The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-02-08
7he.Prospeots of Camden.


7he.Prospeots of Camden.
In recent article in this paper, we
took occasion to recapitulate the history
Of our troubles with the South Carroll
ma Rail Road Company, on the subject
of rebuilding the Camden Branch In
the same number, we announced upon
tho authority of a letter of the President
Of the Road to our resident Director,
that the work of Reconstruction would be.
commenced by the 1st inst. Some of The.
views with which we had intended to
follow up the subject, have been modi--
fed by this encouraging information,
but it may be well to express q few
thoughts which we then entertained.
A Rail Road is Necessity to coun-
trY like ours, whose staples are bulky
and difficult Of transportation. Cotton,
turpentine and rosin cannot proftably
and easily be whisked away to a distant
market by wagon, over the ordinary
country roads, as the experience of the
last two years has sadly proven. The
turpentina., farms in thre. 'fourths of
this District, formerly 50 profitable,
have been discontinued. The consid-
.,erahle ponulation engaced in its pro
y;NdCtkh has, disaPr1arcd-the t6pus-
ahds of acres of land before so valuable,
llhve become almost worthless while
the mercantile operations of Camden,
based upon this commodity, have been
wholly suspended. It is true, the area
Of cotton planting, so greatly diminish
ed by other causes, has not been SINH
larly affected, because of its higher val
ue, and the necessity of its production,
as the only article upon which the plant
CT can rely to compensate his labor, in
these days of trial and difficulty. Dut
how seriously has the planter felt the
loss of his home market, and the heavy
cost of transportation by wagon? To
the merchants Of Camden, how ruinous
has been the loss of the cotton trade {?
Last year, the staple went to the Char
lotte Rail Road on the ono hand, and
the Wilmington Road on the other; al
most from our very doors. Sumter,
Columbia and Charlotte enjoyed the
trade upon which Camden formerly
prospered-which gave character to the
place ard raised the standard of our
merchants to a point of honorable and
elevatcdrespectability. Our Town prop
erty has deprecated to less than half
its value. The rugged ruins left by
tie torch of the inccndiary, still frown
grimly in their ashes and but one soli-
tary building has reared it's head on
broad street, since that dismal night,
| two years ago, when the conqueror drove
defenceless women and children, in ter
ror from their flaming homesteads.-
Many Of our best people have been
forced to seek refuge in other and more
thriving communities. Schools have
been broken up churches deprived
Of half their worshippers, and home
circles rendered desolate, by the BAN
ishment Of many of the brightest and
best beloyed-al for the want of Rail
Road.
It would be cruel to lift the veil which
half conceals the fearful struggles with
poverty and want, of those who still
remain, to fight the battle Of life in the
homes Of their ancestors. A people
thus suffering must have relief. This
we have all along felt must come with
the rebuilding of the Rail Road. With
that, we shall see the grey dawn Of
better times, soon to be followed by the
rosy sunlight of prosperity. If these
fail us, then, with the desperate energy
of last hope, we shall throw ourselves
into new enterprise which promises
us even better results. Very soon,' an
airline Rail Road will be finished from
Hamburg to Columbia. The Sumter