Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-30

larger part of this vast extent OF land, Tn
average density of the white population beini
only little over ten to the square mile.
This State is about equally divided betwee
the primitive and alluvial region, the latte
extending about one hundred miles from tn
coast. Near the sea the lands are generall
low and fiat, ascending and becoming NOR
and more hilly as you proceed Westward, un
til they attain on elevation Of near 5000 fee,
including marked varieties Of climate and soil
It's low lands, middle region and mountain
tracts seem like so many different countries
some having the characteristics OF Switzer
land, whilst others have those. Of Hiudostar
and capable oi producing any of the plants
of the temperate zone, besides many pertain
ing to the tropics, with water power in abun
dance and mineral deposits uncared for.
That portion near the coast has been prin
cipally occupied by planters owning large
gangs of negroes and vast tracts OF land
whilst the North and West have been mostly
settled by small farmers.
Lands being cheap, the practice has gene
rally prevailed of planting the largest area
of land possible without manuring--cottor
picking giving occupation during the winter
and fsll-;hus exhausting the soil and de-
pending on clearing new fields, or moving to
the virgin lands OF the far West. The COM
paratirnly small increase of population in this
State may be attributed in great measure,
to this unfortunate practice. Those pleasant
associations which cluster around the "home.
stead were too frequently wanting; the en-
bcllishment and adornment Of place likely
to be abandoned was neglected; and the
houses and improvements. were of temporn'
ry character, and when offered for sale but
little value was attached to any Improvement,
most frequently the property bringing nothing
more than the current value OF the lands.
The changed circumstances of til, property
holders now necessarily throws Oh the market
estates Of all kinds Some are obliged to sell
p portion in order to obtain meaEs of culti-
va,ing the remainder; othors prefer moving
TO some distant country rather than exert
themselves among their former associates or
dependents. ConscG uentlg, lands are freely
offered fcr sale at prices ranging from one to
Gfy dollars an acre. In this locality the
general price is from two to ten dollars
averaging, perhaps, three dollars per acre.
In Barnwell District, in which Aiken is
staatcd in 1865 taxes wcrc paid on OH.
800 acres of land, divided as follows:
90 persons returned 50 acres or less.
7j7 persons returned LOO TO 500 acres.
323 persons returned 500 to 1000 acres.
ISL persons returned 1900 to 2000 acres.
SO nersons returned 1000 to 5000 Gcrcs.
81 persons returned 30GU 10 1900 acres.
9 parsons returned 1000 10 5000 acres.
~ persons returned 5000 to 10000 acres.
This was exclusive of town lots, valued at
$474, 200.
Over 1000 miles Of rail roads have already
been bailt in this State. and several lines
have been loc..ed, some OF which are now
being CONSTRUCTED.
According to the Comptroller's Report, 1860,
the general taSos4 tse State 5oyern plent; e
amounted To $;59l, 80, and Che l6caf 6rpoJice
lakes 10 1885,. Tie population Of the
Stale being 703, ,0G0, The taxes die: no: amount
TO 81 per head.
The total Indebtedness Of the State at that
,;nc was 6..99 !i5, including 81 900, 600 re-
criveti iro.n the N:,liona! ti"vtr..ncnt, which
viii ,,ri probably he called FOR; besides hold
ing rail road aud other stocks which cost 81
G5l. COO, aid having million and half to
toe credit Of the sinking fund.
A. the small debt incurred during the war
will have 20 he rcputa.cd before the State
will b. allowed representation, IL will be seen
tina. the financial condition will be better than
in those S!ntes which are loaded with heavy
debts. Contracted for internal improvements,
and raising and assisting soldiers during the
war, a, is generally the case in the North and
West. Taxation has always been compare
lively light in this State. This year the as
:.ssnent is Is cents on the hundred dollars,
or Is 100 Of one per cent on real property.
The usual appropriations for schools are
temporarily suspended, but will probably
soonsLe resumed. In 1860 they amounted to
$4,000 for free schools, and $5l 900 for
other educational institutions.
BY the new Constitution, immigrants are
granted The right of suffrage, full and unre-
stric,ed, two years after declaring their inten-
ton to become citizens; and there is but lit
tie doubt, from the general interest manifest
ed, but that tlfe Legislature at its next session
will adopt measures to encourage immigra-
ton. The fidelity of the foreign population
to the Southern cause will always be ap-
preca!ed.
Lines of steam packats and sailing vessels
connect Charleston and Savannah with the
Northern cities, and from those points rail
roads rndiate over all the Southeastern States,
the usual fares being about five cents per mile
in first class cars.
The Presidents Of the various lines propose
holding Convention this summer to arrange
a system OF reduced rates for the transporla-
tol of enigrants and their effects.
The only hope that the South will not re-
lapse into the condition of Jamaica and the
otaer West India Islands depends on foster
ing white labor for the characteristics of the
negro is the same here as there, with the dis
advantages Of being so suddenly released
from bondage. Constitutionally lazy, natu-
rally improvdent, ignorant and warm blooded
the disease W hicb scourge vice, Ignorance and
poverty must make fearful havoc with thl:
unhappy race. Like the Indians, they arc
addicted to inntcrnperancc; and in a similar
manner will they disappear before the supe
rior energy Of tie Anglo, Saxon race. Ina
they IRE already diminishing at most lear
full rate is the concurrent testimony from al
quarters. Tie common. estimate OF their los!
since 1860 is 100000 Of lives, or one quar-,
ter of their whole number. In this vicinity
there are not probably o third tho number
that were here January, 1863, many having
migrated to the coast lands. The most &
those remaining have entered into contracts
to work, and in some cases are doing well
out very frequently they leave their employ
ers without notice or assigning any reasor
and the demand for aborers is such tina
when SO disposed they readily obtain othe
employment. -,
In this immediate locality the demand 70
laborers far exceeds tie supply, especial
for such as arc convcrsant with the employ
ncnis pursued here, viz: vine dressers an.
wine makers, distillcrs, horliculturalists AM
mill. rs or machinists, who understand runnini
saw and grist-inills with watcr.power.
Farmers need ordinary laborers on farms