The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-15
The Charleston Mercury and Our
Railroads.

The Charleston Mercury and Our
Railroads.
Mr.. EDITOR: The Charleston ler-
curry, of the 7th instant, contains an
editorial, denouncing tho policy of
the President and Directors of the
Charlotte Railroad, as hostile to
Charleston. This article assumes
that the Charlotte Road was built,
in great degree, by Charleston
capital, when the city only subscribed
$4,000 to its stock; that the Char
lotte Road els operated by foreign
interests, and to the detriment of the
commercial metropolis of the State,
and, therefore, to the detriment of
the State" These are remarkable
statements, and will be news to the
stockholders Of other roads and citi-
zens generally of the State.
"And, not only this, but this
same hostile interest is now further
strengthened, by lengthening the
line of this same Charlotte Road to
Graniteville. When this extension
will be completed, large part of the
commerce of this State will be taken
off over 300 or 400 miles of North
Carolina railroads to Portsmouth,
Virginia. The editor continues:
"Cotton gro,on 100 miles from Charles
ton aciH, by his policy, be forced to
Portsmouth,"
The general and vague statements
contained in the foregoing para
graphs, only require repetition for
their refutation. Upon the partial
statements in the editors remarks
about Equitable arrangements" and
what this road offered and that de-
clined, it is unnecessary to comment.
There are two sides to every contro-
versy, and it is presumable the edi-
tor has heard only one, and his
Judgment in deciding the case might
be regarded as &c parte.
1t is we'll known that the Charlotte
and Charleston roads, for some rea-
sons, have not harmonized, and that
the former, knowing its unpopularity
in the State, has endeavored to
thrust the city Of Charleston into the
controversy, to create some sympa-
thy or interest in its behalf. We
would rejoice to see the prosperity
OF Charleston restored, and all the
trade and business of the State and
adjoining States made tributary to
her commerce. And, Mr.. Editor,
did not the Charlotte Road, until
the present administration of the
South Carolina Railroad, contribute,
as much as any other road. in pro-
portion to its means, to the COM
merce and wealth of Charleston? It
brought foreign trade and capital to
the city, from nearer Portsmouth
than its Northern terminus.
But let the friends of Charleston
not assume that Charleston is the
State-that all the roads in the State
were built by her and the State, for
her interest and the convenience"
Of others. These claims have long
been set up by the South Carolina
Railroad, and the remarks of the
!hercury appear more in defence of
its policy than for the interests of
Charleston.
The South Carolina Railroad Com
pany, as represented by its President,
has been decidedly hostile to the con-
struction of the Columbia and Au-
gusta Railroad; and has been unceas.
ing in his opposition to it, even after
ordering its track to be torn up, and
one of its trestles to be torn down,
and after the bill he filed to enjoin
its construction was decided against
him. AS the Charlotte Road has
aided In the construction of this ex-
tension, so-called, it seems to have
incurred the displeasure of the au-
thorities Of the South Carolina Rail-
road also. Hence the many articles
in the Mercury, dennnciatory OF both
roads. Now, + am, q. stakeholder and
friend of the Coluuabia, and Augusta
Railroad, and believe and hope that
it will be built not only to Granite
vile, but to Augusta; and also fully
concur with the Mercury, that it viii
take cotton to New York, from within
100 miles of Charleston. IL the pre-