The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-27
TIE GREENYILLE RAILROID.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

THE EDllON luC
1 am no apologst for the Greenvlle and
Columbia Railroad, nor have any knowledge
of its present owners, further than casual
acquaintance with its president ana superin-
tendent, but feeling 1t has been severely judy
ed and erroneously condemned by yourself
and your Greenvie correspondent, (E. 7. B. J
l respectfully ask space in your valuable co.,
umns for few facts. .@
Months ago when Northern capitalists came
to South Carolina and proposed to buy up this
road, the CRY of ''wolf! wolf" ran up and
down the line, and sinister motives were
charged upon the spectators. But presently
the guardians of the road under The OLD re-
gime entered the field as active agents.
1whcther commercially so or nor Is none of
my business) for these capitalists, and bought
tlI stock enough, with the State stock which
they otherwise secured, (whether honestly or
not Is equally none of my busness,) to give
them complete control Of the road under oil
circumstances. This modified the suspicion
attached to these purchasers and stockholders
sold freely and readily for ten cents on the
dollar of the par value. This price was not
set By the ''rlng," as has been asserted, ior it
was the market value OF the stock months be.
lore / sold 100 shares for 5000 in Columbia
two years ago.
The agents of these capitalists assured us
they intended making G bona tttle purchase OF
the road, Improve it IN every respect, and aim
ultimately at running Two trips the entire
length OF the road every twenty-four hours.
To effect this, speed VAS required, and once IN
possession, the owners tried this speed upon
the track, but to their surprise, discovered the
entire superstructure was o mere shell or
crust, liable to break through in thousands Of
places. The old engines were well-niSh worn
out and the coaches were 80 dilapidated tnat
umbrellas were needed In them whenever it
the road. Some new iron was laid, and rolling
stock placed upon the track.
Three magnificent coaches were put upon
the road, aud they proved too heavy ior the
rotten timbers, and possibly caused many OF
the accidents which have SO rapidly succeeded
each other. Three splendid engines have
been added to their motive power. But Rome
was not built in a day. The track is uot iine
enough tor this heavy stock, and though the
speed has been materially sackened, niany de-
lays, detentions and accidents still occur.
Upon the heels OF all this comes the demand
Tor heavier transportation than was ever lone
by the road. Western Anderson and Abbe-
vile. which heretofore have shipped from $3.50
TO 5000 hnleS of cotton to. Augusta. have this
season sold in Anderson Courthouse and Ab-
beville Courthouse or shipned to Charleston
dllu liz NcpOS Nt io w
day choked up with cotton bales, grown, per
haps, in the mountain cOves, and ''E. u. =
says himself, 500 bales are now bought in
Greenville where one was bought before the
war, and possibly the increased production Is
in tile same proportion. This excess OF cotton
shipments necesSitutes the importation OF
more breadstufs, and consequently The road
is doing a tremendous business both ways.
Now, Mr.. Editor, leok upon the purchase
and sale of the Greenville and Columbia Rail.
road as a God-send 10 that fine country which
It traverses. These m0neyed men have lost
!. o time In attempting to meet the demands
upon the road, and they seem TO be willing 10
spend money as we'll as lime in improving it..
Though their lreights have moved slowly they
have goae daily, and will continue 10 go regll;
larly, think, from appearances. Had the Oh
regime had control up TO dale, venture
nothing in asserting, they would not have nat
an engIue that could have taken q tram Oh COL
ton cars from Greenville to Columbia IN q
week Under such circumstances imagine the
condition of that section OF our Stale: NO
money, breadSluff5 scarce, and al Immense
cotton crop locked up In the country from
want OF transportation.
No, sir, the purchasers Of the Greenyille and
Columbia Railroad have done US service, anu
be they who they may, II they have money 10
invest and bring it Into our midst aud invest IL
in internal improvements, say, good RICK at
tend their investment. Itthis party makes the
Greenrille ana Columbia Railroad paving IN
sti,ution. they will have redeemed IT from
bankruptcy, and are ut least entitled To our
we'll wishes. Truly, ABsALOM.