The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-24
The Columbia Canal
Plan For Development For
Navigation as Well as
Power

Of n permanent s ate commission
to take over. develop and operate
the Columbia Canal. in case the
state is the final winner in the liti-
CATION now pending, will be provid-
ed in bills to be submitted to the
general assembly in January. De-
cision to this effect was reached at
meeting Of the canal commission
here this week. and another meet
ing will be held early in January,
when bills now being prepared, will
be considered and approved.
The state supreme court recent
" decided the famous canal case
in favor of the state, ordering that
the canal property revert TO the
state Of South Carolina. The de-
fendants in the suit, the present
owners. the Columbia Railway, Gas
e. Electric Co., have given notice
that the case will be appealed to
the United States supreme court,
and this means the final determina-
ton of the canals ownership will
be up to the highest tribunal of the
land
Pending the final decision Of the
case. the canal commission is max
ing plans TO meet the situation
which will result, in case the state
should win before the United
States supreme court. In that event,
the state will find itself with a large
navigation canal and With a hydro
electric power possibility before It.
AT the meeting Of the commits
sion in Columbia this week, accord
ing to announcement made today
by Attorney General Wolfe, chair
man of the commission, the decls-
ion of this body was 20 recommend
TO the legislature that the ideas Sc!
out IN the original act, authorizing
the. construction Of the canal, be
carried out, which would mean the
development Of the canal for navi-
CATION and power purposes.
The canal commission this week
named a committee Of its MEM
bers. Senator Niels Christensen, Of
Beaufort. and George K. Laney, Of
Chesterfield, and Representatives j..
X. Hamblin, OF Union, and E. T.
Hughes, of Marion, to draw up bills,
10 be submitted 10 the 1922 leSisla-
ture. providing for the future de-
vclopmcnt and maintenance Of the
canal property.
The bills 10 be drawn up will
provide for the completion OF the
canal from Ge:vais street, in the
city of Columbia. TO the CRANKY
landing. below the city of Colum-
bia. the present head Of the navi-
gable part Of the ConSaree. and
also for the development of the ca
nal for the manufacture of electric
power. The canal commission re
ports that its engineers advise that
the canal has possibility Of l1.000
horse power. AT present they say,
the canal is producing about halt
this amount.
The bill TO be introduced in the
legislature in January will pro-
vide for the use Of the canal tor
commercial purposes. the state re-
ceiving the revenue from the navl-
CATION and also from the sale OF
electric power. The permanent
commission to be created. in case
the state wins its case. Will handle
the income Of the canal and oper-
ate it The present temporary com
missions engineers estimate that
the completion OF the canal Will
add to its fall. and thereby max,
possible a greater Developments OF
hvdro-electric power. The state
will, if the wishes Of the present
commission are carried out, con-
struct power plants on the canal
and sell the power TO manufactor-
les and other industries.