The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-03
F. L. SAMPs
Late master steamer lndepend dence,
San Francisco, March 81, 1858.
Orr Town.

The vast improvement which our prosperous
Town is undergoing, in every respect cannot
escape the attention of the most careless. OBJ.
server. Some new element Of prosperity is
continually unfolding ITSELF and everything re
ally presentsa cheering prospect. The Me.
chanic's hammer greets the rising sun. and its
monotonous sound falls upon our ears until the
evening shades spread their lengthening lengths
along the busy thoroughfare of active life. Our
Primary Schools are numerous and wellattsnd-
ed. Rare opportunities are, afforded ftrfthe
instruction Of that portion of the gentlerisex
who just passing from girlish gaSety into
the more permanent enjoyment Of matarer
years, and the tender mind is taught, under
the most excellent supervision, to bow at the
shriae Of knowledge with reverence, and learn
to lisp their mother tongue, with eagerness and
delight Our Town is quiet and orderly, snd
scenes of riot and debauch but seldom disturb
the usual camness and serenity whchperv 4des
our entire population, after the curtain of night
wells from our view the beautiful without, pnd
turns the contem plative mind to the wonderful
scenes presented in the Storehouse of memory:
The Sumtervlle of to-day is not the Sum.
tervile of by gone days We are by no means
exempt, it is true, from those scenes whicbOc.
casionally occur in al. communities, and are
regretted by ell good and orderly citizens
The people and the general tone of society has
improved, as well as our Mechanical appear
ance, and for purposes of Education, of which
we now most especially write, opportunities are
here afforded which cannot be surpassed fol all
that gives pcrmanencc and s"lidity Of chaiac-
by any town or village in our State. The tran
sieut, ornamental flashes of fashion, are indeed
not to be acquired here, but these. fade with
ephemeral rapidity aud are utterly valueless in
the sterner, higher and more important duties
of real life.-iSumter Watchman.
BEAUTIFUL BUILDING MArERIAL.--Col Robert
D. James of Clarke county, has left at our Office
srecimen of coucrete limestone, which is found
in vast quantities his residence and for miles
thence in every direction. 1t is of yeltowish
color, takes fine polish, is of great specific
gravity and SO very compact that it would re-
oure ages to disintegrate it. When quarried,
however, the blocks are split with much facility
and easily wrought, but exposure to the air soon
hardens it. A scientific gentleman who has
examined it, says it only differs from the stone
used for building in Paris, by being Of darker
shade and of greater weight, consequently more
handsome and durable. This rock can be easily
procured at Gainestown on the Alabama river,
about one hundred miles from the city. The
river has cut through the stratum, and at low
water, perpendicular bluffs Of ten, fifteen and
twenty feet are exposed SO of creeks and ra-
vines. At other points in Clarke, this rock is
likewise abundant; also at St. Stephens, Cai-
borne, dc. The quarries at Gainestown, espe-
cially, offer great inducements to enterprise for
thew are so co, veniently located that even at
the present high ratess for labor, the stone can
be laid down in Mobile on more favorable terms
than the granite and sand stones of the north
The distance being only one hundred miles from
the city and the river navigable at all seasons,
great despatch can be used in furnishing the
material for building or other purposes; and we
hope the day is not distant when the demand
will be such as to induce the establishment there
of tho requisite machinery and labor for prompt
ly and cheapy filling all orders.
We are glad to learn that an effort will be
made to induce the government to construct the
Mobile custom house of this handsome material.
If taste and economy be consulted, we feel as.
sured that the Clarke county limestone will be
directed to be used. In order that its quality
may be tested ard its beautiful surface admired,
a specimen will be forwarded in due season to
the proper department at Washington,
Mobile Tribune.