The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

FIRST AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE. 141
CHAPTEE XXVII.
riEST AMEEICAIT LOCOMOTIVE.
While ttese events were transpiring in Maryland,
through, the progress of the Baltimore and Ohio Eail-
road, a similar enterprise, nearly equal in its magnitude,
and fully so in importance, had been started in another
section of the country. The practicability of establish-
ing a railroad communication between the city of
Charleston, South Carolina, and Hamburg, on the western
border of the State, a distance of one hundred and
thirty-six miles, must have been talked of, and even
some primary steps taken for its consummation, as early
as 1827. We have seen, in an old file of ihe Charles-
ton Gov/rier^ dated December, 1827, the following copy
of a letter from Columbia, the capital of the State, where
the Legislature was in session at the time. It says
"The committee to -whom the Charleston memorial was re-
ferred is divided in opinion on the propriety of an appropriation
for the survey of the country between Charleston and Hamburg.
Some of the committee think that if the railroad is to he the work
of a company, who is to receive all the profits, the whole expense
should be borne by the company. And again, that if a survey be
effected by the Stale, it would not be done so satisfactorily to the
community as it probably would be if managed by individuals
immediately interested."
However, a bill, granting a charter for the South
Carolina Railroad, was passed December 19, 1827.
Fifteen days after, on January 4, 1828, a meeting, .of
the citizens was called, and a committee appointed : to
report on that charter at the next meeting. The second
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