Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-11-25
Cars Running Through from Columbia
fo Graniteyille ~!

Cars Running Through from Columbia
to Graniteville
We feel thrill of JOY MS we announce the fact!
And VIC feel also q buoyant hope that Edseheld,
though still in Rip Van Wiuklc s1umbsr, will
soon be thoroughly awakened by the whistle Of
progress screaming daily in her cars. Will she
always hear this whistle six miles away! Shnme
and desolation will fall upon her if she should;
and, truth to sny, she would he reapiug no more
than her lust deserts. But moro Of that anon.
We return to the great, the important, the JOY
full fact that the Columbia and Augusta Railroad,
is finished from Columbia to Granitevillo On
this day, Wednesday, 25th November 1868, the
cars will run through for the FIRST time. Our
District, and our section especially, should score
this day with white mark. And on tomorrow,
Thursday 26th, there will be a grand meeting Of
the Stockholders in Columbia.
President JOHNSTON and Chief Engineer Moore
certainly deserve the thanks Of all progressive
minds throughout the country for the uncon-
querable energy and zeal manifested by them in
bringing this important Road SO nearly to perfect
completion They have had manifold and i'm
mense difficulties to encounter and through all,
and above all and in spite of all, they have tri-
umphantly dem onstrated that they have no su-
periors as Railroad men," And of Col JOHN
sroy, President of the Road, with whom VIC have
the honor to be personally acquainted, We can
say further, that he has no superior as gentle
man of large and liberal views, Of honor, of in
1;.b affu
In addition to the drawbacks Of war, dcsola-
ton, ruin and poverty, it is we'll known that this
Road has had net Of legal technicalites thrown
around it. Tho South Carolina Railroad first
conteuded that, By reason Of IN old charter
granted that road, no other could cross its track
at or near Columbia, and resorted to the usual
legul remedies in order to enforce its franchise.
The next impediment was at Graniteville. where
the South Carolina Road insisted that certain
trestle work (already erected) of the Columbia
and Augusta Road, was an infringement of its
proprietary rights. These two difficulties, after
an obstinate and determined resistance, wcrO
come; aud, suppesing that no other obstacle
would be thrown in the way, tho grading of
the road from Graniteville to Augusta was
commenced; and indeed is now we'll nigh
finished. But at this juncture, with the
road SO nearly completed, and to the regret
of our community, and of all we'll wishers of the
Columbia and Augusta Road, another injunction
has been applied for by the South Carolina Road,
upon the ground that thesaid grading is svithn
one hundred feet Of it's track and consequently
an Infringement Of its charter. This case Was
ersboratsly argued ten days ago before Associate
Justice Willard. in Charleston. Justice Willard
has not yet pronounced his decision, which is
nnxiously locked for; but in nll probability the
decision will be in favor of the South Carolina
Road not that the latter road needs one hun
dred feet on either side Of its track or will need
so much for fifty years to come, but upon strictly
legal grounds.
We hope, however, that the practical sense Of
the day and the progress Of the age will tend to
reconcile the contestants in these matters, and
that the Public as we'll as the Corporations Of the
State will soon realize the inevitable fact that tho
Columbia & Augusta Railroad must ani 'Oil be
carried through to triumphant completion.
p S. Since writing the above, the Charleston
papers have brought us Justice Willard decision.
II is as follows:
The South Carolina Railroad Company vs. the Co.
lumJia and Augusta Railroad Company.
On the hearing Of the Bill III this case, the plea
of defendants, and the afidavits read, and after
argument of counsel for complainants and defcn.
dants, it is ordered that 3 Writ Of Injunction do
issue enjoining tho defendants, their officers,
-gents, and persons employed by them, from en-
tering upon the lands, right of way, or any fran-
chsc of tho complainants, for the purpose Of tho
construction of the Colunbia aud Augusta Rail-
road. And that the said Writ be issued by the
Clerk Of the Court of Common Ploas for Rich
land County, with liberty to the defendants to
movo for tho dissolution of the Injunction now
ordered, at any time before the hearing of the
case; on proof that thoy have duly acquired the
right to onter Tor the purpose of the construction
upon the premises claimed by the complainantS as
set forth in the Bill of Complaint
Al. WILLARD, A. j., sc.
CAarleston, Norember 20h, 1868.
Until they have appealed, and the case shall
have been hoard " on its merits" and so decided,
tho Columbia and Augusta R. r. Company will
have to suspend all work between Graniterillc
and Augusta; that is, all work upon the route as
laid out and graded at present.