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


MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY Z, 1867.
A Visit to Columbia:
The long rows OF ruinod houses, and the un-
slightly piles Of chimneys that sill cover large
portion Of once beautiful Capital, sad monu
ments of an invaders triumph. Although peace
has smiled upon tho land for some timc, yet tho
change or 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 ernbar-
rassed that it is impossible for the present to 20
more than watch and wait.
The lamps in the different stores gleam brightly
through the gloom, and arc tho only rays that
cheer tho benighted traveller. All beyond those
favored localities is black as Ere:Dus, g. ana IN
less the OF attondng se IS stroll at
BY recent act of the Legislature, the City Coun-
Gil arc empowered to issue and put in circulation
number Of change bills, which will tend to rcliove
present embarrassments and form nucleus fund
Tor future o erations and improvements.
While the Legislature IS in session, Columbia is
House and The fashionable proinenades arc fire.
quented by the beauty and oito Of the city. TO
be especially favored in this respect, the faiy
are the most prominent of its attractions, and
it. is probably ow1g more to them t than to any ny t ss
beautiful city. But although Columbia was thor
oughly Sherman zed, it still retains many of its
attractions.
is being rapidly rebuilt and for the most part in
substantial and ornamental manner. Several
ranges of threo story buildings have been erected
principally with fine iron fronts the elatter being of
Columbia manufacture, and from the foundry Of
@ essss G9L9san % 4 70 % psi ELL @ Mne Dtag Stroatg
md its gistening appearance renders it an ndni-
rable landmark for travellers and strangers Higher
up the street, in the neighborhood Of Cotton
improvements
that now obstruct the streets viii disappoar, and
tive Office stands about midway in this street,
almost opposite to the ruins Of the Court House,
lumhis vas hasnt tie people went to wc-E WITH
will, and numbers Of wooden shantics were hastil:
thrown up on Main, Plain. Assembly and the other
ally replaced on Main street by brick structures,
and the work of reconstruction will no doubt soon
extend to the other localities Fortunately tho
use OF mortar but substituted the red clay, which
is SO abundant in this section. Although this did
order to prevent the action of the weather, they
had to be finished on tho outside with the genu-
inc mortar yet it has saved an immense amount
of labor in rebuilding, as the mud-mortar is very
easily detached from the brick, and house built
with burnt bricks can be finished in compare
tlvey short time. -. -,o,a-a
Of Columbia were all burnt, but others havo sprung
up Or been improvised for the emeIgency:, The
iss a fine wooden building, admirably adapted for
the purposes Of entertainment and is kept by tho
to all who have ever felt it's genial influences.
NIcKERsoN, so long known as as the able host OF the
Mills House has Lease Leased s ths me- Sn re fenae male
ner on the outer walls. NIokERsoN has lost ncne
Ct his popularity by the move, and the College,
though not as attractive now as when the home of
young ladies, still offers inducements sufficient to
cause its rooms to be always filed. Besides these,
the shiver House, on Plain street, between Main
ready to provide entertainment for the travelling
public
THE NEW STATE HOUSE,
at the foot of Main street, is grand monument Of
the past for it will be many long years before the
Treasury Of the State can afford to appropriate
intended. intend All All the wFath Of sHEnsfaN's burners
was inflicted on the unohending pile Not content
With the destrnction oi ct the S wooden a State Houso
which were stored immense amounts OF granite
and marble, most Of which had been carved and
we're brought from Tennessee. and were Of al beau
tiful color-red, variegnted with white. Polished
white marble slabs for the flooring and the caps Of
the pillars, which we're elaborately carved, met
with the same fate, and are now but crurnbing
masses of stone, hardly fit to macadamize the
streets. Although the finest and most expensive
portions Of the work met with this fate, there is
still much that can be ultimately used. The heavy
blocks OF granite and some few Of the stone pill
lsy to restore that which was destroyed or make
the remainder available From the plan OF the
architects this State House, v when M finished could
5ly with that at Washington. The front Of the
building is ornamented by the medallions Of Nc
DuFrE and HAYNE, and the futed pillars and their
ornamental caps give the building an imposing ap-
pearance even in its present unfinished state It
was intended to be entirely fre-proof, and conse-
quently no wood used in it's construction the
walls being OF great thickness, and in place OF
rafters strong iron Girders were used, which we're
At the last session Of the Legislature s12 600
we're appropriated to cover the building with o
rooms available for public pu. poses This win
prevent any further action Of the weather, and Will
at least preserve it until the State can afford to
advance funds sufficient for its completion.
&@ .@#@ TIE PALMETTO TREE,
in the rear of the building is an ingenious monu-
ment, and reflects great credit upon that descend
be seen in Cumberland street. None but MIR.
WERNER could have fashioned such striking re-
semb!ance to the palmetto from iron, and tho
State paid worthy tribute to his powers when
che purchased it as an ornament to the Capitol
grounds. The base Of the tree which is a square
pedestal, was inscribed with the names of officers
and men, who, as members Of the Palmetto Regi-
ment, fell fighting for their country. But not even
Of vandalism the raised letters were in many cases
broken off, and one side OF the square completely
removed. Fortunately the tree was untouched,
and still rears it's proud head aloft, a glorious
emblem of once glorious State, tcaching us that
although now downtrodden, We yet may rise, and,
like our own palmetto, survive the ruins Of our
hopes.
THE UNIVERSITY
occupies an entire square, but being composed
mostly Of detached buildings, it can boast Of no
architectural beauty. In common with most pub
lie buildings, it suffered greatly during the war,
being used by the Confederate Government
hospital, and subsequently as barracks for the
United States troops. The Campus is large plat
OF ground covering several acres, and in summer
presents beautiful appearance, but the leafess
trees and dilapidated houses that ace now to be
seen make it look rather desolate. On either side
are tho houses of the professors, which are well
built, and being mostly ivy clad, relieve the gloomy
air Of the premises in measure --e.@
As the Alma Mater Of the State, the South Caro-
lima College has always been cherished i?stitu-
son. and her graduates have risen to the highest
position in the land. The change from College
to University was actuated by the same foster
ing care.as it was hoped the transformation would
render it more attractive and cause it to regain
some Of its a7 former gories; The for
and the veneration and respect with which this
institution Of learning Is regarded by all viii be
the Faculty consists Of eleven professors., who
OF IaN Medicine and Theology not being vet COM