The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-01
COLUMBIA. s. C.
Thursday Morning. March l. 1872.
Tho Columbia Oanal-The Dam Acros
tho ConHareo.


the action OF the Legislature upon the
matter Of the proposed dam across the
Oongaree. One thing is perfectly clear,
and it should have great weight with the
General Assembly, that is. that the great
msjority of our citizens are in favor Of
the new dam. The views expressed be-
fore the Legislative committee, by num-
Der of our leading and influential citi-
,.Eens, and the resolutions passed by the
Board of Trade-an association that en-
braces both Republicans and Democrats
In its membership evidence sufficient
of the sentiments of the whites and the
property holders of the city. We have
heard OF no colored citizen that opposes
the granting OF the privilege sought for.
It is directly to theinterests Of this class
of our people that the work upon the
canal should proceed vigorously and on
the most extended scale. They will,
thereby, be furnished with employment
for long while, at wages far more re-
munerative than what they ordinarily re-
ceive. Several hundred were constantly
employed great part of last year-and
have been all of this-at the rate OF one
dollar per day, which is double what
they would earn as farm hands, and in
almost any other kind of work that
would furnish regular employment We
trust the Legislature will give grave con.
sideration to the subject, and not flip
PANTY, and for specious reasons. baulk
an enterprise which, If faithfully and
properly carried out, will insure the
future growth and prosperity of Colum-
bis, and prove powerful lever in the
industrial regeneration of the whole
State.
There is no subject of legislation now
pending, except taxation, which is, in
our judgment, OF so much general in
terest as the development OF our great
water power. It is a matter OF no poll
tical concern whatever. It will affect
solely the material interests of Columbia
and of the State. and should be fur
thered AMI encouraged alike by citizens
Of every shade Of political opinion.
The question before the Legislature now
is not simply whether or not dam shall
be constructed across the Congaree at
the penitentiary. It goes further than
that. Upon the location of the dam at
that point depends our having any water
power at all developed that is worth
mentioning.
General E. P. Alexander, than whom
more reliable gentleman or competent
engineer does not live in our State, said,
in his remarks before the committee,
that not more than 1000 horse power
could be pro6tably utilized by dam at
Geiger's Mill-as he terme it, mere
baby power-while below the peniten-
tiary giant power can be had of from
$4,000 to $4,000 horses, which is greater
than any now developed in the United
States. That is the whole matter in O
nutshell, so far as the advantages of the
new dam are concerned. Who that feels
any interest in the prosperity of Colum-
bia wants the canal frittered down to q
little pigmy concern of thousand horse
power, when twelve or fourteen times
that much can be had as easily? It is
fretful to think of it.
What, now, are the pleas urged
against the new dam? It is said, in the
first place, that it will cause malaria;
and, in the second, that the State will
lose $50, 900 by the penitentiary quarry
being rendered useless. Well, as to
the health question. First, we have the
explicit and written opinion of five of
the most eminent, and in every way
trustworthy physicians OF the city
Drs. Darby, Talley, Gibbes, Taylor and
Trezevant-that dam ut the place pro.
posed would, for valid and intelligible
reasons, which they assign, improve,
rather than injure, the health OF the
city. That is beyond all question the
best guaranty which the Legislature
could get on that score. This opinion