Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-11

mental sympathy: but as the situation
stands, the concern of the people OF
the balance of the state involves more
than mere sentiment. The question Is
very practical one.
There is a good deal Of kicking
about the railroads. Much of 1t is, no
doubt, thoughtless and unjust. We
have always thought this, and have
seen very little that has been calcu-
lated to change our opinion. So long
as rates are anywhere within the
bounds of reason they do not hurt
anybody much. The thing that hurts
is discrimination. and If present rates
were cut half in two, but allowed to
remain in the same relative propor-
ton, the points that are being discrim-
mated against would not be any bet
ter off than now.
Charleston is the closest tidewater
port to the greater part Of South Car
olina and also to a large portion Of
North Carolina and Tennessee. We
are not considering the interest of
North Carolina and Tennessee just
now; but only South Carolina. The
other states manage to look pretty well
after their own interests.
There is a tremendous lot Of freight
originating in the upper part of South
Carolina-more than the average in
dividual has any idea Of. The bulk
of 1t consists Of raw cotton and manu-
featured cotton goods; but this is by
no means all. And besides, the total
amount is nothing like what it ought
to be or what it will be within the
next few years.
Most Of the freight from this sec
ton north and abroad goes to Nor
folk and Primers Point on the coast
of Virginia. The reason 1t goes there
is because the railroads prefer it to
do so and they attain their desire by
making the rates lower in that direc-
ton or rather higher in other direc-
tions. AS a result, the shippers Of this
section are being taxed to build up
more distant ports in other states at
the expense of a closer port in their
own state.
AS we see it, under all the rules Of
fairness, the railroads Of this section
should be required to give our people
the benefit Of the shortest haul possi-
BILE. There Is no injustice to the rail-
roads in such a requirement.; but we
can see how very great benefit can
result to the manufacturers OF the
Piedmont section, and to the Piedmont
section as a whole.
If the South Carolina legislature will
see to it that Charleston gets exactly
what she is entitled to in the shape Of
equitable rates, placing the people
there in a position to compete with
other ports on equal terms, we feel
quite sure that these people will soon
find a way to turn a large volume of
business their way, and the develop
ment Of business at Charleston. must
necessarily have a reflex in the devel-
opment of all other interests in all the
territory from which that business
comes.
1t is very we'll not to forget that rail-
road discrimination to the contrary
Notwithstanding, there are a number Of
Charleston wholesale houses that find
no difficulty in meeting the competi-
ton of the world throughout the whole
of the southeast and given fair show,
the city will advance in other lines.
We do not stand for any injustice
as against the railroads. We would
not ask that Charleston be given any
unfair advantage over any other city;
but we do think that if the railroads
are not now giving her a fair deal,
they should be made to do so.