The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-16
The Columbia Can al.

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The Columbia Canal.
Tho adoption by the Senate of the
House bill in referring to the Colum-
bia canal is much to be desired. The
bill may not bo tho best thing that
could be done, but it is the best thing
that can be done nndor existing cir
chthstances. Briefly stated the bill
is rs follows: A company Of North
crn capitalists arc to erect n dam
across the Congaree and to make q
canal two hundred feet wide, capable
of affording transportation to boats.
About ton thousand horse power can
be developed, equal to tho water pow
er OF Lowell, Massachusetts, Of which
the State is to receive fifteen hundred
horse power, said to bo worth ten
dollars per horse power per annum. q.
The State is to furnish two hundred
and fifty convicts, or rs near that num-
Der rs practicable, to be fed by the
contractors. The contractors arc to
give bond in the sum of hundred
thousand dollars, for the faithful pcr-
fornancc Of tho work, and are to COM
plctc it within three years. These arc
generally the provisions, but they
may be altered somewhat if the bill
passes.
Objections arc urged that tho State
is doing the work aud will make a
free gift to the contractors, but espe-
cially that the enterprise is merely
local and only Columbia will be
s99!gt bse9n9!sgt}lt5GAc; }lt5GAc; bpaGe It tn must have been
demonstrated ere this that tho State
ofitscif will not undertake TIE work,
and tho water power, as it now
stands, is not worth cent. Tho COIL
tractors will feed the convicts, assume
all the supervision of the enterprise,
and will turn over to the State wator
power said to be worth three hundred
thousand dollars at least. This is by
no means bad bargain of itself, but
the secondary benefits will largely
swell the sum. For we hold that the
Improvement Of this water power and
the construction of q broad and dccp
canal will greatly rebound to the
general prosperity Of the State. In
the discussion tho canal seems to have
Ecen overlooked, whereas it will pcr-
NIT water navigation and thus facili-
tate tho transportation Of cotton from
some of the largest producing counties
in the State. 1t Is just as important
to complete link in tho navigation of
tho Broad, Congaree and Santee
Rivers. as to construct a railroad.
Much moro beneficial to tho State
would it be to open this canal than to
build the Greenwood and Augusta
Atailroad to divert heavy trade from
Charleston and Columbia to Augusta.
We would be pleased to learn how
such a road Is to benefit the eastern
section OF the State. And yot tho
western counties clamor against the
canal, because they erroneously be-
lieve it will do them no good. There
is no consistency in this. Every rail-
road of Importance passing through
the State rpdiatcs from Columbia as n
common centre. Whatever improves
Columbia improves the country, and
the towns connected with it. Estab-
hsh largo factories in Columbia, and
on every bale Of cotton manufactured
there will be a double gain, tho freight
on the cotton and tho freight back on
the. cloth. Again, tho disbursement
OF several million of dollars year in
Columbia to operatives, is q direct
gain to the whole State. Could
Lowell be cat out from tho heart O,
Massachusetts, and located on tho
banks Of the Congaree without iniur
Ing oil Massachusetts, and benfiting al
South Carolina? Time will be re-
quiied to build up a second Lowell
here. But when the accessibility O
the cotton is considered, and the mild
ness Of tho climate, which never close,
the factories by freezing, factories ar,
aforcgonc conclusion. It has bee,
said by skilled manufacturers that flv,
cents pound can bo saved by Southern
factories. This means over twenty
two dollars a bale. Will not tn,
whole State rcapt the benefit from this
Again, q fixed sum is required t.
maintain the State government ever,
year. Tho greater tho wealth Of tn,
state, the less the levy required. I'll,
richer one part Of the State become,
the lighter the rate Of taxation on tn,
rest. Viewed in this light, also, Co
lambias gain will bo the states Gain
Lastly, the bill by offering favorabl,