The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-07

an average Of fifty passengers passing each
day over the line, and this was considered to
be a great improvement upon the staging
days, when the tri-weeklY coaches usually
brought about four passengers trip. In 1859,
however, the rosd carried four hundred and
seventy-one passengers per day, result
never dreamed Of by the original projectors.
1888 TO 1874
Eyentful as were the years from 1888 to 1874,
it is necessary TO pass them over as briefly as
possible. They we're full Of interest and i'm
portance, but their long consideration would
delay the approach To the period when the
South Carolina aailroad in it's present form
came into corporate existence.
Early in 1888 ground was broken on the
Columbia branch which was to connect
Charleston, by The Charleston and Hamburg
Road, with Columbia. Shortly afterwards it
was determined to make Branchville the con-
Meeting point; ground was broken, and during
the year the wlole OF the proposed branch
line was located. Shortly afterwards, an in
crease OF rates o. transportation upon the line
from Charleston to Hamburg was authorized,
but, after General Haynes death, in 1885, the
financial affairs Of the new company became 80
involved that it was doubtful whether the con-
tnuation Of the Columbia branch was in any
way practicable. In the first months Of the
following year, however, vigorous efforts ERE
made for the pushing on of the Columbia road.
These efforts Here in measure successful,
and in July, 1s40, the branch Was opened to
Orangeburg, eighteen miles, and in the follow
ing October it WAS opened to Lewisvile, thirty
miles. at this time the South Carolina Rail-
road was operating both its own line, from
Charleston to Hamburg, and the Louisville,
Cincinnati and Charleston line, as Tar as COM
pleted, from Brsnchville to Columbia.
The financial convulsion Of 1S41 caused o
great falling off in railroad business, and the
stagnation Of trade in the State caused the
receipts Of the railroads to decrease. Still it
was gratifying to know that the roads had
been carefully managed. Not one passenger
had been killed from the day that the first iron
bar had been laid on the railways of South
Carolina, and but one passenger had been Sc
riously injured. On the other hand, the zeal
Of the employees Of the company had led them
to incur unneces ssarY risk, and no less than ten
agents had at different times been killed.
In Che year 1s41 thirty.four miles Of the
Columbia branch from Branchville were COM
pleted, and, in this year, an undertaking Of
great Importance was accomplished
AS far back a, 1887, the work Of substituting
entertainments lor trestle-work had been begun,
and it was determined to relay the whole road
with Hanged rails, in place Of the fat iron rails,
which were particularly noisy, and had the uIl-
pleasant habit, already referred to, Of rearing
themselves at random through car bottoms
and passenger heads. This work of substi-
tuting the Aanged rails was completed in 1871,
to the great plsasure Of all persons travelling
on the road.
In July, 1s42, the Columbia branch was cora
pleted, and the total income Of the two roads
from Charleston to Hamburg and from Branch
VILE to ColuInbia-was for the six months
ending June 81, 1844S, $215, 1884, The roads now
began to be worked jointly, and the sharehold-
ers passed resolutions looking to the running Of
night trains waen freight could be obtained to
justify it. The policy Of the roads was de-
clnred to be: frequent trains, low rates, good
rolling stock and equipment, concert Of action
with roads in Georgia, and an extension Of the
Charleston terminus to the wharves. Here
was compen dunn ofsound railroad poicy;-a
policy that will necessary exceptions has been
strictly adhered to for more than thirty years.
TIE CAMDEN BRANCH.
During the year 1912, permission was grant
ed the citizens of Camden and Kershaw Dis
tricts to construct branch to connect Cam
den with the South Carolina Railroad, and, in
December 1874, an act OF incorporation was
granted by The legislature The Columbia
and Branchvile and Hamburg and Charleston
Roads we're now really one company, and it will
be well to explain how the consolidation Of the
two companies was effected.