Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-11-30
For tho Advertiser.
To the Editor of Edgefield Advertiser

KALNIA Nov. 23d, 1859.
DEAR SIR:-Allow me to correct some errora
that you have laboured under in your Editorial
remarks in reference to my speech at tho sac-day
meeting on Monday 7th inst.
After receiving the letter from DR.. II. r. Cook,
THos. ]. DAVIS, PAUL T. HAMMOND and GEORGE
B. MILLS Eso'rs., I enclosed it with the manu-
script 10 friend in Elgefed, with the following
remarks, al do not wish to obtrude my views on
the people of Elgcield District, and I nn not will
ling to have tho speech published, unless it bo at
tho request fat lcust dozen names of gentlemen,
citizens of the District" The package wns mailed,
when my attention was directed to the copy of
your Editorial in the Charleston Courier, upon
which I determined to have tho speech published
in that paper and call upon you to give it place
in your coumns-not knowing that my letter
would be handed to you.
You arc "mi$taken in supposing that the sub
scription of ten thousand dollars to which allu-
lcd in my speech, is promised to the projected
Hamburg ind Columbia road prorided it runs by
GIanitevillc."
For your information, I will add, that it was
the Port-royul Rail Road to which referred. 1t
is designed to start at Hamburg or Augusta, pass
through EdgcHcll and Barnwell Districts, and
join the Charleston and Savannah Railr0ad at Sui:
kehatchie Bridgo-thus making continuous line
from Hamburg to Charleston, which will be four
miles shorter than the South Carolina road, and
also shorter route to Savannah than by the
Waynesborough read.
This road will also have branch running in o
straight direction from Charleston towards Macon,
Goorgia-to connect with the Central Railroad ut
Miilen. did once offer to subscribe FIVE thousand
dollars, and promised to double it, if the capital
could be raised to build Railroad from Columbia
to Hamburg. But there was NO such condition at
tached to that subscription, as that ait should
run by Graniteriie."
There was then a strong probability that the
Columbia and Hamburg road would psss by tho
Pine House, and afford the village Of EdGcfeld,
what sue so much dcsires, Railroad convenience
to Augusta, Columbia and Charleston. I enter
tnin confident hope that the Road will yet be
built, whenever tic State of North Carolina shall
grant IL Charter for & Railroad from Grecnsbo-
rough in hat State, to Danvlle, Virginia. twill
become the interest Of ninety y-thrce miles of Rail-
road in North Carolina and Of tho Charlotte and
Columbia Road.
Columbia, as well as Augusta and the Georgia
Railroad, will no doubt grant liberal MD to a
Ruilroad-ncarly an mir limo, from Augusta, Geor-
gia to Richmond yirsinia-which will doubtless
become thoroughfaro for travel.
The Pvrt-roynl Railroad is one Of the works
bound to attract public attention. I would nut be
utall alarmed if were to subscribe four times as
much as ten thousand dollars to that enterprise.
1t will bo quite different affair from tho Blue
Ridge Railroad. We don't expect to call on the
Legislature t, subscribe and sell her bonds to pay
the subscriptions, aud tux portions of the State,
not to be benefited by the work, to rnisc the
means to pay interest, and finally the principal.
This enterprise will not lack for individual sub
scribers. Ifit does, we will not try to build it..
Charleston capitalists, who IRE seeking bonds for
investment ut low rates of interest, will be found
looking after the stock Of this new Western outlet
for Charleston trudo.
The Coutral Georgia Railroad will feel an in
tercst in it, in common with Macon and all that
region Of country Tho Georgia RnilrOad, Angus
ta, aud the country trading with Hamburg will be
benefited by it, aud feel III interest in its success.
Tho Stats may be called on to loan ber bonds
for r. sufficient amount TO purclnse tue irun-But
she will have pledged for the payment of the
bonds, II splendid Railroad property built by in
liyidua capital enterprise, anl economy, with
its iron purchased with tho proceeds OF the bouHs
and million iollarS worth Of Machinery.
With regard to plauk-roads-They have not
been Abandoned. They arc fund to be ndispen-
sable in nnd around .uust Of our cities. Pittsburg
in Pennsylvania has them Leading out for miles in
every direction. They will continue to be used
wherever timber is plenty, and when it gets scarce
the wooden surface cnu easily be removed aud II
coat Of clay and gravel putin its place. 1fIowned
the Plank-road from Hamburg to Edgefcld, l
would replunk it, and make an eren surface off its
whole length. I thihk that would secure ull the
travel, and render it IL. good un Investment or
better, than scrcn per cent Jonds. If that road can
he made to pay it's owncrs, aud think it Gun, en-
tensions would soon be made towards the saluda
side Of the District, aud make u better outlet for
produce, and serve better purpose to every body,
than Railroads., unless for expeditions travelling.
You speak lightly Of Sramp-drainuge. This is
to become IL subject Of yaet Importance 10 our
State and is as legitimate an object for Stats mid
as lluilrouds From tho best estimates to DO OBJ
tanned, thero arc from four to five hundred thous-
and acres Of Swamp Land in the State susceptible
of reclamation. It is not confined, rs you aver,
TO "two or three Parishes of the low country"
hut ubounils throughout the middle country also.
Tie Elisto Swamp at BranchYille, il seventy two
feet above tho level Of the Sea, and can all be
drained. Gen. HAMMOND has ditched and drained
fifteen hunrirod acres, which arc now nearly if not
ouite as good, as Mississippi or Red River bottom
and worth from $75 to 800 per acre. Much Of
that land WAS bought at so cents to dollar IN