The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-10

| anu UQdU LuO tdI I'LL ID . DOoV nho AAOou OidoelS
foundation; but the committee knew nothing
of all this, and, not owing, know too much.
In November, 184S, Camden Branch was
completed, and the vile road, including the
main-stem and Column and Camden Branches,
was ranked as frst-es by the United States
Postmaster General. Business was steadily
improving, and the .mpany had more than
seven hundred and At persons in it's employ
TEN YES TINE.
In 1850 the freight tins were jogging along
at the rate of six milesn hour, but low speed
is not always safety. The trestle work at
Wateree Swamp gave W with an engine and
ten freight oars; and threeVand quarter
miles the trestles fell liz pack Of cards. But
no lives were lost. Aabout this time, the
company moved their harleston depot from
Mary-street to the castated building on Ann
street, which, to this d, is monument of
the engineering skill President Gadsden.
It has one great fault is useless for the pur-
pose for which it was bit.
In 1852 the rebuildineand relaying with
heavy iron rail, of the Hmburg road was COM
pleted, and, later il the year, the engine
James L. Petigru" eploded, by which acci-
dent the engineer andooh firemen were killed.
Part of the bridges acoss the Savannah and
Congaree Rivers had ben finished, and new
road, which avoided he Old 'scape-goat in
clined plane" at Aiken va, happily in opera
tion.
In 1852 the Direction ws authorized to lay
an additional track from Charleston to Branch
vile, an authorization whih was withdrawn in
1857 as the single track VS. quite equal to all
the demands which traficmade upon it.
In 1853 James Gadsdo, President Of the
road during its greatest nancial difficulties,
and Colonel Wade Hampta, one of the most
efficient and valuable menbers Of the Board,
died. But progress washe word, arrange
ments were made to run trough to Atlanta in
thirty-six hours, the new railroad bridge at
Augusta was completed, ad the spacious new
freight depot on Ann-strct, Charleston, was
opened aud occupied. In 1860 the issue OF
new shares was authorized to provide means
for extinguishing the fundd debt.
TIE coM1lENcEMENIoF THE WAR.
Early in 1861, the attsrtion OF the SOUTH
Carolina Road was directed to the importance
of securing an improved connection by rail, be-
tween Charleston and Southwestern Georgia,
and Southern Alabama. Aproject was then on
foot for securing this end and the company
came to its assistance, subscribing
$3.50, 900 to insure the construction Of railroad
from Warrenton to Macon. This road is not
yet completed, but when pened throughout
it will be of vast benefit to this city and State,
end the means ofpouripg inb the lap OF Charles
ton large portion of the rade OF the fertile
regions of Alabama and Georgia.
The condition of the South Carolina Railroad
was excellent. Road, bed and superstructure
we're in good order, culvcrts were in substan-
tial repair, bridges and tresHes had been i'm
proved and strengthened. Some portions OF
the track required relayins, but, upon the
whole, the company was prepared to meet d
heavy and increasing traffic. Rolling stock was
ample in quantity and kind. There were four-
zen passenger engines and fifLy-one frelghl
1assrf,rr anu n-~ ----->~- ~ CTR" 0'-O
box cars, one hundred and sixty-two PLATFORM
yood and coal cars, and eighteen stock cars.
All tho engines had been put on the ROAD since
1850.
ia give bettor idea of the extent OF the
rolling stock of the company at the beginning
n ,he war. it is calculated that tho whole OF
the cars and engines placed on single track
would have formed continuous line OF nlne
three hundred and fourteen yards III
length, or nearly five and half miles.
Expected hostilities, and the commencement
~ actiye operations deranged commercial
affairs. and the business Of tho road at once
beoan to suffer. The company, during inc
voar of 1861, transported 1902 State troops
and 20 921 Confederate soldiers, but this did
not mako up for the falling off in general
froieht and passenger traffic. Already the com
nany was beginning to be injuriously affected
Int tLe management was still resolved TO en-
1eo vor to meet promptly any calls that might
ba made upon the resources OF the ROAD.
DURING THE WAR.
The close Of the year 1862 found the soutf
Carolina Railroadkin somewhat embarrassed
condition. For the year the income OF tn'
company was nearly two millions OF aoliaiS
and deducting operating expenses anu 'n'
dividend, as we'll as an appropriation TOR inter
cst and damages, there still remained a oalanc'
of $500 $40. But this large sum could not u
arplied to the replacement OF the foad. Loco
motives. cars and rails could not be pougn
aven nj extravagant prices. Tho road wa
beiuu worn down, and the only Satisfaction
the stockholders lay IN tho knowledge tna
their line was public convenience, anu ina
ia gross receipts had increased from 1'loi'
742 in 1861, to 81, ,s4O, ,2l4 in 1862. .,
Machinery and rolling stock were gradual
deterioratlng. The demands OF the govern
ment and of the public had been in excess
the natural capacity of the road; and both lc
oo,not,vos and cars suffered from the cxcesslv
strain to which they we're exposed. One-'hlr
Of the locomotives reported to be in good orde
in 1861 wore disabled during the following year
and the remainder was only maintained by tn
constant and vigorous efforts of the mcchanict
department.
Tho bond dcbt of tho company in Januar!
1864. was s9,1L4,5OO, it having been increase
by the issue of s45, 900 in bonds for the purpos
of navmr the subscription to the Augusta On
NIilledrcylle Road, the floating debt of I'll
company, and its obligation tc the City OF Al
gnsta No money could be RENTED to pay tn
FOREIGN creditors the January interest Oil th
storl;no bonds of the company, but the finar