The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-02-17
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA RAILROAD conpAH1

F.F4
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY.
In our issue of Wednesday last NE Published
the proceedings of Committee of the Senate OF
the matters Of che freight charges Of the South
Carolina Railroad, between Camden and Kings
vile. These proceedings were based upon a CON-
plant made. .byGa merchant of the former place.
The South Carolina RAILROAD Company is the prop
erty Of a large number of our citizens, who are
poor many have saved but:little else from the
wreck Of the war. tits important to; them; that
the value of their property should not be unft:
vorably affected by Representations not CORRECT in
point of aet or Of facts greatly erasgerati aad dis
torted, to crafty personal feeling Or 10 promote
selfish ends. We know those who have been en- z
trusted with the management Of this property.
We know, alse, what labors and difficulties they
have had 10 encounter in providingfo for the public
o highway, and accommodations not inferior to
those enjoyed in any section Of the Southern
country. We know further that it is claimed and
we believe justly, that their rates of freight and
passage are to-day lowr than any in the State or
near 1t. f.Still We hear this. clamor kept up, and
s continuance forces us to conclude that there is
something more in it than appears on the surface,
To do justice, therefore, to all parties we sought
out information from those whom we regarded au-
thorized and able to furnish it, and ascertain the
facts of this case to be simply these: That the
parties who complain in this case have never ap-
preached the Directors of the Company with any
statement of their grievances that the South
Carolina Railroad Company has no such charges
per 100 pounds upon any of its freight tariffs as
ore stated in the reports that its charges for
frai oh Gomdpn m Kiposvi11o h
same as they for similar distances from Charles
ton, from Columbia, or from Augusta.
Now we confess, with these statements before
us, we are at loss to comprehend the necessity
of the, proceeding to which We are referring. Tat
Railroad Committee has clearly not sent for person,
and papers. .,-,l--..-.. y ~
But we hear still more. II win be borne in
mind that the burden Of the eomplaintis that the
South Carolina Railroad does not work thirty Eight
miles of its line in connection with the Whining
ton and Manchester, and Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad, and the railroads leading through vii
mington to Baltimore, which is competing line
so as 10 destroy the trade Of its own line to Char
lesion, the interests of the City Of Charleston anG
of the State, and the steam ships which: have cost
so much effort and money TO establish, forthe very
purpose of giving Camden and all other inland citie
q route North over their own line and through theii
own city. Now.what are these very competing
railroads doing, for!whom' this ruinous policy j.
invoked pursuing the very identical practice
which is complained of, though in q, greatly e.,ag
qerated form, of the South Carolina Railroad Com
pany. We understand that the price Of freight OF
the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, (say
bale of cottoH,) is as much as from Sumter II
Kingsville, twenty seven miles, or Mars Bluff to
Florence, siz miles, as it is from these places re-
spectively to WILMINGTON, over one hundred miles
90
Road, and we presume on every railroad in exis
tence, and the reason is obvious. 1t is found iu
the service. and necessity. of every company tc
protect and promote its, own interests, and thai
interest is of course in the direction of freight
movements along the entire line of its railroad
and to and thrOssh an important terminal or initial
point. ii. 50 9. - -
Nor are the railroads mentioned in the CON-
plant exhibiting any, unusual iberality in the
adoption of what appears to, be low tariff oil
charges, through, as compared with the South Car
oina Railroads local tariff: their effort is.so d.
vert business 0hicA does not belong TO- thes and to
do so, tsmperorily establish very loV rate of
freight for that which comes from the South Car
olna Railroad, and the City Oi Charleston. What
are their local charges? Place those in comparison
with similar charges on the South Carolina Rail.
road, before forming too hasty conclusion But
are We expected TO manage our institution inathe
interest of competing lines of railroads and dis,
tant communities: Have the Stockholders of The
South Carolina Railroad expended vast sums Of
money TO construct long line of Railway merely
for the purpose Of destroying four-ff,hs of it (?
Has the City of Charleston andthe State contribu-
ted their best minds and their irge means to con-
strrct system Of internal improvement, at once
to develope the wealth Of the interior and establish
on influential seaport for themselves, and have
their efforts turn to nought, and their work curse,
not blessiDg2 We imagine not? - lsn@
Yet such result, s0ould surely foloa tie policy in
dicated in The complaints before the Legislature.
- During Brownlow's administration Of afairs