The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-10
A Monster Speculation on Foot.
THE FANCY JoBBERs AT WORK IN WASHINGTON
PORT ROYAL 10 BECOME A. FINANCIAL GRAB
BAG-A NEW SCHEME FOB MAKING MONEY
EASILY.

| THE FASCf JOBBEhS al hOhh In mAshNUiotN.
/ PORT ROYAL 10 BECOME A. FINANCIAL GRAB
BAG-A NEW SCHEME FOB MAKING MoNEl
EASILY.
| Information of reliable character has been
received here that the Finance Committee o.
the United States Senate have under consider
alton the subject of railroads in South Carolina
and that proposition has been made By Ger.
tain spectators to build an air line railroad
from Port Royal to Aiken, thence to Ninety
Six on the Greenville road, where connection is
complete with the Blue Ridge Railroad to its
present terminus at Walhalla. This PROPOSE
tion is based upon the contingency that Con-
gress shall grant q subsidy of five thousand
dollars mile to the Blue Ridge road for the
purposes of construction-and the Senate COM
mittee are now gravely considering the pro
priety of recommending this appropriation.
Probably wilder scheme was never laid be-
fore body of Legislators, or more unblush-
ing attempt made to plunder the public treas
ury.
WHAT is Port Royal? At best best mere
negro town in embryo, where few shanties
and suffers shops have for the time being
reared their ragged shapes, and served to
diversity the dreary topography of the place.
It is situated, however, at the head of fine
harbor and this one fact has induced the
speculator to believe that by properly bleeding
the public, something may be accomplished
for himself in particular, and somebody's rail-
road in general He has laid out the town into
building lots and plans Of the new city are
no doubt in Wall-street, as well as Washington,
but it is beyond all cavi that its chief settlers
for the next ten years will be poor colored
population, who will not add one dollar to the
material interests Of the locality, or Of the
State.
Again, if anybody will look at the map, it
will be found that the route of the contempla-
ted road will bring it into direct competition,
on parallel lines, with the Savannah River and
South Carolina Railroad. The country is bare
and sparsely populated, and has not business
enough to keep line Of omnibuses alive, much
less q railroads.&c. that the advantages of a
through route would, in q pecuniary point Of
view, be offset by competition, small trade,
and the expense Of keeping up communica-
tion.
If Congress or anybody else seriously enter
tain the idea Of an appropriation for the bene-
ft of the Blue Ridge Railroad, let it be for the
purpose of completing that important enter.
prise. If they still have more money to spend,
and will not run on the Greenville Road, let
them build line from Ninety-Six to the South
Carolina Railroad, and then, by nearly direct
line, the stores of the Middle States and
the great West will be poured into the lap Of
Charleston.
The idea that Port Royal will be our Liver
pool, and Charleston second London, is as
fond az it is foolish. This city of ours must be
built up first, and then it will be time enough
to talk of subsidized schemes whose intention
is immediate speculation and prospective
plunder.
EXTRA MEETING OF CRY CoUNon.-Present,
His Honor the Mayor; Aldermen Ravenel
Gerdts, Small, O'Neill, Steinmeyer, Olney
Oakes, Marshall, Enston, Whilden and Cos
grove.
The Mayor stated that, being absent at the
last meeting, he had convened Council tt
bring to their attention certain matters tha
had been laid over.
The bill defining certain duties Of apotheea
ries was brought up, and passed to it's SECOND
reading, further consideration being postponed
to the next meeting, in order to allow the pub
Lie time to see its provisions.
The bill to regulate the driving OF carts
drays and wagons on the streets came up, ant
passed to its second and third reading, and wal
ordered 10 be e1grossed as an ordinance.
The Mayor presented 10 Council lette
from Mr.. A. J. White, Chairman OF the Cit.
Transportation Railway Company, calling
attention OF Council to the importance OF ,
continuation of Washington-street, and th,
necessity of plats, &c. Ordered to be laid ovel
for consideration.
The petition Of sundry draymen, protesting
against the construction Of the proposed
freight railway in Washington-street, was re
ferred to the Mayor, with power to act.
The Mayor stated that he had communicated
with the Trustees Of the Roper Hospital rela
tive to renting the same, and reply had beel
received that was unsatisfactory, and he hat
effected lease of the Tucker building for th
ensuing year.
Alderman Marshall offered the following.
Resolued, That the Mayor be requested tx
inform General Candy that Council is preparet
to furnish to OF its own city physicians to tn
| hospitals, free Of COST: so as 10 conform &
Order No. SO. Adopted.
The special committee, appointed to confe
with the Trustees of Charleston College on th,
matter of the interest on city stock held by tn
college, reported unfavorably on the appica
ton of the trustees. Adopted.
The Mayor called the attention Of Council tt
the artesian we'll, and the propriety Of utilizing
the supply Of water by conveying it to tn
wharves; also to the shell road, which he state,
was necessity and could be laid for SIS, SOC
payable in city bills Of one and two years
credit. Aldermen Enston, Oakes and Honou
we're appointed committee to consider tht
feasibility OF the plan and make contract.
Alderman Marshall offered a resolution tina
the markets be opened from April 1st to Octo
Der 1st from A. NJ. TO 9 A. NJ, and from Oc
tober 1st to April 1st from A. NJ. to 10 A. n.
on Saturday nights from 5 P. NJ. to 10 P. III.
| Alderman Whilden offered resolution tina
the slaughter-pens be removed from the city
and that the matter Of the establishment of tan
neries, candle factories, &c., be referred to tn
Board of Health, to report at the next meeting
The Mayor called attention Of Council to thu