The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-15
THE SOUTH CAROLINA RAILROAD.

Aboutlits Condition and Management.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
This road, the first built in the South, and,
If we mistake not, the first railroad built In
the country, ls TO this day, in Its appoint
ments, rolling stock, locomotives, passenger
and freight cars, one of the best in the States
The road bed, cross.ties and iron cannot be
surpassed by any other road from Maine to
Texas, being perfectly smooth and free from
the usual jarring, and in It's judicious and
profitable management since the war, taking
into consideration the eGire hopelessness OF
Its condition as left by The war, It's success
has been perfectly wonderful. This manage
ment ia entirely due to the officers of the
road, President Magrath and Superintendent
H. T. Peake. and since his resignation, Vice.
Presidentand General Superintendent A. L.
Tyler. A greater amount OF indomitable
energy and prompt decisive action combined
In any one Individual Ia rarely to be found
than that of President Magrath, and had he
have had energetic cooperation on the part
of the people of Charleston the road would
this day have been In q far better condition.
The subordinate officers of the road are all
entitled TO the highest commentator, and @
more efficient, polite and affaole corps of con-
ductors Ia not 10 be found In any other State
or upon any other road. The freight at this
time Is exceedingly heavy, especially up
lreighls. These are driven through With regu.
larily and precision, aud the through passen-
ger transit is very large, and uniformly made
comfortable. The coaches sre kept scrupu-
lously clean, we'll ventilated, and Thoroughly
heated when necessary.
The SummervllIe and Aikenedaily accommo-
dation trains are particular feature OF this
road, and the management OF the former. ua-
der the regular control Of Conductor 8. d. l..
Price, we have no hesitation ia saying CAB
not be exceled, Careful and particular
almost 10 fault, anything under his charge
moves only In It's proper time and In Its proper
place. J, E. W.
The Views Of q Stakeholder.
TO TIE EDITORS OF THE NEWS.
noticed in recent Issue OF your paper
a piece headed IA man of Promise" which
charges Mr.. John d. James, of Atlanta, as
the leader of m ,vement to oust the present
directors OF the South Carolina Railroad Com.
pany and elect an entirely new board, and
who assures the shareholders that he and the
men whom he will associate with him will
guarantee to every stockhOlder ak per cent.
dividend. The question Ia, can MI. James do
what the present president and directors eau
not The reply was, We do moi think that be
can, and says: The road at present Is man.
aged In the Interest of The City Of Charleston
and the State of South Carolina.
Now, Mr.. Editors. allow me to say few
words in reference to The South Carolina BALL
road. We know nothing Of Mr.. James. The
first and only time l ever saw him was at
the last annual meeting of stockholders, at
which time he made q speech, and stated,
among other things that be held sixteen hum
dred shares In the South Carolina Railroad.
Now this is large interest, and we believe
Mr.. James Ia driving business man. With
such an Interest, we believe Mr.. James
would do what he says; at any rate, no presi-
the stockholders than The present board.
propose, now, TO show what has been the
earnings OF the road for the last seven years
(oeginning January, '66.) and what has been
paid 10 the stockholders in the whole seven
years. The gross iacome of the road for this
lime is considerably over seven millions Of
dollars From this large Income. the stock
share-being the dividend OF seven years
which is not half per cent. per arnum.t
The amount paid 10 stockholders would
not have paid the taxes had the road been
liable. am now fully convinced as to whose
interest the road is managed. We are told
plainly that the road Is not run In the 10
terest OF the stockholders, but Is managed in
GuO lutOitot VI euO Sicy VI ShehiOo0oh ohe
State of South Carolina. Charleston is our
city; the place We sell all We have for sale
and purchase all our supplies there. We wish
to see Charleston prosper and compare with
the greatest cities IN America, but we can
not afford to give all we make to the city;
necessity will not admit. Allow the stock
holders Ia the country to have some little In.
terest with the city aud Stale. There are
many widows and orphans dependent on
the capital invested In The road, and others
who have held this stock for twenty and
thirty years, and some here holds the original
stock.
The city being benefited, as o matter OF
course her people are benefited. The factor
gets commissions. the merchant sells bis
goods, but the country shareholder looks alone
for dividends, the only way he can be beue-
iited. We have waited long and patiently
for dividends, but In vain.
We are now entirely out Of patience, and
unless speedy change for better prospects,,
we 20 for any change that will promise some
return for our capital. We make no charges
against our president and board OF directors,
for we know they are our best business men,
and believe that the road is managed chiefly
In the interest of Charleston; ali We do know
Is that we get no dividends, and this is enough
to make any one dissatisfied.
A SToCKHoLDER.
Orangeburg, 8. c., February.