The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-07-13
BIA, s. G.
Sunday Morning, July 13. 1873.

Sunday Morning, July 13. 1878.
Tho Right to tho ColumbIa Canal.
We find ourselves unable to support
the proposition to pay Mr. Sprague
$500, 900 for the Columbia Canal. We
do not know that he owns it. We have
grave doubts about it. We are disposed
to question tho suficiency of his title.
Was the purchase fair and legitimate
one? Is it free from the taint of fraud
and corruption? Supposing it to be
clear OF these flaws. was not the sale
conditional? If 80, have the conditions
been honestly complied witha We do
not believe they have been. It would be
rather too smart thing for even Mr..
Sprague to buy property OF this kind
for paltry 5000, and the little digging
about the canal which he has done for
She last five years. The State expected
something else. and bargained for some
thing else, and its expectations and the
conditions it imposed. have not been
consnmmated on the purchasers part.
Mr.. Sprague appears to have done as
little as possible OF The work, and nov
proposes to sell at huge profit. Well,
we hope nobody is disposed to buy.
Lst attention and inquiry be addressed
to the point OF ascertaining the correct
ness of the doubts we have raised as to
the status of the property. To this end
ne suggest that public meeting of the
citizens Of Oolumbia be held, that our
business and professional men. and all
others who have the stake Of property,
employment or residence here, attend it,
and let it proceed to investigate the
ques!i9n Of title. We should advise that
feeling and prejudice be excluded from
the meeting, that serious purpose
should animate ita .counaels and charac-
terfza itq action. :A large committee .oi
intelligent citizens. lawyers amongst
faem. men OF integrity and fairness.
should be appointed to inquire into and
report upon the points raised, and whe-
ther it be not caHe Tor the courts to
settle.
We, have more than once seen in the
columns Of our contemporary, the
Union Herald, the suggestion to pur-
chase by The city. II has urged that the
city shall buy the water right for $780,
900. issue bonds Tor the payment. get
the State to endorse them, and tax the
city property in an amount necessary to
pay the interest. There are insuperable
difficulties in the way Of any such plan.
The State and city have more debt now
than they can stand under, or are ever
likely to pay. The very word tax is
odious. The scheme, too. would be
likely to become q job, and falI into tue
hands of men both incompetent and dis
honest, and would go the way Of all re-
cent measures for development. The
remedy might be as bad as the disease.
It.would miserably fail Of good, and be
abortive Of any profitable results except
to- it's manipnlators. Besides. the State
endorsement cannot be put upon such
bonds, without violating the Consti.
tuition, as recently amended by the
popular vote. It would be tantamou nj
to an increase of the public debt, and
this is prohibited. Besides, again, what
amount of bonds would be necessary to
raise $500, 600 in money2 Il would take
at least Eve for one. and $1,000. 900 in
cumbrance would thus be saddled on
State or city, Or both. The schen, e
won't do. Let as see rather whether we
do not own the canal already. II We do
not, wc can never hope to get it from
Mr.. Sprague on as favorable terms as
those upon which he bargained for it;
but $500. 900 is out OF the question in any
case.
The finding OF eighteen bodies os Nor