The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-27
COLUMBIA, s. G.
Friday Morning. March ~. 1874.
The congares Misunderstanding Com.

pany. ~
The distinguishing feature Of the
franchise granted at the last session OF
the General Assembly to the Congaree
Manufacturing Company, is the autho.
rity oonferted upon them to construct q
dam across the Oongaree River, by
which water power similar and equal
te that OF the Columbia Canal shall be
secured on It's Lexington shore. It has
been considered for years that We have a
mine of wealth in the Columbia Canal.
if properly utilized as manufacturing
power. In it, waters are supposed to
reside the possibilities OF the develop
ment Of enterprise, and of employment
OF operatives, which, in their oonse.
quenoes. will increase the population OF
Columbia to not less than 100. 900 souls,
and corresponding addition to it's
wealth, and even larger proportional in
crease, pi means of subsistence and sup.
port We. have looked an1iously, for a
long time. to see these calculations veri.
ficd by the judicious employment Of
capital under the direction of science
and special technical knowledge, on the
broad field OF labor which invitingly
awaits them. What all the obstacles
may have been in the way of the
s5prague Manufacturing Company, we
. do not propose to discuss or judge. One
has been alleged, and no doubt with
r reason and justice. to be the want of
j, right to construct dam at suitable
point. It Is not our wish to do moro
Than taake passing reference to this,
and with no ends to subserve of either
, praise or blame of the parties on either
side OF the question. Our object is to
:. show thot what was considered indis-
/. pensshle then, has been conceded now.
ASNs General Assembly has granted the
privilege. and il we understand the to-
Biography, the improvement which it
may be made to work in the develop
ment and increase of the water power
on this side, may be equaled on the other
side Of the Ocngaree. The practical
effect is to double our conception of the
value Of what is already conceded to be
one. Of the moat magnificent water
powers in the United States.
The bill which charters this new COM
pauy includes in its list of inoorporators
the names of persons we'll known in this
community and in the State as possessed
of means, intelligence, enterprise and
integrity. These afford guarantee that
they will take hold of the work in ear
nest There is money and distinction
in it to them, and immense prospective
advantage to the city and neighborhood.
II is twin brother to the enterprise
which has just been successfully inau-
gurated, of constructing the important
link in the great line OF railway from
Charleston to Chicago, which lies be-
tween Spartanburg and Asheville, N. G.
From these two measures. if from any.
thing, We nay hope for o return of
prosperity to the State, and especially
from the former, of the increase OF
population and development OF business
to Columbia. We trust that they will
promptly organize and 60 to work under
the provisions OF this charter. They
seem to us to be liberal and calculated
to unite the sutfrages and secure the CO.
operation ct all parties. A glance at
some OF these, in advance of our publ
cation OF the bill itself, will not be with
out interest to our readers. In the
second section, the company is nuthor-
lied to construct dam across the Con.
garee, at such point below Geiger's Mill
as it may deem most practicable for
utilizing the water Of tho river for
manufacturing purposes, on either or
both OF its sides. It must be completed
within three years, or the rights and
franchises conferred by the Act shall
cease and determine. The third, fourth
and Eth sections are taken up with set
ting the terms of compensation for any
injuries that may result from the Aow-
age caused by the dam to riparian pro-
prietors of land, and to owners OF
bridges, mills, machinery and factories,