The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-17

COUNTER PROPOSITION OF TIE COMMITTEE OF
DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA RAIL-
ROAD COMPANY.
To Messrs J. T. Gardiner, Chairman; Wright,
Alien, Goodrich and Meyer, Committee Of
tho City Council Of Augusta
GENrLEMEN-The Committee Of the South
Carolina Railroad Company, decline, with re.
gret, the plan proposed by the Committee OF
the City Councillor Augusta for settling the
difficulties arising out Of the construction OF
the Columbia and Augusta Railroad.
The relations between the company they re-
present and the City of Augusta are CT an an
cient date and have always been OF the most
friendly character, and the best disposition
road to maintain those relations unimpared.
They assure the committee from Augusta that
the company have always been in tn. belief
that their several contracts with the City OF
Augusta have always been fulfilled by the
company in manner entirely satisfactory to
the City Council. No claims for violations
thereof have ever been made on them. and this
committee cannot admit that such claims e1-
ist, or consent to make them the subject OF ne
They believe the matters in dispute can be
simpllied, and that, as tar as the City OF Au.
gusia is concerned, they may be easily and
promptly settled.
Between them and the South Carolina Rail-
road the only matter in debate is the repay
ment OF the subscription made by the South
Carolina Railroad to the capital stock OF the
Macon Railroad, according to the resolution OF
the City Council, Of eighteenth December,
eighteen hundred and sixty-onc. The consld-
the exclusive right Of connecting with other
railroads in the City of Augusta; no other
| railroad from Charleston or Columbia, under
the resolution of the City Council, can be i'd
mitted to the enjoyment OF this privilege with
out first tondering to the South Carolina hail
road the repayment of the said subscription
and the interest thereon. The city now desire
| to accord this privilege to the Columbia and
Augusta Railroad Company. The South Car
olna Railroad will meet this proposal in q
spirit ofhberality and Of Friendship. Instead OF
| insisting upon the return OF the entire sum OF
their subscription and OF the interest thereon,
as provided in the resolution Of the City Coun-
Gil, they offer to relinqulsh the exclusive en-.
| joyment OF this privilege on receiving one-hali
Of the said sum Of principal and interest; pf O.
u.ded, that all privileges enjoyed by other rail-
roads in the City OF Augusta, or hereafter coc-
| ferred on any railroad, shall be likewise eX-
tended to the South Carolina Railroad. This
will remove the only impediment to the en-.
trance OF the Columbia and Augusta Railroad
| into Augusta, and settle the only question
connected Herewith, in which the City OF Au-
gusta is directly implicated; and this commit,
lee indulge the hope that it may be accepted
as a separate and distinct proposition, aud
| thus remove all cause Of dlsquietude between
the City of Augusta and this company.
The only matter in dispute with the Colunl-
ba and Augusta Railroad consists row in the
| opposition made by the South Carolina Rail
road to tie construction of the former road OH
their right OF way and over their land. This
opposition has been made by the Directors ot
the South Carolina Railroad from q sense OF
the duty imposed upon them by the great trust
of which they are the custodians and guar
dams. They hope this motive will be recog-
nized and admitted by tho committee from
Augusta, apd the South Carolina Railroad
Company relieved from all suspicion OF less
worthy motives. They are willing to meet tue
committee from Augusta IN the spirit tna'
animates that committed, and to make a SIN,
cero effort to compose the differences, and
put an end to the litigation that has grown
out OF this opposition.
It has been alleged that the encroachments
thoy oppose cause them no damage ana no H.
convenience. This is an erroneous impression
If the South Carolina Railroad did not possess,
in their opinion, the right to insist upon the
removal of tho track Of the new road, beyond
the boundaries uf their lands and Of thelI
right Of way. they would cheerfully paw ten
thousand liars to effect 1t. In spirit OF
compromise they make the following pro-
pOsalS:
1st They Will consent to the present line Of
| the Columbia and Augusta Railroad track, OH
the payment Of fifty thousand dollars rs u con-
slderation therefor, or
I'd. They will leave the question Of compen-
sation in abeyancc until The courts shall have
| decided what the rights OF the South Carolina