The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-09
Co1UaIBrA, S. c., June 5, 1867.

-. s...s-a i.sssss...s-a
COLUMBIA, S. c., June 5, 1867.
MEssRs. EDITORS: I have just
learned, with some surprise, that the
South Carolina Railroad officers are
undertaking to defeat entirely the
construction of the Columbia and
Augusta Railroad. This road has been
several times chartered by the State
of South Carolina. The last Legisla-
ture made subscription to aid in its
construction, and pledged its faith
and funds to the extent of over
$500.000 to insure its completion.
1t has been under construction for
over three years, without one word
of complaint from the South Carolina
Railroad authorities. Now, they have
filed bill to enioin it's completion,
on the pretended grounds that it yio-
lates their rights, and will take q por-
ton of their business by shorter
and cheaper route. The South Ca
rolina Railroad Company have the
exclusive right to build roads or
canals from Charleston to each of the
cities of Hamburg, Columbia or
Camden, or by the Act of 1928,
branches from the main trunk to Co.
lumbia and Camden. These branches
it has built, and it can claim no more
rights under that Act. The right to
prohibit the construction of parallel
roads was only given to the Louis
vile, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail-
road Company. and could, in no
event, apply to road running al
most at right angles with the South
Carolina Road. Had the South Ca
rollna Road, under their charter, the
right to build rood from Columbia
to Hamburg, or from Columbia to
Camden? Clearly not. Then how
can its rights be violated by the com
pletion of the new road? It is not a
road connecting Charleston, in any
proper sense of the term, with either
Camden, Columbia or Hamburg,
and its general direction is at right
anglesalmost with the South Carolina
Road. 1t is difficult 10 see how q
company could set up such extrava-
grant claims of monopoly, to the
great injury of much of the State.
This road is destined to be of great
public Importance as a through line.
as well as to the middle and North
ern portions of the State of South
Carolina. q
1t is believed the main object of
the President of the South Carolina
Road, who is pressing this matter, is
to destroy the credit ofi.he new com
pany. He is said to have caused an
extensive circulation of the Charles
ton Mems, of the Goth of MAY, con-
tanning Mr.. Conner's speech, and an
editorial in opposition to the Colum-
bia and Augusta Road.
It is said the South Carolina Road
keeps blockading train ON its track,
and has had it there for more than a
week ut the point of intersection,
the object being to prevent the new
road from crossing. It is said it is
still kept there, since the Chancellor
has dismissed the motion for an in
junction. This is pretty high handed
work. 1t is also stated that the
South Carolina Road refuses to deli
yer the iron rails now in Charleston
at the crossing, or Mt the Charlotte
junction, that it brought up, (over
one hundred tons,) and they were
ordered to be thrown off in the yard
at Columbia, con ntrary to the polite
request of the consignees. They
were accordingly SO thrown of, and
the order to the agent is to CHARGE
the Columbia and Augusta Railroad
Company 81 per ton to take them
back to the crossing-only half a.
mile, OF to the Charlotte Junction,
one mile. This looks very much like
malice and revenge, not right and
justice; indeed, it is unbecoming any
respectable corporation. Is it possi-
Bile that the stockholders or Board of
Directors of the South Carolina Road
can authorize or be aware Of this
petty childish conduct2
CITIZEN.