The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-06-12
The Greenyille and Columbia Railroad.

It is gratifying to observe the increasing
business and prosperity of the Greenville and
Columbia Railroad, since its connection with
the South Carolina Railroad. To this cause,
and to the SKILL experience and efficient man.
agement of Superintendent Dodamead, its
present success is attributable. We are not
possessed of the exact statistics which will
show precisely the increased amount of work
done, or of profits realized, but we understand
that they have far exceeded all previous years,
during the past twelve months. The bridge
over Broad River is nearly completed, and pre-
sents the appearance of solid and substantial
structure, which will stand the test of the high
est freshets and successfully resist the seyerest
strain.
The road-bed, rolling stock, locomotive
power, &C., are insufficient for the business,
but it is proposed, we learn, by the South Car
ing litigation now going on in relation to the
road is settled, to devote whatever sum of
money may be necessary to reftting the road,
and rendering its appointments first class in
every respect. In the meantime, the road will
be run to its full capacity, and continue to
maintain and increase its usefulness to the
merchants and farmers along its route. Con-
siderable activity appears to exist at several
points along the line, even after the freight of
fertilizers was all delivered and some idea OF
the amount of this may be formed from the
fact of more than 1000 tons being taken to the
one point of Anderson. The line of telegraph
owned by the road is of great service and con-
venience to its business interests and to those
of its customers and an inestimable advantage
to all in the peculiar circumstances which rem
der quick and prompt transmission of intelli-
gence desirable and gratifying.
Several years ago, when the original stock
holders were induced to sell out, the ostensible
purpose of the purchase was to place the road
in the hands of active, enterprising and expe-
rienced railroad men of ample means, with the
expectation of its immediate improvement and
thorough renovation. We were to have two
trains day run from Columbia to Greenville;
freights were to be reduced, so as to give an
impulse to agricultural productions along the
road and thus advance the industrial prosperi-
ty of all the upper counties, increase the trade
of Columbia and Charleston, and incidentally
prove beneficial to the entire State. The pros
poets thus held out were very alluring and de-
ceiyed some of our most sagacious and practi-
cal citizens, among them notably the late la
mented Judge Orr. Whatever might have
been the worthy objects of some of the parties
who originally abetted the enterprise, the road
finally fell into the hands of ring, the only
desire of which seemed to be to swindle the
State out of its stock and cucumber the road
with spurious bonds. They ran it until, in
their hands, it was no longer worth running,
and then disposed of it to the South Carolina
Railroad Company. Under its favorable aus
pices and the vigorous management of Col.
Dodamead, it has shaken off the shackles
which have heretofore crippled its operations,
and is now in fair way to prove handsome
and brilliant success, and to answer the busi-
ness purposes of the people, for which it was
primarily ntended.-C0Sumbio Paeniz.