The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-02-15

Tor their letters, az lne oulSoliS ni''ii SAoSoo
before the arrival of the incoming. Not |
only 50, but passengers are subjected to the
nauseous smell of guano, which is now be-
ing transported in large quantities to this
market, and a ride of forty miles in close
proximity to a car or several cars of Pcruvi-
an or any other guano, is particularly un-
pleasant to the olfactorics, forcibly impress
ing the unfortunate passenger with tho be-
lief not only that "thcre is something rotten
in the State of Denmark" but that the cu-
tire concern must be in the same composed
and offensive condition. These are some OF
the Inconvenience to business and persons
travelling, but still greater ones remain to be
told by the latter, particularly. At the
junction of this road with the W. G. Il A.
r. r., there is no stopping place whatever,
and in the great majority of instances, per-
sons arc compelled to go on to Columbia and
lie over until evening before they can get
away. Frequently it occurs that passengers
are carried on to Middleton depot, and are
driven to the necessity of walking back to
the junction, before they can pursue their
Journey. All this arises from the rivalry
existing between the two roads, and they
prefer to subject their patrons to all these
annoyances rather than submit to reason
able compromise, which if proposed by the
South Carolina Road, would doubtless be
accepted by the other. And it must not be
forgotten that the Camden Branch was torn
up to nearly half Of its length, to rebuild the
main line of the S. G. r. r., and our COM
mcrce suffered such severe blow from that
action, that it has not yet recovered itself,
and it was not until the company was
forced by law, that it rebuilt our road. Our
people have not been paid any dividends on
their stock since the war, worth speaking
of, and an opportunity now presents itself
for disposing of our stock, which, unless
prevented by meeting our just demands, will
be done by good many who have lost con-
fdcnce in the management.
1t may be said that the business of this
Branch would not warrant a daily freight
in addition to daily passenger train, bat
that objection can be successfully met, by
observing that if the proper facilities were
presented for the transportation Of goods
and that fact made known to the people Of
Darlington, Chesterfield, Lancaster, Sumter
and our own county, the business of the road
would be doubled, and we would hear no
more of its being Improbable. This exhibits
the short-sightedness of the policy adopted
by the management in withdrawing our
road at a very critical period, when if the
course herein advocated had been adopted
the South Carolina Rail Road would have
swept this entire country and made itself Il
favorite thoroughfare. And if tho company
could afford to run daily freight train to
Camden before the war, it certainly can do
so now, because though more business was
done then, yet now the rates of tariff are
doubled, and the people would not object to
paying them if the proper facilities were
afforded for rapid transportation of goods
and produce. :,
1t does seem to me that wisdom would
dictate to the management broader and
more liberal policy towards us than exists,
especially now that the life of the company
is threatened by the proposition of the
Georgia Central Rail Road to lease the S.
G. R. r., and pay 4 per cent. divident an
nually, which at first sight appears to Re
quito liberal offer, very captivating ard
seemingly not at all dangerous.
Attention should also be called to the
horribly unsafe and rough condition Of the
Camden Branch 1t is simply out of the
question to travel on it with even the slight
est degree of comfort or pleasure, and the
jolts and bruises which one receives in
travelling it, gives lively sense Of insecurity,
and it is positive feeling of relief to know
that you are safely arrived at either terniin-
u.s. Heavy trains behind time, with a pas
senger car or two in the rear, are run with
speed over the most unsafe portions of the
road, and is oaly by the mercy of Providence
that dreadful accidents do not frequently
occur. Here again, the management require
| Spectacles, because III the c'enG vi I'LL accl-
dent and loss of life, limb and property, the
company would be subjected to much great
er pecuniary loss than the repairing of the
the read would by any possibility involve.
These considerations, Mr.. Editor, induce
me to appeal to the Company through the
public in no captious spirit, but merely to
lay our just claims before them and request
that they either take measures looking to an
amelioration of our condition, or let us know
what to expect, in order that we may also
take such steps as seem necessary to us in
this our extremity.
STOCKHOLDER.
-r
| Gnn1IIA,S EIpsr SPEECH u-Hnnru