The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-07
A Visit to Columbia:

The long rows of ruined houses, and the I'M.
slightly piles of chimneys that 9 ill cover large
portion of our once beautiful Capital ore sad monu-
1nents of m invaders triumph. Although peace
has smiled upon tho land for some timo, yet the
change OF circumstances and tho Impoverished
state of the country render it impossible for tho
real estate owners to improve their property. IN
addition to this, the city finances are so emoar-
rsssed that it is impossible for the present 70 uo
more than watch and wait
The lamps in the different stores gleam brightly
through the gloom, and are tho only rays that
cheer the benighted traveller. All beyond those
favored localities is black as Ereous, anu uii-
iess the topography Of the place is understood,
there is no little danger attending stroll ut night
By recent act of the Legislature, the City Goun-
oil arc empowered to issue and put In circulation
number of change bills, which will tend to feaeSs s
present embarrassments and form nucleus iunu
Tor future erations and improvements.
While the Legislature is in session, ColumDia, If
certainly CAV place, and the galleries OF Tue
House and the fashionable promenades are III tle,
quented by the beauty and elite o. the 5 csS sean
be especially favored in this respect as tho 1alr
nex are the most prominent of its attractons, ana
II is probably owing more to them than TO any eA-
ternal influence that it acquired the name OF the
beautiful city But although Columbia was thor u.
ouehly Sherman zed, it still retains E.any OF It's
attractions.
MAIN STREET
is being rapidly rebuilt and for the most part IN
substantial and Ornamental manner. SEVERN
ranges of three story buildings have been erected
principally with fine iron fronts, the latter beng OF
columbia manufacture, and from the foundry OF
Messrs GOLDSMITH s. Co. BEDEILs line building
looms up at the corner of Plain and Main streets;
snd its rlistening appearance renders 1t an adm-
rabIe Ia,ldma for travellers and strangers: higher
no the street, in the neighborhood OF Cotton
Town, the improvements are scarce; but Win the
advance Of time, the unsightly piles OF rubbish
that now obstruct the streets will disappear, ana
the large warehouses be again rebuilt. The EHecu-
tive Office stands about midway In thus street,
almost opposite to the ruins CT the Court House,
and within easy access to all visitors. When Co
lumbiaswas burnt the people went to work witn VIII u
will and numbers Of wooden shanties were hasItt
thrown up on Main, Plain, Assembly, ana tne o.1er
business thoroughfares. These nave oeen grauu-
allv renlaced on Main street by brick structures,
and the work or reconstruction will no doubt soon
eytend To the other localities. Fortunately the
mechanics of Columbia were not addicted to the
uss of mortar but substituted the red clay, which
ia 40 abundant in this section. Although this d!d
not tend to make the buildings stronger, and IN
order to prevent the action OF the weather, they
hsd to be finished on the outside with the genu.
Inc mortar, yet it has saved an immense amount
of labor in rebuilding, as the mud-mortar ls very
easily detached from the brick, and house bullt
with burnt bricks can be finished IN compare
tie y short time.