The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-21

10 % lDJurlOuH, anu Gu6 1nQRDlCaQCS
complained of the obstruction in the
river, and further appropriation Of
311,00 was made, and Mr.. John J..
Kinsler empowered to complete the de-
struotion Of the dam. Since then the
increasing until now, when all know no
place is more healthful. I am satisfied
that the damming Of the river, as now
contemplated by the present owner of
the canal, would be disastrous 10 the
heath of the city, and in this view of the
case, am sustained by many of the old
| cititizens OF Columbia and vicinity"
Aud another from DR.. Thomas Wells,
! OF date New Haven, November 27:
81 have been looking for the papers
referring to the matter. I cannot now
find them, but hope to do so. Ono
thing is very clear to my mind, that what
then did, or any assistance that rem
dered to others, WAS in accordance with
clear understanding and knowledge of
the facts, and for the best interests of
the city of Columbia.
"No change should be made in the
river that will prevent free and full
flow of the same; any change would end
in increasing miasma, and the sad ro-
suits Of the former trial Of damming tho
river near Young's Mill, might, and
probably would, recur again.
"You have too much involved in Co
lumbia to make any experiment Of that
kind. The two colleges, Theological
Seminary, Legislature, courts, etc., etc, +,
and general prosperity, all stand upon
tho question Of health. Should this be
constructed, your city will decline. 1t
is with great difficulty that l have at
tempted to write go imperfect q note as
this, and only the great interest feel in
this matter has caused me to do SO at
| this time"
Now, we ask the good citizens Of Co
lumbia. and the Legislature, if in view
OF what is above stnted by men who
lived here when there was dam across
the Congaree, and when the health of
the city was much impaired thereby, is
to be Offset by specious promises OF
future wealth and abundant prosperity,
which really exists only in the imagina-
ton? X.
We publish the following abstract of
the opinion of DR.. D. Ii. Trezevant,
upon the question of the effect of the
proposed location OF tho canal dam upon
the health of the city:
II do not remember the subject OF the
river dam being mentioned in conneo,
tion with the city's health. I know
there were but few persons residing in
that section Of the country. But l do
know that in 1Sl1-12-13, the inhabi
tants who had little farms about the
river and the lower end of Bridge street
generally left them in the summer, aud
went into the suburbs. Old Captain
Waring and others were especially
known to do so. John Taylor and those
about him always went into the country.
1t is perfectly familiar to me that the
unhenlthiness of the location was uttri-
buted to the stagnant waters about the
park. and from there to the river, and
that those were occasioned by mill
dam which kept them back. and was
used for Warnings paper establishment.
(Ihls dam was situated on the branch
which now runs through the lanyard
and empties into Halls basin, Just above
the penitentiary.)
I'VE have had several Of those alarms
during ny residence here, both in the
upper and the lower end of the city, and
both were settled by draining the lands.
Colonel Blnndng, with his water works,
settled the upper, and Colonel Gregg,
by the purchase Of DR.. Wells lands by
the college and draining them, settled
the latter. Those lands. if l recollect
Alright, had been cleared but not drained
and Rocky Branch was interfercd with
and the place became very sickly. AT
that time the Stark Place could not he
inhabited for the summer. and l have
seen rs many as nine out of ten of the
inmates ill in the house. now occupied
by , near tho Dlanton Duncan
House. have also seen in n honsa on
the hill, close by tho steam mill OF
GlaZe's, on. Of eleven sick, the father,
mothor and lime children of the family
OF Mr.. West. Upon the grounds being
cleared the sickness gradually ceased,
and persons began to build in that
direction. Tho City Council. several
times, addressed the physicians on the
subject, and believe Invariably received
as n reply, that the low grounds about
the city were the principal sources Of the
disease"
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