Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-30
comparatively short embankments would be

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pense of the dam, bitches, locks, &C., to /
$4,000 per mile las much as rail roads cost
and two dollars paid for the land, the total e1
pense would be $40 per acre. The deepe
the swamps the less would be tn. proportion
ate expense. The lands would, when reclaim
ed, certainly be worth the value of one year
yield; and whilst reclaiming the land the va
liable timbers could be made an additions
source of profit and thus from 100 to 500 pc
cent. realized in two or three years wher
properly managed. In India, China, Holland
Egypt, the Mississippi Valley, and elsewhere
similar lands have been reclaimed by work
Of far greater magnitude than would here b
required.
The town of Aiken is pleasantly situated
on the righ ridge of land that separates tn
head-waters of the Edisto Rivor from tn
streams that fall into the Savannah, and i
remarkable for its elevation above tide water
being located at that happy mean which com
bines most benclicially the advantages of {
pine growing region with the bracing ant
invigorating air of mountainous country
Free from the miasmatic influences which Sc
frequently attend the moist climate of lower
section, it is equally devoid of the deleterieu'
effects OF their cold atmosphere of higher
range; and the pure dry nature ofits cir. act
ing like healthful tonic upon the exhausted
lungs, and causing the blood to course with
renewed and delightful vigor through the fe-
vered veins, has often been productive to the
invalid of the happest results.
Ascending gradually from the seaboard
along the line Of the South Carolina Rail Road
tho country presents an apparently level sur
face to the eye of the traveller, and he is sur
prised to find himself at an elevation OF six
hundred feet when he reaches the plateau
upon which Aiken is situated.
The town itself is laid out in neat and
pleasing manner, with wide streets, shaded
by large trees. 1t is built upon g different
plan from that which has in general govern
ed the growth of Our inland towns; and The
houses, instead of being gathered together
around .onc common centre, are in detached
groups and villas. The stores, however, are
all arranged on the main street, which is at
right angels tothe Rail Road Avenue, and are
commodious and well supplied with wares.
1t may not be out Of place to remark that the
appearance Of the town has attracted the ad-
miration of the numerous officers and stran-
gers who have passed through it, and it has
always been contrasted most favorably with
other villages of the State. =,
Westward the country falls away rapidly
towards the Savannah in q series OF broken
hills ard undulating slopes, that furnish TO
the lover of the picturesque many scenes OF
the wonderful beauty OF nature, while evil
dences Law strcwn around him, thick " as au.
tumal leaves in Vallamprosa," that he is
tra7ersing one of those peculiar geological
formations ui the State which bears unrnis-
taxable evidence Of marine productions and
deposits.
The alluninous formations, that occur in
Immense beds of the finest porcelain clays,
are here exposed by the denuding effects OF
water, aud lie in rich strata upon the very
surface; reudSap. the hand of the panutactnr,
cr. Between Aiken and Graniteville The beds
are in mary cases sixty feet thick, while
those on the Savannah River, near HambuTga
are from tea,to filtcc,i, and are Of unsnrpasa-
ed purity. See fuomys Geology Of SOath
Carolina, p. ILL.,
Eastward and Nortbward from Aiken the
land declines gradually toward the sparseIy
wooded black jack region Of the surrounding
Districts, and presents no features OF peculiar
interest. a lew miles to the South oi inc
town, on Cedar Creek, lie, IL considerable
thickness, the very valuable beds ofbuhr stone
which form so rich a part ofthe mineral wealth
of this section. The rock has sicitied eel
lular structure that fits it admirably for mill
stones. and it need only be brought before the
worll for its great value to be properly "p
preciatcd and Immediately applied. This is
tile most extensive deposit of buhr nlill stone
in the State; ; solid stones ten feet in diameter
can be procured, the beds, taken together ex
ceeding thirty feet in thickness. (oee luomy'
p. lI3) =.
buhr stone, says "ihat it constitutes r'r3
rare gcologicat formation, being found in IL
abundance only in the mineral basin OF iarls
and few adjoining DISTRICTS from whence il
!s exported chiefly to England and America
Stones of six and half feet in diameter ietcl
l,2OO francs apiece, or f4o."
Among the large class of invalids who sui,
fer in the colder regions of the North, IRON
pulmonary diseases, Ailsenhas long been wide
iy celebrated for tho peculiarly restorative
and healthful effects Of its atmosphere, anc
Numbers have had cause to feel the profoun
aess gratitude for the beneficial influences O.
its climate.
It's accessibility to travellers from all direc
rions. and the we'll known salubrity of i''
situation. has given to the place in all quar-
ters of the United States and Canada that re
mutation to which it is so well entitled, ant
Which must continue 10 increase rs its merits
as a resort for consumptive patients become
more widely known. AS natural result
from the influx Of persons in quest Of tina
greatest boon of nature, good health, the tom
Of society in the town is much superior t.
that usually found in country places OF tn
came nopulation, and the social standard
much elevated by coptinucd additions iron
tho hotter class of persons, who, finding tn
climate so admirably adapted to the want
of.their physical nature; settle hero ana De
come permanent residents.
Various dehominations of religious belle
find their appropriate places OF worship here
ond are we'll represented in the severa
Churches scattered throughout the to%I
Educational interests have always been wei
attended to, and in the years proceeding tn
violent civil struggle that has so recently sha
ken this continent to its centre, Mliltar.
Academy, Female Institute and free scooc
were located in the limits Of the corpora,tlor
These institutions, whose exercises have bee
suspended for the past few years. arc to . ,
revived when the growing strength OF tn
South sball pcrmit attention to be turne
from RON the fields of daily labor in which th
struggle is now for daily bread, to the peace
full PURSUITS OF literature and mental Guilty, cuitlvs
tion. m There are at present several exceilen
schools for the primary education OF cLlldrel
and an institution for boys preparing for co
iege, which is ably conducted by competeI
teachers, in the commOdious building crectc
by the corporation for the purpose.
Since the reorganization ofthe State Go
eminent Bill has been brought before IL
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