The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-28
Mr.. EDITOR: In your paper of the 10th

MR.. EDITOR: In your paper of the 19tl
inst, III. Boiiin, agent of the South Caro-
lima Railroad Company, compares the rate
of freight between New York and Colum
bia with the rates existing between New
York and Augusta, showing that at the pre-
sent time the discrimination is in favor O
Columbia five cents per 100 pounds on frs
class goods, and that on all other goods tn,
charges are equal. From this showing
which is no doubt made 10 impress th,
Legislature that the complaints of the Co
lumbia merchants are without foundation
and thereby prevent them from getting re
dress from the law making power; the in
ference desired by Mr.. Bollin being thn
the railroad company have always discrimi
mated in favor of the citizens of the State
Let facts speak. The South Carolina Rail
road Company, from the day of its com
pietlon until the fall of 1867, have alway.
Disseminated in freights in fauor Of Au
gustd, and against Columbia, cha,yinq lie lat
lei, dt least twenty per cent. higher rates
opened to New York and baltimore nj,
Charlotte and Portsmouth, and the Soutl
Carolina Railroad for the first time were com
pelled to reduce freights, and lost the larger
porlon OF the business of the Columbiu
merchants Finding the business leaving
them, the South Carolina Railroad Com
pany reduced the freights below paying
point, to drive off the competition; but the
air line route lowered their rates also, and
retained the Columbia business Failing
In this, by means best known to themselves
they induced the owners of the Old Do
mlnlon Steamship Company, running be-
1 tween nd \
vance their rates, and entered into an
agreement, giving the mir line route mo
nopoly between New York and Charlotte,
aud the South Carolina Railroad the busi-
ness between New York and Columbia.
This done, the South Carolina Railroad
Company, acahoM notice to the public in No
uem6e'', 1868, ddcanced their rates from Ne,u
York TO Columbia, and Disseminated on
heary goods in Jaror Of augusta at from TEL,
to thirty cents per 100 pounds, and these
rates continued until the 1st inst, when, it
is supposed, the company fearing legisla-
tive interference, reduced the rates, and er
deavor to show that the Columbia mer-
chants have no cause of complaint.
Judging them by their past acts, there is
no doubt but if the Legislature adjourns
without some wholesome legislation on
railroads, the South Carolina Railroad Com
pany, feeling themselves safe for another
year. will again advance freights; especially
as. at the present time, they have managed
to secure monopoly of the business
from New York and Baltimore to this
point. The merchants of Columbia ask
from the Legislature of South Carolina
such legislation as DW secure 10 them and tie
citizens Of Tie State simple Justice. That the
South Carolina Railroad Company, as well
as all other railroad companies chartered
by the State of South Carolina, shall not
discriminate In freight or passage against
the citizens of the State, to whom they owe
their corporate existence; that there shall mol
erist a loao rate Of freight to a Georgian ana
another and higher rate TO a South Curolinian,
that all railroad companies in the State be
compelled to publish their rates of freight,
&c., In daily paper in Charleston and Co
lumbia, and that no advance shall be made
on the same without thirty days notice OF
such change being made, through the same
medium; further, that all over-charges in
freight, &C., by which DETERMINATIONS are
made against the citizens of the State and
IN favor of those beyond its limits, shall be
collectable by suit against the company Sc
offending, before a Magistrate, on the SER
vice OF writ on the agent where the over
charge Is collected; and that there shall be
no appeal from the decision of the Mags-
trate against the company so offending. BY
this and all other means which the Legisla-
ture III its wisdom may devise to secure the
rights of the people from these chartered
monopolles, they will receive the thanks
and gratitude of many MERCHANTS
FIRE. We are sorry to announce the en-
tire destruction of Major w. A. O'Cain's
Jo,I