The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-07
COLUMBIA. s. G.
"Wednesday Morning February 8. 1879.
Tho Columbia Canal.

State-was sold, nnder authority OF an
ACT of the General Assembly, to Colonel
Samuel A. Pearce, agent of the firm of
A. & W. Sprague, large and well-known
capitalists and cotton manufacturers of
Rhode Island-or We might, perhaps.
will. equal propriety, say, Of the North.
for the Spragues own large manufaotur-
ing interests in several States. The
price paid for the canal was merely
nominal sum. IT our memory serves US
correctly, $500 was the amount 1t was
considered very little at the time. and
the sale was generally thought and pro-
nounced to be swindle. This opinion,
however, was based more upon distrust
of Gov. r. X. Scott and the other State
officials, who had favored the sale. than
from conviction springing from oare-
ful knowledge OF the true merits of the
transaction. Nothing but evil had ever
followed any act Of theirs; their blight
ing touch was manifest on all sides, and
it was but reasonable to suspect them in
this instance. But this suspicion. though
not undeserved, was unfounded. Judg-
ing from the light of subsequent events,
we are satisfied that the price paid by
the Spragues was as much as any re-
sponsible party would have agreed to.
Besides the 5000. the Spragues obligated
themselves to furnish water to tho
amount Of 100-horse power, for the use
of the State Penitentiary, the annual
value OF which is estimated at from three
to four thousand dollars. But, be the
purchase money great or small-and we
must remember here that it is exceeding
ly difficult to assess the value of an un-
developed water power, which may
prove mine OF wealth, or turn out to
be utterly worthless was by no means
the motive consideration for the sale of
the canal. What we want. what the
State wants, and that which prompted,
or should have prompted, the convey
ance of the canal to the Messrs Sprague,
is the development OF that mighty
water power with which nature has
blessed our city. Forty, fifty. yea, even
a hundred thousand dollars, added to
the Golfers of the State, even could we
hope that it would be honestly used,
could not compare with the benefits
which must surely follow from bona
.t;1ls development OF the canal to its full
extent and power.
The question here arises. are the
Spragues, or, rather, the Columbia
Water-Power Company, composed OF the
Messrs. Sprague and Col. Pearce. really
going to do this? Have they sincere
intention of utilizing the immense water
power they have purchased, and of es-
tablishing mills and factories here? Peo-
pie very pertinentiy and naturally remark
that the Spragues have had possession of
the canal for three years. and have. as
yet, given no tangible proof of such in
tention. There is certainly not mill in
operation, and the water-power, 80 far
developed, is scarcely worth considera-
tion. These are facts. it is true, but
they are by no means conclusive ae to
the future designs of the owners OF the
canal. What is the cause of this appa.
rent failure? Why are not manufacto-
ries in operation, and why is not Colum-
bia the busy, active, thriving and grow
ing city which was hoped for by few,
at least, when the Spragues took hold of
the canal three years ago? Is it that
they have played us false. as many sus-
pect, or has there been good cause of
delay? Have they been playing sharp
little game upon US, by getting control
OF our water-power, with no intention of
developing it, but simply with purpose
of preventing other capitalists from
using it to compete advantageously with
their large manufacturing interests at the
North; or have they met genuine obsta-
cles in their way which, when they have
surmounted or removed, will leave the
path open to deal with the canal as it
should properly be dealt with? And,
will they thus deal with it? We hold to