The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-25

Il SN@AtAooGSN
MARS BLUFF, MARION COUNTY August d.
The tail OF the comet must certainly be over
shadowing this section Of Marion County, for
the weather is intenselySAot, and the frequently
threatening clouds refuse refreshing showers.
Notwithstanding the drouth, the cotton crop
is Aourishins, although now needing rain. The
corn will give tWo-thirds yield. Heavens
watery blessings have been unequally dis
tributel this summer. Some portions of this
laneighborhood have not suffered from drought,
while other sections are dried up. Trees,
grand old oaks Of an hundred summers. are
dying by twos and threes together.
Jefiries' Creek, where it crosses the George.
town road, five miles from Mars Bluff Station,
has this summer gone dry, and is still but the
channel OF water course. This has not occur.
red before in at least forty years. At one OF
the plantations not far from this point. and
contiguous to the creek. some two or three
flower garden has died. This hedge was plant.
ed about fifteen years ago, and has never sut-
fered in this way before. The cotton crop, al
| though suffering to some extent from rust, Is
not materially Injured.
This is one Of the most delightful and best
settled neghborhoods in the State, and is fast
recovering from the effects OF the war. It is
generally conceded that one or two good crops
will place the planters, as class, in better clr
| cumstapces than they have ever been. The
negroes have worked we'll this year, and the
only inhabitants who are not prospering are
the "would-be" independent negro planters.
They only siIk more hopelessly each year, and
some OF them are in great want OF bread, and
have not even o change OF clothing. Many
oF
by their former owners, having become
so thin visaged. pinched from want of
nutritious food. The causes that keep the SO
would-be independents from success are
first. natur u laziness; then they have to stand
the drain made upon their time and pocket by
Having no credit they get their scanty sup
plies at usurous rates from the country
stores, and by the end Of the year their little
| crop goes to these stores. It is seldom that
anything is then left to pay the rent of the
poor piece OF land they occupy. This class OF
tools will not even learn by experience, but
will die in their folly, unless the planters kindly
come to their aid and refuse to rent them land.
One of the most unmistakabIe evidences OF
the increasing prosperity OF Marion, aud her
present ability to raise money, 10 found in the
proceedings of a meeting OF the Agricultural
Society, of this county, held on the first Mon
day OF this month. Delegates we're then ap-
pointed from each township, ond they were
called together on last saturday BY their chair.
man, General W. W. Harllee. Only nine OF
the eighteen delegates attended; but it was de-
termined to make application at the next meet
ing of the Legislature for charter for loan
and trust company; said company to have the
right OF purchasing lands sold for taxes and
otherwise, to sell, aud also to establish
fire insurance business. It was found that
thirty thousand dollars could be obtained from
that portion of the citizens represented BY the
delegates present. II this movement is sue
cessful and properly conducted, it will bene6;
this county to great extent. Last winter
tie merchants Of Marion had in deposit on
account Of the planters amounts as large as
| fo1ty thousand dollars. The latter feared to
take it home, yeS did not know how to invest
it. SEmoH.