Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-04-24
Our Railroad Interests.

OUI NuAlIOau 1uGSI6SCS.
No State, in our opinion, has been more
unfortunate in tho development Of its rails
road interests than South Carolina. Liberal
in her donations in MD Of every enterprise Of
this character, fatality seems to have at
tended oil her investments in MD Of these
great arteries Of commerce, and o,day we
sec two Of her most important roads in the
hands of receivers. Considering tho fact
that these roads, with their feeders, penetrate
tho heart OF the State, both in point of popu
lation and wealth. connecting tho mountains
with the scaboari and passing through the
capital Of the State, lead to its commercial
metropolis, and that with these advantages
they have been unable to meet tho interests on
tho bonded debt, it is not matter for regret
that they have been put in the hands of re-
ccivcrs. 1t is true that the wear and tear of
tho was and the destruction Of a largo por,
ton Of their road bed and rolling stock by
che invading army is ono grea. cause Of their
present embarrassment, bu, mother and to
the people, a more important Ca. C has been
on these roads. Only such travel and freights
have passed over them rs were absolutely
necessary for this reason. Since tho complo-
tion Of the Air Line Road, and tho resulting
competition, these evils have been greatly
modified, and if the roads could have kept
their heads above water few years, they
doubtless would have been able to SION tho
tide Of their difficulties. In fact, in the past
few years they have been greatly improved
in their beds rolling stock and rapid .ransit
but in the midst Of their efforts to extricatc
themselves from their difficulties, they fell
under the load Of debts hanging over them
They have fallen into good hands The
receiver of the South Carolina Road is Mr.
Fisher, who, rs receiver Of tho Air Line
Road, managed its business to the general
satisfaction, while the Grcenville Road has
fallen into the hands of Gen. Conner ono of
the abiest lawyers and purcst citizens Of our
State. These gentlemen, wo trust and be-
Iicvc, will strive to put their roads in first
class order and will arrange to lower freights
so as to increase the business and profits of
the road and greatly enlarge the trade of
Charleston.
1t is not high frcights that pays best. No
better illustration Of the profit from low rates
Of charge can be found than tho management
OF tho Postal Department of the United
States. We can remember when tho charge
for all letters was Eve cents and for those
coming q certain distance ten cents. Tho
Department. was then heavy expense to the
Government, but now a charge of three and
one cent hos so increased the amount Of mail
matter rs to more than make up the differ.
ence in charges So it would Go with freights
and travel. With low freights and passenger
tariffs tho trade and travel would DO doubled,
the consumption Of articles increased and the
income Of our roads be greater.
we hope and expect to sec these roads put
in fret class order, the rate Of travel ncr eoscd
and timo and money eayed to tho people. In.
creased patronage willsurcly follow, and Char
lesion wgll bo greatly benefited The first step
looking to this is tho proposed arrangement
to run through from Charleston to Grconvllc
in fftecn hours and to Walhalla in sixteen
hours and thirty minutes, without any change
Of cars at Columbia. This change is opposed
'by the Columbia Register and also by tho
Anderson Lntelligencer, but We do not SOC it
in thatiight. They speak of the disadvantage
inpoint Of mail matter which is small affair
compared with travel. If letters conveying
nows arc OF great Importance tho telegraph
is open for its conveyance while travel should
be uninterrupted from point to point. Wo
can hardly suppose an advantage to the Ne,os
and Courier has over been thought of by the
receivers, and would hardly suppose tha,
journal was prcsumptious enough to think Its
claims entered into the consideration for the
proposed change. We think it will be advan.
tageous to Charleston, and this wo should ali
dosiro, and advantageous also to trade and
travel. Mon on business have not quito &c
much consideration for lato and carly hours
as 'editors and men Of leisure. but do value
every moment Of time. With tho light.
before us, we favor the ol,ango ond 500 bu
one serious objection to 1.-THE hoayy work
on tho hands on the branei, road.
An important matter, and one to the
iaterests Of the roads and tho people, is the