G30 TRANSPORTATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 



supported by about 200,000 bales of cotton and 100,000 barrels of clean 

 and rough rice annually," and that a bale of cotton was worth about $25. 

 Estimating the barrel of rice at 600 pounds, and its value at $20 (3|- cts. 

 per pound) the whole trade of Charleston was only $7,000,000. The re- 

 port concludes, " Charleston * * * has for several years past retro- 

 graded with a rapidity unprecedented. Her landed estate has, within 

 eight years, depreciated in value one-half Industry and business talent 

 driven by necessity, have sought employment elsewhere. Many of her 

 houses are tenantless, and the grass grows uninterrupted in some of her 

 chief business streets." 



While Mr. Black's committee were at work collecting information from 

 a distance, some public spirited citizens furnished the means to have a 

 preliminary survey made of the proposed route, and obtained a report of 

 that survey on the loth March. 



These reports were published, and on the 17th March, 1828, books of 

 subscription to the capital stock of the company were opened at Charles- 

 ton, Columbia, Camden and Hamburg. 



When the time expired and the books were closed, the subscriptions 

 taken at Charleston amounted to 3,500 shares, the minimum required 

 by the charter, but at the three other places not one share was taken. 



On the 12th of May, 1828, the company was formally organized at a 

 meeting of the stockholders, at tlie City Hall, Charleston, and officers 

 were elected as follows : 



President. — William Aiken. 



Directors. — Alexander Black, Thomas Bennett, Joseph Johnson, John 

 Gadsden, A. S. Willington, E. L. Miller, T. Tupper, William Bell, John 

 Robinson, Thomas Napier, Henry F. Faber, James Holmes. 



Secretaries. — Edwin P. Starr, John T. Robertson. 



Exploring Surveyors. — Col. J. B. Petti val, Mr. C. E. Detmold, Mr. R. K. 

 Payne. 



United States Engineers. — Dr. Wm. Howard, and Messrs. Harrison, Swift, 

 Guion, Anderson and Belin. 



In time, Engineer Corps were organized as follows : 



Chief Engineer. — Horatio Allen, 



Asmtants.—:i . B. Pettival. C. E. Detmold, E. Watts, P. Martineau, W. B. 

 Thompson, James Clarke, C. 0. Pascallis, A. A. Dexter. 



Alexander Black may be regarded as the father of the eiiterprise. He 

 got the first charter in 1827, supplied the information which attracted and 

 satisfied others, and became commissioner, that is, /ac totum, of the com- 

 pany during the whole period of construction. 



