The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-14
THE PORT ROYAL R4ILROAD-THE
CROPS-LAZY NEGROES.
IBY oUR SPECIAL REPoRrER.1

BY DUB SPECIAL HEPOEIkh-l
BEAUFORT, 8. G. August IS. 1S69.-For
the last two days the quiet little Town
OF Beaufort has been in quite state Of ex-
citement, occasi9ned by the presence of a
large number of RAILROAD men," and stocks
aud bonds have been the only things talked
about, aud "Alnt it pleasant riding on rail-"
the only tune Yhistled or sung.
On Wednesday morning the first meeting
was held in the African Methodist Church
s. c. Millett, Esq, (presldent of the Port Roy
al Railroad Company presiding; W. G. Bel
lows, secretary.
To give Il report of the discussions had
sometimes stormy,) Of the resolutions pro-
posed, adopted and not adopted, the feasible
and unfeasible plans brought forward, and
either summarily voted down or entertained,
would not only be too heavy tax upon the
patience Of the readers of THE NEWS, but would
also be too lengthy tor event its ample columns;
80 we will only give the result Of the several
meetings held on Wednesday and Thursday,
the last one concluding late Thursday night.
Among the directors present were MessDe.
Willngbam, Poli'zer. Cook, Elliott. La Vton,
Peoples and Steuart. Four thousand shares of
stock were represented.
1t was decided that the terminus of the road
should be upon the north side of Broad River
and within five mile, Of Beaufort-the particu-
lar locality to be determined by the Locating
Engineers; and that the contract for complel-
ing the road should bs given to Mr.. j. P.
Flanagan, of New York, who for the sum of
four million seven hundred thousand dollars
(s4, 700, 900 to be paid in stocks and bonds Of
the road. pledges himself to complete it by
next August
It is the general impression that the ter
minus of the road will be at Smiths planta-
ton on Beaufort River. four and half miles
below Beaufort. where there Ii twenty feet
water at the bank at medium tide.
BEAUFORT,
A town Of twenty-five hundred inhabitants, Is
very quiet place at present, and presents
none OF that livelness, wealth and gayety for
which it was noted, and deservedly so, before
the war. There IS eighteen feet water at the
wharves at medium tide, and the inhabitants
thought this fact III itself sufficient reason
for having the ter minus OF the Port Royal Rail-
road here, but it has been determined that it
shall be only way station. Yet the inhabi.
tants are not at all despondent, and anticipate
good results from tho completion Of the road,
as many enterprises. which are now in embryo,
will be born in the town simultaneously with
its opening.
CROPS AND LAZY NEGROES.
On the plantations around Beaufort, and on
the sea islands between Charleston and that
place, we learn from the planters that the crops
are good, with plenty Of caterpillars. which,
however, are not doing very much harm.
The universal complaint is that the negroes
won't work; tina. good wages will not tempt
them to do it, and there is more injury to be
feared to the crops from lack OF hands to at
tend to them than from any other cause. The
negroes employ two days of the week in fishing,
and catch enough shrimps and fish to get pro-
visions to last them the remaining days
OF the week. during which they sleep.
One day last week negro woman heavy
with child, walked Ave miles from Beaufort
t. planter and asked him to give her work.
As is was late in the day he refused, but on her
stating that she wanted to earn ten cents to
buy biscuits with, he cor snted, and the woman
worked just long enough to earn ten cents,
quit, walked back to town, bought the biscuits
and was happy. This is only an illustration OF
the general conduct OF the negroes in the
vicinity OF Beaufort-only working long enough
to earn money sufficient to purchase -four to
eat with the fish they catch, in doing which no
effort is required.