The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-22
LETTER FROM EDGEFIELD.
The Operations of the Year and their
Results-A Bad Showing-Disappoin
ed dPIantcrs-Judge Piatt a Blessing In
DIssuise-Radical Activity-Thc Land
Commissioner ut WOrk--I n c N =
diarism &c.
TrRon QUE OWN CORRESPONDENCE

EDGEFIELD N0VelHOer w.
The farming operations of the year are
about at an end, and planters arc now summing
up the result While few have come pretty well
up to their expectations, many have been
weighed in the balance and found wanting. In
the greater portion OF Edgefeld not more than
half a crop has been realized.
Along the line of the Columbia and Augusta
Railroad, q section we'll adapted to the culture OF
cotton, the crop will average little better-say
tvothirds. Planters have based their estimates
on the expectation OF getting twenty-five cents
and UPWARDS for cotton, and with the short crop
and short pr &C. in addition to the failure OF the
corn crop, many will find when they strike tue
balance sheet but very small margin OF profit.
The general expectation is that the price VIII get
better after awhile, and hence no cotton Is gong
to market except enough to pay OIL liens anu pur-
chase supplies that are actually necessary Tor the
time The natural result Of this is great search
ty of money in the country for this season OF the
wear. The fall trade here opened well and con-
tinued brisk for awhile but it has languishcd
considerably OF late, and is now not so good as q
few weeks ago. Notwithstanding these facts, real
estate is commanding fair prices, but there has
been less sold at public sales this fall than ut any
time since the close Of the war; and not great
deal of this by the sheriff. The limited operations
Of this officer would argue that eur people have
nearly disposed of their troubles incident to Old
debts but it is proper to bear in mind, the mean
while, that We have permanent stay-law III the
person OF Judge Platt. Stay-laws heretofore could
not stand the test of the courts, but they have al
ways been popular with the people, and there are
not a few OF the debtor class in Edgedeld who
look upon "old Zephaniah" as a blessing In dis
guise."
In the political world, there is nothing doing
save in the dominant party. The Radical leaders
are working day and night to keep the brethren
up to the mark. The agents OF the land commits
sioner have purchased three or four thousand
acres OF land, from seven to ten miles northwest
of Edgefeld Courthouse al cash prices ranging
from five to seven dollars per acre. The survey
or, one Jackson, by name, not so we'll known N
these parts, is engaged in dividing these lands
inte small tracts A good many of the negroes
are turning their attention thther, but the thing
is not creating so much excitement among them
as was looked for. Some OF The more thrifty and
enterprising among them, including the members
of the Legislature, had ,reviously purchased
small tracts in the neisnborhoed OF the court
house, and these as general rule, seem to be
getting along pretty well.
Incendiarism has b en- doing vast deal OF mis-
chief within the past few weeks. Some SIN or
eight ginheuses, fl ed with cotton, have been
burned up recently. They arc mostly located IN
the same neighborhood, and principally the prop
erty of the weathiest men. No notice is taken
of it by the constahulary forces. 1t has become
necessary for planters to guard their ginhouses
night and day. The freedmen have met together
once or twice lately, at the courthouse in what
they call labor convention. The object of it is
well understood to b. a combination for higher
wages, but it amounts to little more than a mar
shalng Of the political forces.