The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-10

J., FRIDAY NORM
in the State now lying wild and fallow, or q
best poorly cultivated, l respectfully sugges
the passage of an act creating State Board o
! Agriculture and Emigration, to consist of o
least three capable persons, one of whom
should be practical chemist.
This Board shonld be charged with the dut
of investigating and making known to the en-
| tire country the agricultural resources OF tn
State, and should be required to piake an an
suits Of their Iabors, and recommend such i'm
proyements as they may deem necessary in th'
| system OF cultivation now practiced among
our people, and such improved agricultural ma
chinery as to them may seem most proper, to
gether with the value and mode Of using
| fertilizers. They should also set forth the at
| fractions that our soil and climate and mine
raj resources offer to the thrifty agriculturists
mechanics and miners OF our Northern States
and to those Of Europe. They should als(
present tables showing the cest of living, the
rates of wages, the number and class Of me-
chanics needed in the several counties, and
the price Of land, and the terms upon which il
can be rented. Their report should be fur
nished to the trades unions Of this country
| and Europe.
This information, if properly distributed
will, 1 feel assured, start tide of emigration
that win flow into and greatly enrich the
State. The German and French grape grow
ers win find our upper tier Of counties q soil
and climate ss genial to the grape as their.own
vine-clad hills, being precisely on the same
parallel Of latitude as the great wins-makinR
and the Dane will find ample scope and verge
for their talents for mining IN our gold and
lead regions, while even the Hollander may
exercise his cunning in draining the marsh
lands Of our low country, which he msy get
almost for the asking. Our rivers, aboundmg
with noble falls, are running to waste, when
they should resoupd with the hum OF thou
manufacturer Of the North, who will find Ia
Dor among Ms abundant and cheap, and may
look from his own door upon fields white with
the cotton that supplies his mill.
RAILROADS.
According to the eighth census Of the Uni
ted States, there were nine hundred and eighty
seven (987) miles Of railroad In South Carolina
at the close Of the year 1850, built at q cost Of
tHenty-tWo millions three hundred aud eighty
FIVE thousand (22. 1886, ,000) dollars.
It may be interesting TO observe that the
Charleston and Hamburg Road was the first
passenger railway constructed IN the United
States. It was commenced In the spring OF
1929, and six (e) miles were completed in that
year. It is o noteworthy fact that before the
use Of locomotives was established in Great
Britain, or they were khown in the United
States, the directors Of this road determined,
under the advice OF their engineer, Mr.. Hofatic
Allen, to make them exclusively the motive
power. The same gentleman, in the winter OF
i829. made The drawings Of the first American
steam locomotive, called the "Best Friend" !"
which was planned by Mr. E. L. Miller, Of
Charleston. Upon the Charleston and Ham,
burg Road was introduced In 1881, for the first
time ON any railroad IN the world, the impor-
tant arrangement Of two four (4) wheeled trucks
for locomotives end long passenger cars.
The 6crs here stated are designed to show
that the State has never been wanting in men
OF mechanical genius. with the capacity TO
achieve the greatest enterprises, II properly
encouraged South Carolina, although tho first
to initiate q railway system, has prosecuted
it to very limited extent, compared with the
demands Of her commerce and the resources
Of her SOIL. The facility with which railroads
can be built in this State is evidenced by the
cost in their construction less per mile than
any Of equal length in the United ststes.
would recommend the fostering OF these great
and benefcent public enterprises by the State,
so for as may be consistent with the proper
maintenance Of other important public inter-
ests. At the same Time that railroad corpora
tons should be generously, but judiciously,
fostered, yet suitable laws should be enacted
to regulate their tariff of charges for heights
and passengers, or otherwise they may oppress
ali classes by their excessive rates, and check
the trade and enterprise Of the people.
Railroads are the main arteries OF commerce.
They stimulate production by bringing the
market within easy reach OF the producer.
They give an impetus to every branch of trade,
nd co nod will
great populations, by enabling them 70 circu-
late freely among each other. would espe-
cially recommend that the Slate should furnish
all the aid that it con expediently for the speedy
completion OF tho Blue Ridge Railroad. The
Importance OF that road to the people OF
the State at large cannot we'll be over-estimat-
ed. Starting ut Anderson Courthouse as pro-
longation Of the westerly branch OF the Green
vile and Columbia Railroad, it. will traverse
portions of the Counties of Anderson and Pick.
ems, and of the States of Georgia, North Caro-
lima and Tennessee, having its western terml-
nus at Knoxville, whence 1t will have connec-
tions with Chattanooga, the great fOcad point
Of southwestern railroads. twill also connect
at Knoxville with roads running direct to
Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
The entire length Of the road will be one hum
dred and ninety-six miles, Of which ffty-two
miles lie within the limits Of South Carolina.
(CTI ulliCp VI saAAo oAoeoh~V Axs'o
been fnishea, and are now In running order
from Anderson to Walkalla.
1.-The Blue Ridge Railroad Companyin South
Carolina" Was chartered by the Legislature Of
this State in 1852; but untoward events, among
them the alleged bad faith OF the first contract
ors, have prevented the prosecution OF the
work upon it.
I. The total amount thus far expended ON the
road is three milliens two hundred and hfty
Thousand ($3 $50, ,000) dollars. The additional
amount required to completeit is sisted by the
President OF the road at three millions fve
hundred thousand ($9, ,500, ,000l dollars. This
increased estimate OF cost per mile over that
portion already constructed is due to the heavy
amount Of tuanelhng that will be required in
getting through the Blue Ridge. The State
pOY.oTns stock in this road be the amount OF
one million three hundred and ten thousand
Isl, 500, ,0O0) dollars.
The present bonded debt OF the company is
stated at two hundred and thirty thousand dol
lars ($280, ,000), secured by a mortgage on the
road and its running stock. MIR. j. w. Harri-
son, President Of the Company, states, IN re-
cent report that he has made OF the condition
and prospects Of the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany, TINT 'sall that is expected Of the State is
that che shall guarantee the bonds OF the COM
pany for, say three millions Of dollars, to be
issued In such sums and OF such times as thu
progress OF the work may require. And that
the State shall provide for the payment Of
the interest ON the bonds while the road is be-
ing built. For example, the company could
perhaps expend one million Of dollars year,
for three wears, in which time the road can be