do n vast amount and do
good to The Stale without hazard of loss, for
the very iron Which her bonds purchase is NOR
tpgcd with the road for the debt,
The State of Tennessee does nothing more
than to loan her bonds in this case to the Knox
willie and Charleston railroad company for $780,.
10000, to purchase the iron and build the
bridges She takes very good care to provide
that The road shall be graded and the wooden
superstructure on it before the bonds shall be
issued, which are TO be secured bv g. r0t NM,
tage.
!. we regard South Carolina to be the pro-
prietor Of this large undertaking, and the fact