Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-08-31
Everybody should attend the mass meeting at
Walhalla on Friday next
High Freight Rates.

Opposition to monopolies is tho rallyipg
cry throughout tho land. 1t has been war
OF words in South Carolina, if we except tho
services of Gen. Bonham, our Railroad Com
missioner, in this direction. Under the law
as it exists ho is not ablo to accomplish vory
much, and we do not expect much relief in
this direction until VIC are ablo, as they are
in Georgia, to regulate by law passenger and
freight rates. We 0re moved to look in this
direction by the announcement that tho pool
managers of tho Southern railroads and
steamship limos have advanced the freight
rates North stiny on cotton and other products
OF the soil. No sooner is this announcemen
made than we havo another that freight rates
on the railroads in South Carolina havo been
moved up from ten to twenty per cent. The
reason given for those increased rates 10 novel
to us. The statement is made that fine crops
will be made and that tho farmers can afford
to pay something moro for their transporta-
ton to market. Is this just and rgh,2 It
implies that heretofore tho rates charged by
these roads have been too low. Wo do not
think this has been tho caso. The railroads
do not and have not worked for nothing
The charge has been made that their rates
for passengers and freight have been too high
and to advance these rates now is to bring
this question Of transportation squarely bo.
fore tho people for their action.
We arc not unfrendly to the railroads. On
the contrary, wo are the friends of these
properties. Wo have always advocated thoir
construction and comfortable equipment, and
those who who put thor money in these en-
prizes should DO reasonably rewarded. The
interest of the capitalist and tho producer
ought to be alike protected by the law. This
is not only possible, but is entirely practioa-
BILE and right. But botter argument for
increased freight rates should bo given than
that large crops will be mado, and therefore
the farmer, the produoor of those artiolep,
can afford to pay these higher ratios. This is
no argument ut oil. On the contrary, if tho
crops arc large enough to keep tho roads
and ships full and busy all tho time, they can
afford to carry tho products Of tho soil to
market cheaper than they can small crop.
In our judgment the question should onter
into the present canvass in tho State. Then
when it is understood and passed on By tho
people the Legislature will be able to dispose
of the question, not only with entire justice
to tho railroads. but to the people as we'll.
The rights Of property orc tender and should
not be disturbed without oauSe. Blu. the
rights of tho poopie are higher still, and
should bo protected by tho laws Of the land
Thoro is another cause for apprehension.
The railroads in South Carolina are controlled
by fow persons. There is no competition
and the rates Of freight have beon steadily
advanced sinoo the roads have fallen under
tho present control. 1t is important, thoro-
fore, that in tho present canvass this auos-
tion shall be fully discussed and the Legis-
latnro apply the orrcctive-justicc to the
railroads and protection to tho people.