The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-20
THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE
CHARLOTTE RAILROAD.

noints in this State as well, which would furnish
convenient transportati N, and th"s draw to the
roatronolis of South Carolina the commerce OF halt
a dozen prosperous States, and build up our city
into tho leading exporting and importing seaport
Of the South Atlanti, coast, and, through the
>yenoy of such commercial centre as Charleston,
we would be in position to furnish material aid to
all Of our people, from the seaboard to the noun
tains.
To accomplish these high aims, both the State
OF South Carolina and the City Of Charleston have
lsyishly contributed of their means. Money and
endorsements to the extent Of millions OF do liars
have been freely furnished, not only to roads in
our own State, but to number OF other connect
inRrosds beyond our borders, which, it was e4-
pected. would. act as auHiaries to the commerce
at this, ciity. Upon the successful accomplishment
of these ends depends, not only the prosperity OF
the South Carolina Railroad Company, but. dis
euiseit Is We may, the commerce and the welfare OF
both City and State are largely at stakes and 1t Is
to- preserve and protect these vital interests that
i4he South Carolina Railroad Company invokes tho
AID of the Courts to restrain paipsble infringe
msnt of its charter, and to prevent the wealth OF
the State from going towards building up distant
points.
The State of Georgia wields every influence at
commaad in the intel est of her seaports; and
our sister State OF North Carolina has thoushtit to
her interest to build her railroads with different
g1age 30 that every pound of freight, other than
to her own ports, must break bulk at her borders.
Who are the parties who ask for free passage
across our State, and who actually, by adrolt man
agenent, induced the Legislature OF South Carroll
ma to promise 70 pay them for destroying our wen
understood plans Of internal improvements THESE
very neighbors Of ours, who legislate against us
with their narrow guage roads.
:Our commercial readers are aware that, for more
ethsn q year past, the great effort OF the Charlotte
and Columbia Railroad has been to divert trade
fon it's usual channel to Charleston, and to carry
IL to New York. Every bale Of cotton transported
along that road to Charlotte, and thence to New
York. has been 80 much Of the ife-blood OF COM
merce diverted from Charleston. Was it to enect
this object to build dup New York at the expense OF
Charleston, to foster the railroads and sesports OF
North Osrodina at the sacrifice Of the interests OF
its own roads, that the State subscribed to the
Charlotte and Columbia Railroadp II We correc5-
" remember the circumstances, the appeal to the
State and to the city Of Charleston for aid to the
4
the assertions that the road would contribute 10
the prosperity Of Charleston; and the eloquent
gentleman from Charlotte, who addressed our citi-
xeug On that subject, not only asserted, but dc!
monstated that the receipts ct cotton at the port
OF Charleston would be nearly doubled by the con-
struo6on OF this road. Their appeals were con-
vihcing, and the State and city subscribed: What
.isthslesulta The road completed BY their efforts
Rnasd n diaers trade TO and through North Caro-
Hnso and to dsstpoyths veryinterests, the protec
tt6nSad. .sdvancsmsnt Of which were the objects Of
iis oonaInotion,S,E may ha beyond our power to
remedy tkat evil The road is bultand chartered,
and ygcsnnot impair its right or control its ope-
rstions. But it now seeks to become still more
potent enemy II seeks an ally in the Columbia
and AsHustf RAILROAD. khieh, built .byits efforts
and ofacered by its President, is hardly 30 much
an independent road Is branch or continuation;
of thsG Charlotte and Columbia road dfrom Columbia
to Augusta. No more fatal blow could be given to,
Charleston and the State than by the construction
of this road. No one acquainted with Che re-
sources Of the country through which it passes
viii entertain for q moment the idea that any local
traffic or development Of internal resources Is an
ticipated. IssAh object, is 70 coneea augusta
soiM Cnartoaz. -. t.-sr y. -.Es
Names are things, and had the road been en-
titled Sroad iromn Charlotte to Augusta, the true
scope 6ths measure would have been manifest
and the bill would have been defeated. But those
who eneiueered the work were too astute to e1-
press opbhy tie real OBJECT otthe' bin" The road
was FIRST chartered ss the Columbia and Hamburg
Road; ifteon years ago. subsequently its title
was changed ID the !" Columbia and Augusta Rail-
roads7 and it was authorized to cross the Savan-
nah Riverl then by another and final amendment,
it was. a,.Utorized 10 connect the Charlotte and
Columbia Railroad ,oith the Georgia Radroad
BY successive steps it had now .(1S6S) reached
tnat position, which had been kept steadily in
view from the outset, and SO adroitly had it been
managed that neither was suspicion excited nor
alarm given.
Looking back upon the action Of the State Leg
islature, it is matter Of surprise and regret that
the Charleston delegation had not perceived the
tendency of the bill, and the dangers which
threatened the most important interests of this
city from it's passage. Had the attention OF
the Legislature been called to it, We do not
believe that the bill ever could have passed,
but unfortunately II suas ooer!ooked, the bill
quietly passed, and the only possible mode in
which the danger can be averted, is by testing
the constitutionality Of the act chartering it.
The proceedings which the South Carolina Rail-
road Company has initiated are of course primarily
for its own benefit It is not willing, nor could it
with any propriety permit it's resources to be Oh
ninished, or it's traffic diverted without testing
the rights OF the proposed Columbia and Augusta
Road In defending, then, its own interests, 1t bat
-, for &Ia Inn
the State and city; and even in these almost hope
less times, OF prostration and depression OF pubhc
spirit, its officers are mindful Of the expectations
Of the great men who, under protracted difficulties
in the past, have worked out its of useful
ness to both the State and the city, and who will
not be deferred from at least an earnest effort to
realize those hopes in the no distant future, by
the mischlevous schemes Of those who, it may be,
have no South Carolina to live for-no aspirations
for the future of old Charleston.
But it is contended that the South Carolina !
Railroad Company should have acted more prompt |
" in contesting this right Of the Charlotte Rail
road extension. We must not forget that this |
nroposed railroad was chartered in 1s53 and that |
for nearly ten years it had slept so quietly as to
fail to excite in the breasts Of is friends or it's
enemies the slightest hopes or the faintest ap-
.,rehenaions of its construction; and when, in
:. was again revived, with faint prospects OF
mt as military road, the utter hope
,ftort to import iron or material
-lieyed the movement Of the
'l Prospect or attention. |
'rring the war Of
',ere, but at
what |