Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-02-05

SOUTH CAROLINA CORRESPONDENCE
Sumter-Its Business and Appearnrc.
Cotton ami Its transportation III
Stores and Business Men--The Fre,a
nen-Beautiful Residences and E,r
dens-The Institute OF the Slater, 70
Mercy-NavaI stOrea-Patent Process =,
Extracting Turpentine.
SUMTER, s. c., Feb. l, 1860
Dear Editors You see I am yritin,,
from near the centre of the Palmetto State
and in the midst of stirring, TRADING
business town, one which resembles vo,r
old home, Mr.. Senior, moro than anv
have ever seen. Here cotton rules ibo
trade again, and here are the same files ne
loaded wagons that are to be seen in Tar
boro', with every kind of cart and wano,,
in use there, and one style that I hova
never seen in North Carolina to-wit
single OK harnessed like horse with coi
lar, back band, traces, &c, all comnIata
with this difference, however, that the col.
lar and names are reversed, the large pe,t
being up and the buckle down. There ara
large and fine stores here, large stocks Of
goods many of them employ from six to
ten clerks beside the owners, anu thew
are the best looking set of business men
that have ever seen anywhere. Politeness
activity and strict attention seem to be the
rule and q pleasure to them. / was AL.
vised by one who spoke confidently and
of his own experience, that this winter thew
have sold four times rs many goods as in
any year before the war.
The freedmen shave done well ana msJ,
cotton enough to supply all their wants
for which they have been paid exceedingly
liberal prices, mostly in cash. saw one Old
negro pocket over two Thousand dollars i'm
greenbackS for cotton he had sold, and
many others, sums ranging from one hun
dred to six hundred all seemed to be in
good spirits and determined 10 do even
better this year if possible.
The town of Sumter is two miles square
as am informed, and lies as fiat as the
floor of your Office. J. wandered round for
some time to see If l could find spot
from which [ could get an idea OF its gen.
eral appearance. 1t you except view
down streets arched with trees, or "across
lots. " was unable to get any "t1m eaSe,o-
bic" There are many beautiful residences.
flower gardens, and much shrubbery on
almost every street, evideucing taste ana
wealth.
The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy
and the Churches, are the only really prom
inent buildings, the rest being so much
buried in evergreens as to give you an idea
that when June comes, Sumter will be very
hot.
H.oo AZ
town situated as it is, did not 500 q bar
rel of naval stores, and was informed thai
but little of the product of the pine ever
came here. Speaking of that reminded me
of the new patent process for extracting
turpentine, which I would like to describe
so that you can understand it, but fear it
will be difficult. Take two pieces Of tin
about fourteen inches long and three wide,
fold it to right angle one inch from the
edge lengthways, now take an instrument
like common shingle-froe" (?) only
more delicately made, drive that into the
tree latter having removed the outer bark
for few inches) and form two cuts in
shape like the letter V, into these cuts in
sert two pieces of the bent tin, letting the
end OF one piece extend past tho other
about an inch at the bottom, nj this point
hang an earthen jar that will hold about =
quart The narrow part Of the tin is grasp
ed by the wood and held firmly, while
about two inches in width extend from the
surface to catch the turpentine and con
duct it to the jar. II is said that the jars
Fl Ii as quickly as box of the old style
and that by moving them up every time
the tree is saved and pure Virgin dip
obtained continually. [ may have some
thing to say on this another time, when
there is more time and space than now.
AS ever yours,
"IN TRANSIT"