Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-07-10
FOR TIE COURIER.


Mr. Editor: Will you allow me the use Of
the Courier" to express my doubts in regard
to the propricty of the State granting to tho
Blue Ridge Railroad further aid, at our next
Legislature. | would not have YOU think.
for, ono moment, that am opposed to this
grand enterprise, far from it. an, on the
contrary, warm friend and advocate of this
great and almost world-ronowned enterprise,
knowing, as we'll do, the great and lasting
advantages and benefits the State and her
citizens must inevitably derive from tho carly
completion of the same But would simply
argue the wisdom and propriety of the State
granting this enterprise further aid at the next
Legislature at least, for very apparent rca-
sons.
About tho first thing the Blue Ridge Com
pany did, after it's organization, was to CON
tract with hNsoN BANGS & Co., (Northcrn
fncn,) to build the Road BANGS worked a
fBmali force on the Road, somo two or thrco
years, to but little or no advantage. The
Blue Ridge Company paid BANGS g. Co. for
considerable work, which is now worse than
useless, 1T being to remove, such as culyorts
&C., &c., for some cause, though / presume
not without q just ono. BANGS g. Co. was
discharged. Since then, they, BANGS & Co.,
have commenced suit against the Blue Ridge
Company, for, hear, three millions of dollars
| damages
Now, if BANGS & Co. should obtain ;udo.
mont against the Blue Ridge Company for
tho above amount, q thing not at ali iniprol,-
able. for such is the glorious uncertainties of
the law, or if they, as they generally do, in
such cases, split tho difference-as tho horse.
swappcr would say--and give BANGS & Co a
judgment for one and half million. | ask
where is the money to come from? Why.
says everybody, let the Blue Ridge COMPANY
pay it themselves. Yes, that would be hon
,cst, | will admit, but very reasonably infer,
by thoir again asking the State for help
which they are very certain to do, that they
have very nearly already expended what
available means they have, and thoy are not
likely to get any more unless tho State gives
1t to them, and am SO very little acquainted
with legal matters generally. as not to know
but what if the State should make the desir-
cd appropriations, for the uses and purposes
of the Blue Ridge Railroad, but what it would
either wilfully or legally be subject to tho
liabilities oftho company. Then again, am
reliably informed that the Company pay their
engineers extrayagantly high prices, which
they have perfect rightto do, ifthey choose,
SO long as they pay it themselves, but when
''oh biV Otubc W uSSISJ Gncln, or IN other
words, wheH they ask the State to force each
and every ono of her tax-payipg citizens, to
sssist them in paying these oxorbitant prices.
Then am sure the people have q right to
complain, and will most certainly do so.
lnconclusion, | will say that the State has
already assisted the Bluc Ridge Company, to
anunwise extentin my honest opinion. Whom
/ the State granted them aid, it was on condt
hons that there should be a specified amount
of stock taken by private individuals, or cor.
IporatioDs, and a given per cent. paid on the
4 same, before the State aid was ayailab'e.-
Now, TO procure the desired amount of sub
scription, the Company sent its agents hithoi
and thithcr. for the purpose Of soliciting sub
scriptions from ToM, DICK and HARRY. The
deal ofwhich, 10 per cent, never win be paid
on u, much less the whole amount.
j With all these evidences OF extsayagan
cles, with many others could name, so yery