The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-24
SESSION OF THE LEGIsLAruRE.

This body will assemble OIL the fourth Mon.
day in this month. The discussion of the Blue
Ridge Railroad, we suppose, will be the leading
question in tho programme Of hot and fiery de-
bate. This was the fierce fourth contest of
last Session. 1t is doubtful which way the
scales will turn, whether in favor or against this
enterprise. But own opinion is that the
| action Of the last Session will be reversed. and
| the restriction of which the Company complained
| will be removed
We are not much inclined to laud the wisdom
which inaug"raed this enterprise, but we are
''rn'y persuaded that utter so much has been
DONE that it were worse than folly to abandon
it. To throw away 100000 of dollars is no
small matter TO the State. This amount would
be un entire loss to the State if the work is to be
abandoned now.
Suy that the State. in addition to what che
h"s already given, has to make her entire
subscription SC 200. 900 in order TO complete the
road, and if it is admitted that the road would,
when it is completed. pay expenses, and paw a
dividend of three and hrlf per cent, then it
can be shown upon the basis of a mere money
calculation, leaving out the advantages tha.
would accrue to the commercial and agrirultu-
raj ln'cres: Of the State, that it would be better
Tor the State, putting it upon the basis of
loss and profit, in Dollars and cents, TO make
the additional subscription of three millions,
than TO abandon the work ut it's present state.
Because if the work is now abandoned the thu co
millions Is II clear loss. and the interest upyn
this sunk capital would be annually Two Hun
dred and Ten Thousand Dollars. Thus the peo.
pie in effect would pay this sum annually TO all
eternity.
But suppose the State invest three millions
more, making six millions invested, and SUP
pose she realizes three and half per cent. on
the investment, she would then lose three and n
half per cent. on The investment md this loss
would just be Two Hundred and Ten Thousand
Dollars. pre- cisely what she would lose in mon
ev II her aid Is to be withdrawn from the
work now. So that if the road will pay three
and half per cent, und can he completed with
six Millions OF Dollars, the State should make
the investment as matter Of pecuniary INTEREST.
But it may he sad that the road would not paw
expenses, and would have 10 be 80 Id out Welh
suppose that this should come to pass, aud the
road, when completed, should be put up at auc-
ton. l suppose that it would be reasonable to
allow that ii would bring in market one half
the original cost So that by the sale the State
would receive back three million of Dollars.
and only lose by the operatian the came
amount that would be forever lost to her by dis
continuing the work. Tf these assumptions are
true the legitimate infercnces from them forces
one 10 the conclusion that it would be unwise
upon the part of the State to allow the enter
prise to fail.
These are thoughts which, rs we write,
have suggested themselves to us, and such and
those AKIN to them, should be raised and duly
weighed in every question Hs to the loss or
profit of amy monicd investment. We have
simply alluded to this matter in its pecupiarv
point Of view.
If 1t is 80 that TO stop or 20 on affects the
purse of the people equally. then certainly the
great good to be accomplished by its compile.
ton should turn the scales in its fuvor. r,
the enchanced prosperity Of the State norhmp2
Is it nothing to the people of the State to eusbl.
them to buy for less and sell for more3 Arc
Railroad facilities worth nothingi If go. us n
matter of dollars and cents, to 90 ahead with
this work may be Of doubtful propretv. But
when these allowed 10 have their inst
weight at this stage of the work, they become
arguments incontrovertable in its favor.