The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-29
Washington Avenue.

The subject of creating an ample CONNER
cial thoroughfare, parallel to the entire extent
of Wharfage on Cooper River, has for consid-
cradle time past been under consideration, and
the need of such thoroughfare has been SEN
sibly felt by many of our merchants.
From the Southern wharves at East Bay Bat
tery to Market-street, East Bay-street averages
seventy feet in Widths quite direct in its course,
is parallel and contiguous to the wharfage, and
fulfIls all the conditions needed for the above
purpose. But northward, from Market to Cal
houn-streets, East Bay-street is crooked,
scarcely exceeding fifty feet in width, in many
places being as narrow as twenty-seven to
thirty-four feet, and is therefore to the north
of Market-strset unfit for the purposes of g
mercantile thoroughfare. 1t has consequently
been thought necessary either to improve East
Bay.street from Market-street northward, or
to provide new and proper channel to con-
meet with East Bay-street at or near the New
Customhouse.
A careful consideration OF the subject will
render the advantages of the latter course ap-
par1nt. Practically speaking, it is not possible
to sEaighten East Bay-street, from Market to
Calhoun, and to make it even fifty feet in width,
and with its present location, would be attend
ed with considerable expense, by reason of val
liable buildings which would require removal.
By inspection of the city map, it will be seen
that by departing from East Bay-street, in the
neiehborhood of the market, with q slight
angle westward, route seventy feet in width
can be obtained, which would meet Washing
ton-street at society-street continued, and
would, to all practical purposes, be a direct
prolongation of Washington-street, which, in a
straight line, now runs from Society to Calhoun
street. From East Bay to Society-street this
new street would, for the most part, run over
private property. However, only five or siz
buildings would require removal; none oi
them being Of great value, and indeed all but
one being of an inferior class, involving in
themselves thereby very slight expense, and
leaving otherwise only the ground occupied tc
be purchased.
Thus, at minimum Of cost, an ample
thoroughfare, very nearly straight, would be
opened from the Southern wharves to Cal
houn-street, and the great object so essentia
to commercial seaport be attained. From
Calhoun-street Washington-street continues
with slight detection of o few degrees, to the
Northeastern Railroad Depot, at the eastern
end of Chapel-street. When the proposed e1
tensions are completed, broad route will bs
formed admirably suited for the cotton travel
as it will extend from the Railroad Depot tt
Southern Wharf.
Colonel E. B. White is now engaged in max
ing an instrumental examination, and hopes il
few days to make an official report on .ht
entire subject to his Honor the Mayor. The
City Engineer, Mr. Louis ]. Barbot, has beer
for some time engaged in making the surve!
Of the shell road, and the services Of Colone
White we're fortunately secured for the surve!
Of the new thoroughfare. Some years since
Colonel White, in connection with MIR. Parker
surveyed Washington-street to the then con
templated extension Of Socety-street east
ward, and his knowledge Of the route has beer
Of great assistance in the present survey. TX
Colonel Cogswell, the present Mayor, is due
the credit Of inaugurating the shell road and
the extension OF Washington Avenue.