The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-02


tlemen from Wilmington visited Charleston for
the purpose of urging upon our leading citizens
the construction of q road along the coast, pass
ing in the vicinity of Georgetown, to connect the
i two cities by the shortest practicable line, and
towards which they we're willing to pledge a SUBJ
scription to the extent Of one-half it's cost. AT
that time the bulk of the travel between New
York and New Orleans passed this way-the
connection between Charleston and Whining
ton being kept up by daily line of steamers.
These, however successfully managed, were
deemed Objectionable, and, to retain this
travel, these gentlemen proposed the road
above referred to. Their arguments, how
ever, failed to convince the parties here, and
they returned to Wilmington annoyed and dis
appointed at the issue Of their visit. If We
mistake not, they then conceived the idea OF
building road from Wilmington, in the direc-
ton of Columbia or Augusta, which eventually
resulted in the completion of the wilmington
and Manchester Road" to Kingsville.
AS soun as it became apparent that this
project would be carried out, it was no less
evident thst the stream Of travel would be di-
rected from Charleston. To counteract this to
some extent, the Northeastern Railroad was
devised, and charter was obtained in Decem-
subscribed to warrant commencement Of the
work in 1S53-and in 1857 the road was opened
to Florence, point on the Wilmington and
Manchester Railroad, one hundred and seven
miles from Wilmington, and one hundred and
two from Charleston. In view of its construc-
projected, and completed to the same point,
thus afording continuous line of one hun
dred and forty miles into the heart of the State.
Much of the country through which the North
eastern Railroad passed had been previously
deprived of those facilities of transportation
which are en- essential element to the develop
ment of it's resources, and the local Importance
of the road is shown by the increased quantity
of produce which, year by year, it has brought
to market.
FREIGHT.
In 1857 the freight receipts were SIS, ,425, but
by the next year the receipts had increased to
st7,9S3 One year later they had swollen to
s1Os,271, and in 1860 they were s149, ,7S2. After
the war the country was in q half ruined con-
dition, and the freight receipts for 1866 were
but 1858 In 1857 the receipts, however,
were s17G, G,SO1, and for the yer just closed they
we're s17264S In the number Of bales cotton
transported there has been similar move
ment. In 1857 the road carried but Lila bales,
in 1860 it carried 58, ,401 bales, In 1867 it car
ried a. $50 bales, and last year it carried 26,9G1
The number Of barrels naval stores trans.
ported shows q marked increase, the total
being in 1866, 6966 for eight months. in 1867,
%, 0SO for twelve months, and in 1868, 94,072.
The general character Of the cotton business
Of the road is shown by the fact that out of
total transportation IN 1H6S OF 49, 961 bales, no
less than s,4SS came from the Wilmington
and Manchester Railroad, Cheraw and Darling
ton Railroad and from Florence. From Gour-
din's there was total shipment of 1542 bales,
and from Oakley total shipment Of only four
bales.
PASSENGERS.
In 1857 the company receive from passen-
gers s15,960 By 1850 the yearly receipts from
this source stood at sss,045, and in 1866 they
were as high as s8S,2s3. In 1867 the receipts
amounted to s12O,O1s, and for the past'year
they are ss2,OSS. or the total passenger re-
ceipts, s44, 1G1 were derived from through pas
sengers, and s4O,255 from way passengers.
The average gum received from each through
passenger was s. 81, and from each way pas
senger 81 43.
THE MEETING.
The annual meeting of the stockholders OF
the Northeastern Railroad Company was held
at the hall Of the Planters and Mechanics
Bank on Wednesday, LIST april, 1868.
A majority of the stockholders being repre-
sented, the meeting was organized by calling
the Hon. N. Cogswell, Mayor, to the chair,
and appointing c. Whitman Secretary.
The reports OF the President and Superin-
tendent were then read, and on motion made,
received as information. They are as follows: !:
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENTS OFFICE,