The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-15

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Tc-vn-SeeMcry-Natu diva ntag es-
Price OF Lnnds-SpecI :
Observation-Disclosures Firms-'Thc Blue
Ridge Railroad-VVatcr Power, sc.
WALHALLA, January 5, 18c9.--Walhalla, in
| the mythology of the ancient Germans, bore a
| Specification somewhat akin to the Olympus OF
| tho Greeks, the abode OF gods and heroes,
| though believe it had reference more especi-
| ally to the latter. The great and good Of this
| mundane sphere after death met again to dwell
forever in Walhalla. It is we'll known that
King Louis, of Bavaria, the greatest patron OF
art Of this century, erected about twenty or
twenty-five years ago, in the vicinity of Rats
bon, temple specially dedicated to the Ger
man muse. Here the poets, painters, warriors,
statesmen, in short, those distinguished in
every path of art, science, literature. as well as
those who have shed lustre on Germany by
! their achievement in arms, in the forum, OF
wheresoever else, all have monuments erected
in this great mausoleum, with suitable inscrip-
tons, the latter by the king himse If; and this
temple is called ''Walhalla"
SO much for precedent. But our Waihalla,
the new town on the Blue Ridge Railroad,
though unquestionably o very nice place, q fast
and thriving place, is not like it's namesake,
the abode of gods or heroes. 1t is peopled by
mere mon, made of flesh and blood, fashioned
in body and spirit much like you and me-of the
earth earthly; and it is just as well that it is so.
I am no great believer in your heathen divini-
ties. One live man, with good brawny arms
and just little common sense, is worth dozen
of your Herculeses; and as to women, I on't
believe the Venuses, Dianas or Thusneldas
would stand the ghost Of chance by the side
of our Walhalla girls.
Walhalla, formerly in Pickens District, now
the county seat OF Oconee, was founded about
1850 by the German Colonization Society, af-
forwards Incorporated 1859 as the German
Settlement Socety-C. f. Seeba, J. A. Wagon
er, Jacob Schroeder, John NJ. Hencken and
Claus Bulwinkel, trustees. The tract, Of which
| the town forms the centre, thirty thousand
acres Of land, was purchased of Colonel Jo-
seph Gresham, for about $4,000. West Union,
about two miles from Walhalla, near the rail-
road depot, is ON old settlement, but the pres
ent site of Walhalla was then perfect wilder
| ness. 1t was the intention, believe. OF the
founders of this settlement that it should be
| composed OF Germans only, and at first there
were no others; afterwards, however, Ameri-
cans from this and adjoining States settled
there. The population is estimated at from
five hundred to eight inbred, one half of
whom are Germans. negro is rare bird
here; there are probably not over five or six
belonging to this town.
There is considerable trade here, though very
! little cotton-too near the mountains. Abou;
! fifty bales have found their way here this sea-
| son. There is great deal OF barter here.
Everybody who comes here brings something
he or she wishes to exchange for something
else provided by the shopkeeper. The CHIEF
articles brought here, and either sold or ex-
changed. are corn, peas, as,ples. bacon, ,ota-
toes, onions, rye, wheat, flour, butter, eggs
fowl, live stock, whiskey, venison, herbs and
roots.
AS this is the present terminus of the Blue
Ridge Railroad, Walhalla draws very large
wagon trade from the mountain districts in the
adjoining States-North Carolina, Georgia and
Iennessee-and wagons may be seen every DAY
In the streets of this town from these various
points. Many Of the conveyances are of very
humble character, drawn, it may be, by mule
and steer,or only by single COW. Ox-teams
are very numerous about here The merchants
here do not sell much fine goods Cotton
yarns, jeans, homespuna, calicoes for Sunday
wear, together with groceries and hardware,
are the chief articles in demand. Articles OF
luxury are less in request than nearer the sea-
shore; hence, perhaps, the greater share OF
health and vigor enjoyed by these mountain
| GERS. There is, however, very thriving trade.
| and, L must say, the merchants are fully alive
to 1t, Tor there aIe said to be no less than forty
OF them here now, one-fou,Ch Of whom CON-
menced business this fall. The principal part
OF the business is, Of course, confined to few.
though oil get share it.
The town is about two miles LONG and one
mile wide; but the houses, except in the CEN
tral part, very much scattered. Most or the
stores and dwellings, are Of very modest, un-
pretending character, plain TO inelegance, and
40 not look very comfortable. However, in
this respect they may belle their looks The
original German settlers have, impressed
their character and their peculiarlties on the
place, and industry, thrift, frugality and con-
tent are pictured on every countenance. on
every house, on the streets, on the town, on
the very pigs that root and grunt contentedly
in the streets OF this modern Teutonic settle
ment.
They who would see Walhalla right should
come here in summer, and not, as did, in
midwlnter; and was pleased to learn that
seekers after health and pleasure came hither
from the lower and middle parts OF the State
in considerable numbers last summer, and
vent away much pleased with what they had
seen and what they had to pay. In time /
have no doubt Walhalla will be the great sum.
mer resort for those OF us in Charleston and
surrounding country who can raise the wind to
watt us to that more pleasant summer climate.
In point Of health, there is in all South Caro-
lima no spot to compare with Walhalla. Chills
and fever are never heard of. and If it we're not
for the ravages of time, do not think they
would need a graveyard. AS it is, there is
only one apethecary, and perhaps one or two
practicing physicians for tho town and the
country around; and If may credit what /
was told these DrOfaasiouaj yn ~, ,a :, I