American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-06-30
Canton It's Business Prospects, Com
mercial Importance, Etc.

Canton It's Business Prospects, Com-
mercial Importance, Etc.
Since &" grim visaged War hath
smoothed his wrinkled 'front.' since
our "spears have been beaten into
ploughshares and our swords into
pruning -hookS"-since our soldiers
have become sewers of the fields in
stead of soldiers in the service, and
our sailors have become ploughcrS OF
the soil instead of the "briny MAIN
since we bask in the sunshine OF
peace instead of beneath the scowl-
ING and angry clouds OF war-it VIII
not be out OF place to take a blruS-
eve view of our little city-to dwell
for short time on what she was,
what she is, and what she may be.
When the war was inaugurated, IN
1861, Canton was in the full tide OF
prosperity. Her storehouses were
all occupied by enterprlslng mer-
chants, all of whom seemed to be on
the high road to fortune. They
bought largely of the cotton OF oul
planters, and, III return, filled Their
orders for groceries and plantation
SUPPLIES. Tie smaller dealers were
proportionably prosperous and thrly-
ing; merchants, mechanics, artisans,
etc, were all induStriOusly and prof
itably engaged in their respective
vacations. Business was active in
every department every store-roon
in town, and every tenement large
enough ior two to live in, was occu
pied. The population was lncreaS
ing, and Canton was i'll a fair way
to become in reality, as well as il
name, a city. But the war came
like blight, like a mildew, and al
this prosperity was blighted as witt
the breath of the sirocco.
Though Canton escaped most fol-
tunately from the ravageS and de
vastatio.is 9, ,Ae wal, in comparison
with the ruin and destruction visited
upon her neighboring cities ant
towns, yet she did not altogether
ESCAPE the invader did not fail t
leave here, also, the mark of lis lrOi
heel-thc mementO OF his hatred ant
yindictiveneSs. Though the eye ha!
become accustomed t. the sad sight
vet we are daily reminded, by
glance at the vacant lots and soil
tary chimneys on the north side o
our city square, that here, too, tn,
vandals trOd.
But, the war being over. our PEG
pie, with that indomitable industry
that rccuperative energy, for whlcl
they are distinguished, went to work
"with soul, mind and strength" Il
restore their lost prosperity, to re
build their fallen fortunes. Canton
like the tabled Phoenix, has arlsel
from her ashes, and is once NOR
soaring towards the sun of prosper
ity. No town or city within the Inn
its of rebeldOm. we will venture t
say, has more rapidly recuperate
and recovered from the ravages {
relentless war, than Canton ma
'StOrebouses that had been rendere
unfit for occupation, were immed
ately repaired; halls OF public anus
ment were converted into St0r'
rooms, and all were soon filled VII
heavy stocks of goods. Two ne
stOrehOuses have been built on IL
south side of the square Zone frame
building and the other Of brick, Il
latter not yet quite finished); thr'
framed storehOuses on the burr
district, north side; two very ham
some ones on the east side, and a
other, heretofore unfit for use, mac
"as good as new"-all of which a
occupied by merchants-and 9th
improvements are going forward
every hand. Every stOrehOuse, sho
and Office in town is occupied, al
there is a demand for more; eve
mansion and shanty has tenan
and the cry still is, "a house!
house any price for a house !" !