The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-06
COLUMBIA. S. G.
wednes ay Morning March 8 1872.
Tho Canal Matter.

Notwithstanding the lengthy aud bitter
opposition of some members, has passed
TO third reading the bill granting the
Columbia Water Power Company the
privilege of locating the canal dam OF
the penitentiary. The opponents of the
bill were fairly silenced in respect to the
only valid objections, if they were true
in point OF fact. that could have been
nrged against the building of the dam at
the place designated. These objections
were. first. that the health of the city
would be ruinously effected; second,
that there would be serious loss to the
State, in the practical deutruction OF the
quarry. These-the only two even plau-
sible grounds of opposition fairly
and successfully met and answered. The
enemies of the bill then turned, for want
Of rational argument, to attack the in
tegrity or good faith of the Columbia
Water Power Company, in regard to the
execution Of their existing contract to
widen and deepen the canal to double
its original capacity, and in regard to
their intention to develop and utilize
the great water power which they are
seeking to gain control OF. Whether
the company have fulfilled their original
contract in respect to the required in
crease of power, we know of no one who
is probably prepared to say, with abco-
lutte certainty, except their engineer,
Major Mahon. No one can impugn that
gentleman's jveracity, or disGredit his
professional knowledge and skill. He
vas entrusted with the conduct of the
work. He says that the capacity and
power OF the canal far exceeds the terms
of the contract. It his statements need
veri6cation, there are several engineers
whom he has taken upon the work that
will endorse them. General Alexander
stated before the joint committee that.
in his judgment. based upon an exami-
milton of the excavations at what was
snid to be the narrowest part of the
canal, the power of the old canal had
been quadrupled. We hope and believe
that the company have complied with
their contract. II they have not, the
canal will or may revert to the State and
be thrown into the hands of those public
plunderers, who would seize upon it as q
most promising field for corrupt specu-
lation at the peoples expense. The
question, however, is one to be decided
solely by legal tribunal, and has
nothing to do, moreover. in any con-
eeivable way, with the bill now before
the Legislature.
What the Columbia Water Power
Company intend to do after securing the
privilege they are now seeking, is more
like pertinent question. They are
charged with aiming simply ct mono
poly of our great water privileges with
view to keep out other capitalists, or
tlat, Mt best, their object is to obtain o
grant of very valuable franchise, in
order merely to sell it to some other Ca
pitalists, without expending any consider
sble amount themselves. AS to the first
charge. it is simply absurd. There are.
at least. 100 valuable water powers in
South Carolina undeveloped, and large
numbers in Georgia. North Carolina and
every other Southern State. The
Spragues, milionaires though they be,
can't expect to control them all-not
even decent fraction of them. Besides,
The fact that competition here may prove
injurious to Northern manufacturers,
seems to us to offer the strongest in.
ducements to the Spragues themseivest &c
engage in it. AS to selling out to other
capitalists, that is nothing but blind and
senseless conjecture. If it will pay
other capitalists to buy, it will beneh
the Spragues to retain possession. They
don't need money, and there is no great
motive otherwise that could lead then,
to sell. But, suppose they did. VIVA
harm would that do us? It cnu make
not particle of difference whether the
Spragues or any other strong, moniec
firm own the canal. What we want is te
have the water utilized and the manu-
featuring interests built as rapidly, ant