Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-02
TcoRREsPoypENcI or 1HE FREE PRESS.
Ie,tar. T-o~ ~ e--.t
NO. II.
AuGusrA, Ga, Fob. II, is

- 'o wv ~
Mr.. E~pIroR-Augusta i. a city of considerable
importance though not large. Situated at the head
OF steamboat navigation on the Savannah, in the
midst of a very fertile corn, cotton and timber coun-
try, it forms the centre of a very extensive trade,
and is the most convenient inland market for many
miles around. 1t is attractive only as a business
place since its position is low and unhealthy; so
low that it is often o%vcrnown by the river. No one,
therefore, resides here except those engaged in some
lucrative employment, and many Of these have resi-
dences on the Sand Hills back from tho river.
The Northcrner entering the city at this season is
aptto be unfavorably impressed with its appearance.
Tho principal streets are broad and sandy ami the
moro unimportant ones arc narrow and filled with
rubbish and lined with old barns and stables and
all the house. have a dingy appearance owing to
the inces,ant flying Of dust. A slight acquaintance,
> -., ~ a,-po, auy sucn impression. lie has
only to notice the numerous shade trees, which will
soon be covered with foliage, and the gardens which
arc even now anticipating spring. to be convinced
that this is a pleasant city. The busy air worn
by everything will also give him pleasure, and cs-
pecially will tho hospitality shown him by the
inhabitants, many Of whom are from the North,
make him feel quite at home.
1t is said the city has not rs yet fully recovered
its former activity since tho raging Of the yellow
fever last autumn. At that timc every place of
business was closed and every dwelling deserted
For weeks the stiffness Of death reigned. On it's
first appearance the city was crowded with refugees
from Charleston and Savannah, who with the citi-
zens fed in all directions by thousands, and sought
refuge in farm houses, in tenantless dwellings, and
even beneath tho sheltcring boughs Of the pine
forest. And even there the pestilencc followed, and
many, the most ga ger to escape it, fell victims. And
after the danger had passed and the inhabitants had
returned to their dcsolated city, a long time neces-
sarily elapsed before business was restored to its
accustomed channel.
The " hard times" too, have had their legitimate
effect on everything here as well as elsewhere. The
immediate cause seems to be the extremely low
price Of cotton and lumber, which have induced
growers to withhold their produce from the market.
II these articles we're now sold in a foreign market,
as usual, the specie returned and sent to tho north
in pay for manufactured articles, it would tend
greatly to relieve the pressure there. But now ,pe.
Gle is going out from the north for imports while it
fails to return into the south for its productions
Commerce is therefore crippled and the resources OF
the whole country diminished. A Protective Tariff
is, doubtless, the required remedy. Under the pres.
emit tariff producers arc dependant on a foreign
market. When this market is affected, as is now the
case, by local affairs, the whole country must suffer,
being dependent on producers for tho influx Of
specie. A Protective Tariff weuld create a homo
market. and thus enable us to 1.-Two within ourselves.
But the faint prospect of peace in Europe has al.
ready improved the price of cotton and better times
arr now conhdentlv anticipated.
Manufacturing is carried on to some extern, here.
There is a large cotton factory in successful opera.
ton in this place, carried by water taken from the
Savannah some distance above and brought down in
q canal in order to secure the required fall. There
is also a paper mill near here on a stream tributary
to the Savannah. Both Of these are worked by
white operatives and | believe conducted by north.
erners.
A few miles from this place on the Carolina side
of the river, are numerous /" chalk hills" which
are nearly valueless for farming purposes. But the
chalk is Of great value in the manufacture Of the
finest ~crockery ware. 1t is used by the company in
Bennington, (Vt.) and active measures are now be-
ing taken to commence the manufacture Of crockery
in this region. One Of the most valuable Of these
" hills" has already been secured, l understand, by
a gentleman from Vermont, and it is believed it can
be manufactured with far greater profit than at tho
North. The material will be inexhaustible, wood
much cheaper. and tho climate more favorable
With such facilities for manufacturing, it would
seem that South Carolina had little cause to Mou
about seeding on account of a high tariff,
Yours truly, EQUESTRIAN.