Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-11-29
OUR TRIP.

On Saturday morning of last week, not
having the fear of the printers devaz before
our eyes, we quilted our familiar haunts
and started en- route for Charleston, armed
with the credentials of a delegate to the
Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of
South Carolina.
At an early hour, We were deposited at
Chester, "right side up" by the Kings
Mountain Railroad, in time to make con-
nection with the Charlotte Railroad. We
had but few minutes to look around us in
Chester, but from what We could see, We
infer that she is gradually recuperating, and
with the smiles of fortune in her favor, will
soon be what she was before the war-one
of the best markets in the up.country.
The Charlotte Railroad is in very good
condition, considering the difficulties with
which the Company has had to contend, and
the almost utter destruction entailed upon
it by Sherman's army. Along the whole
route, from Blackstock's to Columbia, can
yet be seen many evidences of Shermap's
march, iu the destruction of depots, water
tanks, twisted and bent railroad iron, and
the ruins of houses, with the chimneys yet
standing, as monuments of his infamy and
vandalism. Under the circumstances, the
company has accomplished wonders in the
way of repairs, and no better evidence need
be wanted of the recuperative powers of our
country
At 2 o'clock, p. m, We reached Colum-
bia !; but not the Columbia of tho 18th Of
February, 1865. What changel
On Main, and some of the other princi.
pal streets, the destruction was complete.
Not single house was left standing by
Sherman's vandals, from the State e-House
to "Cotton. town" Main-street is being
rapidly rebuilt In some few instances the
buildings erected are superior to those de-
stroyed, but in the majority of cases they
are small and appear to be only temporary
structures Owing to the utter destruction
to which the city was subjected, and the
impoverished condition of her people, many
years must elapse before We can again boast
that our Capitol is the bandsomest city in
America!
We domiciled while in Columbia, with
Mr.. A. NJ. Hunt, whom our elder readers
will remember as once a resident of York
vile. He has opened a hotel on Bridge
street, about three hundred yards from the
Depots of the South Carolina and Green
vile Railroads We can only say that che
knows how to keep hotel"
While in Columbia, we made it conve-
nient to call on our brethren of the press
the Phenar and the Cdroiinian. Mr..
SELBY, of the Phnntr, we found sat
home," as "busy as bee in tar bucket" "
and were pleased to learn from him that his
business prospects were satisfactory, and
that bis bird was plumed for long and
lofty flight. We spent half-hour very
pleasantly in examing the Pheni:r establish.
ment. Our thanks are hereby rendered for
the qualification We enjoyed. We did not
have the pleasure of meeting with MIR. DE
FoNTAINE, of the Carolinian, who at the
time of our visit, was absent from the City.
The next place of interest visited by US,
vas the book-biDdery of Mr.. E. R. STOKES,
which We found entirely "regenerated and
disenthraled" from the effects of Sherman's
visit. STOKES is now out in new and re-
uised edition, fully prepared to execute
book binding and ruling in every conceiva-
bic style. He is especially we'll prepared
to execute blank. books required by public