The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-30
ON THE WING.

! THE FoRTIFIcATIoNs OF CHARLEsToN-THE APPEAR
! ANcE OF THE coUNTRY-THE CRops-CoLUMpA
I, HER IMPROVEMENTS, ETC, ETC.
| On leaving Charleston the first object tha
catches the eye after the few struggling houses II
the suburbs are passed. is the fortifcatons on tht
Neck, known better, perhaps, as the Lines. Those
who remember their neat and military appearance
when first erected, the closely-payed earth ano
smcothly-shaved grass, would hardly recognize
tho misshapen masses that now occupy then
place. The plough has passed over the land, and
scarcely vestige of the engineering Skill thai
framed and superintended the construction o.
these batteries is now visible. The moat Is dry
and full Of rank vegetation, while the batteries
| bombproofs, traverses, &C., are oil with verdure
clad. Instead Of the !rowning heights that once
| defed the invader, are now to be seen green
slopes, where the wormy grain has scaled the
works-even planted it's banner on the outer walls
The utiitarianism of the present day has changed
the tented field to cabbage bed, and trained the
potato and tho squash to grow where formerly
| sthe sentry walked his lonely round" This Is
world OF change, but old Father Time works
| silently, and it is seldom that such strides are
made as those visible on the Notifications.
But the iron horse is still speeding, and though
its swiftness is not remarkable, 1t moves With
sufficient CELEBRITY to make the trees glide by and
relieve the country Of that monotony always to be
seen in pine barren. The plantations Oh the
road are few and far between, and often for miles,
as far as the prospect extends, there is but the
same stretch of pine, relieved only here and there
by some swamp which shows the different hue o,
the cypress. II a country could be judged oy lts
appearance as seen from car window, there
would be few who would ''sgh for the land OF the
cypress and pne;" for, in its primitive state, it
offers but little attraction to settler. These
lands, though not unaptly called pine barrens, are
however, capable of great Improvement, and, by
proper system of drainage and cultivation, can be
made extremely productive. They are the waste
places that are to be made glad and the time s not
far distant when the plough and the hoe will be
employed to develop the resources OF the soil.
Everywhere throughout The country the same
unprecedented rains have been experienced; the
low lands are saturated, and in the woods the
water has remained on the ground until small
ponds are formed. Most OF the plantations have
been protected by drains, and tho damage to the
crops has been comparatively slight, though the
cotton will be delayed several weeks as but few
bolls are opened. No complaint of the worm was
heard in the up-country, but the experienced
planters feared that the crop would be diminished
at least one quarter by the action OF the rains.
The cotton seen from the cars, and in the panta-
tions visited appeared to be strong and healthy: it
ives not over three fet high, except in places that
rhnra nrn
rously, and some was spoken OF that was nearly
seven feet high. The scrubby cotton is generally
considered the most prolific. as the strength OF
the plant is developed in the increased number oi
bols, and is not wasted in long stalks which yield
but little fruit
Along the whole line Of the railroad the effects
of the rain are noticeable but particularly in the
sweled water courses which bound madly along
as if exulting in their strength. The Congaree
River and the smaller streams that are crossed by
the railroad are booming, and in some cases their
banks are completely hidden by the water. No
freshets are reported en- this route, but IN other
sections Of the country there are ruors OF bridges
being swept away by the rise. short distance
from Kingsville and few hundred yards from the
railroad is Stony Hill tiantaliun, now being cul-
-ti,uted OF MI. q. L. JEFFERs, who was one OF the
prime mo,ers in the barbecue giyenil that section
last week. Mr. JEFFERs has model plantation,
and though not employing more than thirty-hVe
to forty hands, his fields show the result OF care
and promise an abundant harvest. On the plan
tation is school for the benefit OF the freedmen,
which is taught BY colored woman from Charles
ton. Great interest is taken in the cause OF edu-
cation, and the attendance is regular. The ne
eroes are hired by the month for money wages
which has been thought better thai the contract
system, while the school is an outside enterprise,
and is furnished at the expense Of Mr. JErFERs
Jo1NER's, or the National Hotel, at Co
lumbia, ia o, large wooden building erect
ed for the purpose, and situated near
the Depots OF the, Greenyille and Charleston
Railroads. 1t is under the contr9l of Mr, b.
JOINER, and the weary traveller is at once made ~
feel at home, Us the establishment is provided IN
every respect for the accommodation OF Its guests
Although Columbia is not 8 land flowing with milk
and honey, the change to country fare is very re-
freshing, while the pure air, clear water and ao-
sence of mosquitoes are proofs that the seaeosfa
has been left some distance behind.
Columbia still shows the ravages of SHERMANs
soldiery, and though some improvements have
been made and some houses rebuilt, the gap
caused by tho burnt district is almost the same
The first sign of ,Ife on approaching the place is
the animation displayed by tho hackmen at the
Depot, they make the air VOCAL with theiF cries OF
this way for Nickerson's, Joinef's, The National
Hotel, Shiver House, &C., each OF them promis-
ing to take the passenger to his Hotel, without
any extra charge As the hackmen OF COLUMBIA
are numerous body 1t appears singular that they
should convey their passengers to and from the
Depot free of charge, but it is even 80, each Hotsl
strives for the mastery and this plan being started
by one was soon made general, much to the satis-
isfaction of travellers who thereby save their
greenbaoks,
A stroll through the streets OF Columbia de-
monstates the fact that the people have not been
idle new buildings haye been erected, and from
the hustle and enterprise exhibited, tney EVIDENT
" expect good business season. The large Whlte
building at the corner Of Main and Brldge streets,
known as BEDELL's, is now occupied by that
merchant and the large store on the 1rst hoor Is
stocked with every variety OF dry gooas' MI. "
A. BEpE11, is an old merchant OF Columbia, and,
thoneh one Of the heaviest sufferers by SHERMAN
raid, has displayed degree OF energy that has
caused him to rise above his misfortunes.
Higher up Main street the same activity haf
been shown, and several large stores ore now II
nrocess OF erection. These are finely finished Will
iron fronts, and when completed will bo among the
ornaments of tie city, The merchants OF Colum
bia do not complain OF inactivity, and though the
trade is by no means brisk the farmers aid freed
men from the country are continually visiting tht
city to purchase some indispensable article. Mr
C. F. JACKSON, well known to the Charleston pub
lie, has fine store on Main street, aud disposes
his dry goods with the same urbanity that marked
his career on King street in days gone by.
The Phen,r is still the bird of Columbia an'
exercises, under the control Of friend SELBY, almos
as much influence as the famed United States
Faole. It carries the news to every household