The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-08-20
CONVICT LABOR.

MIR. EDITOR: a glance at map OF
the coast lines Of Virginia, North Caro-.
lima, South Carolina aud Georgia, will
demonstrate how much has been done by
Nature to facilitate and render oasy The
construction of waterway for trans
portation between these several States.
Large rivers from tho mountains, with
sufficient falls, traverse these States, and
empty into the sea. Creeks, bayous, Ia
goons and lakes, interspersed from ten to
thirty miles inland, inviting an energetic
and enterprisiug people to utilize them
for traffic aud commerce. The people of
South Carolina very early recognized
these natural advantages, and led of in
a bold attempt, by using her water
courses, to concentrate large and re.
munoratiye trade at Georgetown and
Charleston. The melancholy debris OF
her large aud costly works may yet be
seon, diajointed and scattered, among the
ruins Of the Santee and other canals.
These projected works, however, are
striking monuments of the wisdom and
forecast Of the statesmen of that day, aa
we'll ns the want of perseverance, and
pertinacity among the Southern people,
which 10 distinguished and enriched the
Inhabitants of the Northern and Eastern
States of the lion. About the time
the system of canals WINS imperfectly
completed and in operation, the railroad
from Charleston to Hamburg was inau-
gurated aud constructed, which was to
supersede all other modes Of transporta.
tion, and 80 great was the enthusiasm
over that enterprise that tie people
seemed to think and believe that the
road from Hamburg to Charleston would
act az great funnel or trunk, and the
whole State and contiguous States would
be netted over with stem, and branches
all to pour trade and traffic to the City
Of Charleston. So overwhelming did
this idea take possession of our Legisla-
ture aud people that the canal system
began to droop from neglect, and In q
few years was abandoned as too slow for
progressive people. The railroads
succeeded, and entirely monopolized the
commerce of the country, and continue
to do so. notwithstanding lava are enact
ed and Railroad Commissions created to
regulate and reduce extravagant and un.
reasonable charges.
If the system of canals in the State
had been extended and perfected In
location and construction, and kept open
for use by the people, It can hardly be
doubted, with the aid of the navigable
riverp, that O certain degree of whole.
competition would have been maintained,
In various parts of the State, which
would have resulted in great benefit to
such localities.
The loss Of the ownership and control
of the great lines of railway traversing
the State from north to south, and east
10 west by Tho people Of the State,
although constructed by them and for
the benefit of themselves and their own
towns and ci' "a, renders II all important.
if not imper Give, that some means should
be discovered and adopted by which q
fair proportion Of trade and commerce
should be controlled and directed to our
own sea.ports. AS auxiliary to an inde.
pendent through line Of railroad from
Charleston to the west, heretofore advo.
Gated, we would suggest that nature has
almost constructed for us the best pos.
able means Of cheap transportation, viz.
"a waterway for light draft steamers
and barges. From Richmond, Virginia,
to New Orleans there can be found no
insurmountable obstacles, and; indeed,
the way seems so inviting aud easy that
the wonder is that It has not been con.
ssructed long ago. To accomplish this,
however, through the several States, 1t
would require some action on the part of
Congress. A very few years ago the
echeme was introduced In Congress, and
the Importance Of the project considered,
and survey contemplated, II not actu.
ally ordered. Here Ia field for our
Representatives and Senators from these
Southern States In Congress to do come.
thing for the people, which, If successful,
would be q lasting benefit aud living
monument Of their sagacity and practical
forecast. Being an enterprise for devel.
opieg aud facilitating Interstate com.
merce, Congress would readily order q
survey and estimates, and IL the scheme
is practicable then tho mode and manner
of construction could be considered.
u If Congress isheuld refuse so reasona,
be q request, then the States Immediate.
~ interested should By concert inaUza:
rsto the work In each State, aud nnitt In
The same manner as has been adopted, IN,
the construction Of railroads, by the use
of convict labor, withiR their own terri-
tory or otherwise But II no such cons
certed action can be .obtasped then the
work within the limits Of :his State nlone
Ii Of sufficient importance 70 aitrncl
thought and Investigations rom tue
North Carolina line Ia tho Georgia line .
good steamboat nayigaliob, entirely inland
and parallel Tn the coast. csn bosshad By
constructing III miles OF canals. - 80
ssya the Slate Board or Agriculture IN
their South Casoliaa, pages 615S S26.
but In addition 10 thia tho restoration oi
the Hantee Cansl Id; lis former isnfnlDess
ID, Id itsclf, of vast importance 20 very
many Couatics III Ali es section of The
State. III, as atatefi in the same book q
gfeas mistake wssI made ID th8 ngineer.
fng aud incat Hon oe The tinc Of tkis canal,
thsn thin should be- cotree eetsd3 and all.the
tributaries ana feeders brought again into