The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-03-23

j proposition TO the South Carolinr Road to op,e,
Ipon tne n nee Use OF our road bridges and pry
amounts to no consideration at aI.n GIl,'->'~ :
snppoas he meant to refer to the route from
Sss e in 5efesenco
courts WIN show, by Competent witnesses' that, in
the opinion of two scientific engineers of high
was found impracticable ct any reasonable cost
and that without any sulterior design those en-
glneers g recommended the route uia Graniteve.
ihat point was not only on an air line from CO.
umbia to Augusta but was on the most practi-
cable route, within the strict and literal meaning
of the charter of the Columbia and Augusta Rail.
road company; Instead, therefore, of casting
about for tho 'ulterior design" which directed the
location by Grsntevie, would it not be well to in
| ing of Graniteville.
Ii dozen other practicable" routes could ha vc
been found, was there any one more practicable ?
10 reach Hamburg through this same valley of
Horse Creek III which Granitevio is situated. the
South Carolina Railroad Company, in the loca-
ton of their road, diverged widely from their
| direct line, making their track at least fifteen
miles longer between Charleston and Augusta
than toe Old wagon road, and twenty miles longer
from charleston TO Columbia. The divergence of
the Columbia and Augusta Railroad from the
road usually Travelled adds less than Fix miles to
the distance between Columbia and Augusta and
is now tho straightest road i'll tho State of equal
or gres.er LENGTH except the Northeastern and
the Wilmington and Manchester Railroads.
One word more as to tho insignificant thousand
or two which offered for the use OF tho track of
Tho South Carolina Railroad from Graniteville to
augusta. The length of tho South Carolina Bail
road, with all OF it's branches, 10 about 243 miles.
before the war it's income over 81 500 900 per
annum. Since then it has averaged for the last
three years over $780, 900 annually This is over
$1,000 for every mile of track, including tho Cam
den branch of 3S miles, which is said to have been
charge upon the balance of tho road-not pav.
ing its expenses. As to tho Columbia and All
guata Railroad, it is fair to assume that after it
shall have developed the country along it's line.
and have attracted, by reason of it's shortcned
distance, much new freight and travel that never
would have passed over tho South Caroliua Rail-
TOAD because of it's moro circuitous routc-it is
fair to resume that their per mile receipts will ap-
proximate tho per mile receipts o! the South
receipts at, say, 50 900 per mile the proposition
made by me to MIR. Magrath for the use of eleven
miles, would, if accepted, have yielded to tho
s55, 600, or putting tho per mile receipts at ONLY
$4,000 tho offer was still better even than the one
referred to by MIR. Courtenay, as having been made
by. Col. Childs, Ito wit: S35 ,OO0) and which he
refused TO accept, unless upon the further condi-
ton that tho Columbia and Augusts Railroad
would agree not to compete at Augusta for
freishts, but would leave them wholly to the
south Carolina Railroad Company.
That such propositions those made by the
Columbia and Augusta Rail Road Company should
have been rejected by any corporation undcr simi-
lar circumstances, can only bo explained by at
tributins it to the dclusive infatuation that the
Columbia and Augusta Railroad could not bo
built could be stopped at pleasure, and herein
lies the truth Of the explanation. The President
OF tho South Carolina Rail Road Company mover
ic"iiocN uutl recently tHhl Inc COiu0lOlG and
Augusta Railroad would be completed even to
Graniteville, much less did he entsran the idea
that it would or could in any short period roach
Hamburg or Augusta. From the repeated offers
mado by mo to treat for the use of his truck from
Granitevil!e to Augusta he supposed that could
not make the connection otherwise and that he
needed but to shut his eyes and close his ears to
every proposition l should make, and as o matter
OF course the whole scheme must necessarily col
lapse!
Hence his refusal to treat ''to take any step
which wonld directly or indirectly involve an adj
mission of the right of the Columbia and Augusta
Company to build railroad from Granitevile
to Augusta" In the meantime, whilst he thus
slept in fancied security, the work of construc-
ton has gone on; and now, having become
awakened, he finds separate track to Augusta
nearly completed, and his opportunity for good
bargain irrevocably lost. In this extremity he
again raises the camoS of Charter rightsl Pryi
changes had been already rung before the Courts
on all OF these words and phrases and that they
were found but as sounding brasel'
This much, sir, have felt compelled to state
from sense of official duty, in vindication of the
course, policy and interests of the company re-
present. VIM. JOHNSTON, President
HNT TTNT"T ~ ~