Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad. Since the last Report, showing 4 miles of this road, from Black's, S. C., to North Carolina line, to be in operation, the Commission has at various times examined and authorized to be opened for public use 78 miles more, from Camden, S. C., to Yorkville, S. C., which portion is for the present being operated under a traffic arrangement with the South Carolina Railway. It is all built in the same substantial manner as stated in report of 1887, and when completed through will prove a very valuable addition to the railroad property of the State. A memorandum of some of the features of construction of this road is appended: Inspection of C., C. & C. Railroad November 15, 1887, from Camden, Ten Miles North in Direction of Lancaster. Two thousand six hundred and forty ties to the mile; 603-pound steel rail of approved pattern, with double angle plates. Well laid and surfaced. Drainage good and thoroughly done. Trestles heavy and well put up. Bents on piles, sills, legs and caps 12x12, fifteen feet apart and cross-braced. Stringer packed chord of three pieces well bolted together, resting on corbels 12x12, four feet long, dapped on caps, and all bolted through stringers, corbels and caps. Advised diagonal horizontal bracing on nine hundred foot trestle across Sanders Creek about twenty-five feet high, as same is approached from either end on a heavy down grade. Ties on trestles 7x8, dapped one inch, ten inches apart in clear; guard rail 6x8, well bolted to ties. Permission to operate from November 17, 1887. South Carolina Railway. The general condition of this road is about the same as last year. Some eight miles of steel rail have been put on the Camden Branch, but the most of this branch is not in a favorable condition to stand the increased traffic, which necessarily must follow the opening of the C., C. & C. R. R. from Camden, S. C., North. The attention of the authorities of this road was especially called to this, and also to some noted defects on the Columbia Division and the Augusta Division. The bridge across the Edisto River was burned during the past year. Temporary work of a substantial character was immediately put in, but the bridge has not yet been rebuilt. accordance with a recent Act of the Legislature, a draw-bridge is being put in the structure across the Congaree River. The stations along this road are, for the most part, in excellent order and well kept. They are ample for the wants of the traveling public. Green Pond, Walterboro and Branchville Railroad. Two miles more have been built and opened since last year's Report. The whole line is much improved, and is doing a satisfactory and steadily increasing business, to which the additional two miles alluded to above will materially add. The depot accommodations are ample for the needs of the road and are neatly kept. Charleston and Savannah Railway. This road is in excellent order, and is being rapidly relaid with 60-lb. steel rail. Iron bridges are now across all streams except Coosawhatchie and Salkehatchie Rivers. The work of filling trestles is steadily progressing, upwards of 2,000 feet having been done during the past year. A large portion of the trestling has been rebuilt since the last inspection, and is of a good standard and very substantial. This work will be continued as rapidly as practicable, and it is expected at no distant day to have all of the old style trestling taken out and replaced by their standard. The stations. along this line are ample, and are generally remarkably well kept. SEA ISLAND BRANCH (CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH RAILROAD.) This branch road, built to develop the truck industry of the islands South of Charleston, has proved a success, and will at an early day be improved and relaid with fifty-pound steel rail. It is now in fair condition. Ashley River Railroad. As heretofore this is operated by the Charleston and Savannah Railway. The whole four miles is in very excellent condition. Port Royal and Augusta Railway. Since the special examination of this road in March, 1888, (report of which see) this road has been considerably improved ; 56 and 614lb. steel rails are being laid where road is bad, and new trestles are being put up as fast as practicable. The standard trestle of this road is of an excellent pattern, and is very strong and substantial. Port Royal and Western Carolina Railway. The main line of this road, from Spartanburg to the Savannah River, is in fair order throughout. Between Spartanburg and Greenwood better drainage of the track is needed. The trestles generally are in good order. Station at Laurens has been enlarged and is now ample for the wants of the public. A new one has been built at Waterloo (the former having been burned). A very good pattern of benches for the waiting rooms has been adopted by this system and are being put in all stations. Be tween Greenwood and the Savannah River the road bed is in much better condition. Trestles are being rebuilt in a very strong and substantial way, and the old iron rail being replaced by fifty-six pound steel rail. It is intended to continue this work steadily until the whole line is laid with it. Stations generally ample for the wants of the public. GREENVILLE BRANCH. In excellent order for a new road. Necessary work is going on steadily, and so soon as the road bed settles well this will be as good a road as any part of the system. ANDERSON BRANCH. Owing to the nature of the country through which it runs this road has had more work done than has been necessary on other portions. The road bed, surfacing and alignment has been much improved since last year, and it will soon be an excellent road. Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway. The Railroad Commission on the 21st of August examined the 17 miles of the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railroad from the North Carolina State line to Ashland, and authorized the company to open the same for public use on and after the 23d. It is admirably constructed, having but one short trestle in the 17 miles-that at the bluff on Catawba River-all embankments, with culverts to protect them against floods, being completed before laying of track. The steel rail is over 60 pounds, with double angle plate fastenings. The bridge is a superior iron structure, capable of bearing the weight of the heaviest engines in use on Southern roads. By the time this Report is laid before the Legislature the road will have been finished to Chester. Georgetown and Western Railroad. This road is in somewhat better condition since it passed into the hands of the present owners, but its rolling stock can be much improved. The stations are ample for the needs of the public. Wilmington, Chadbourn and Conway Railroad. Since last Report this road has been opened for public use by the Commission to the town of Conway, and has this year been inspected from where it enters South Carolina, a distance of 26 miles. It is well constructed and laid with good second-hand fifty-six pound iron rail, with fish-bar fastenings. Palmetto Railroad. Is in good condition, the iron bridge over the Pee Dee River, and every part of the road, having successfully withstood the freshets of this year. Since the last Report a handsome depot building, with good passenger accommodations, has been completed at Cheraw. Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway. The portion of this road lying in South Carolina, chartered as the South Carolina Pacific Railway, is operated under lease by the C. F. & Y. V. Railway. It has sustained some damage from the freshets of this year, but when inspected by the Commission was found in good condition in every respect. Blackville, Alston and Newberry Railroad. January 5, 1888, the Commission examined and authorized the opening of sixteen miles of this road, from Blackville to Salley's, and on 24th April, 1888, eight miles more, from Salley's to Wagener's. They have recently inspected the above, and examined the six miles. from Wagener's to Seivern, the present terminus of the road, and authorized it to be opened for public use on and after October 1, 1888. The road is well constructed throughout, with fair cross ties, good trestling, and is laid with fifty-six-pound steel rail, double angle plates. Bishopville Railroad. This line has been extended seven and three-quarter miles since our last Report, and for new work the whole road is in fairly good condition. Barnwell Railway. This road has changed hands the past year, having been sold by the South Carolina Railway to private parties. It is in fair condition. Eutawville Railroad. This road has been somewhat improved during the past year, and is in good condition for the traffic over it. It is being extended from Vance's across the Santee River in the direction of Sumter, to which point it will probably be built during the coming year. Since the inspection of many of the roads in the State, we have been visited by disastrous floods, (early in September,) and the damage done to some of the railroads was very great. The heaviest sufferers were the Columbia and Greenville Railroad, Spartanburg, Union and Columbia Railroad, Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, South Carolina Railway and Port Royal and Augusta Railway. The various officials acted with great energy, and much credit is due for the promptness with which trains were run after the dis |