The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-16
IFrc1o the Keowee Courier. !


Eighteen yeurs ago what is now Waihalla
moo Q we ate ndge. unclaimed from its native
Sorest ard brusGwood. About that time the
German Colonization Society Ut Charleston
nnrchased large area OF land from tue Rev.
Joseph Grsham, and planted colony OF these
enterprislng Foreigners upon it. The first
comers comprised merchants, mechanics ard
farmers, dependent chiefly on their own exer-
tons for livelihood. Our people looked on
and wondered, and many were the specuiatlons
as to what length Of time would be necessary
to starve them back to the coast; but nothing
daunted at the unlnviting aspect OF the high,
dry, sandy soil, they set to work with deter
mination which never fails OF success under
The greatest difficulties. The mechanics found
ample e1o ployment in the erection OF stores
and dwelling houses, while the farmers began
to clear and improve their htt!e tfacts OF iana,
and adopting the small well-tiled, well-manur-
ed sytem OF farming, by their large crops soon
astonished and put to the blush our ''pridc
of acre" planters. Saw mills and merchant
mills sprung up to the music OF the water
falls in the nelghborhood, and the merchants
following the MAXIM that quick sales and
small profits" is the true theory OF successful
merchandising, gradually monopolized the
trading custom Of the surrounding country.
at Walhalla our people found cheap goods
and ready market at fair prices for their sur
plus produce, ard the private pecunlary II ter
est OF the citizen drew patronage from greater
and greater distances, to build up and con-
firm the growing prosperity OF the little town.
As time passed, the grand project OF connect
ing Charleston with Cincinnati oy rail De-
came a fixed purpose, and tie line OF the Blue
Ridge Railroad was surveyed and located to
run by Walhaila. This great project was
completed to that point prior to the war, and
gave 1t the importance which always attaches
20 the terminus Of railroad. 1t became
the shipping point for all tho corn, lye, 'ts,
peas, potatoes, onions, apples and every species
of produce grown for twenty miles On either
side. and from several counties OF Georgia and
North Carolina beyond the mountains. TINS
immense trade soon attracted the attention OF
the country and crossroads merchants, AID
anxious to share the spolls they moved In.
and Walhalla became, and is, and ever "lil
be, the great commercial centre o. Plckens
District. 70 the energy and enterprise OF
these Germans, VIC are indebted IN great
measure tor our present prosperous condition.
They first gave us q market, and have been
the active instruments in developing 1t to that
extent which now affords a ready cash sale
for all the surplus products OF the country.
Such is the origin and history of Walhala IN
the past. Its present condlton IS one OF
health and prosperity. Eighteen years has
converted tho barren ridge into beautiful
town of several hundred inhabitants, with |
others ID process Of erection. 1t has become |
one of tho largest and best gram markets In
the South. Chickens, eggs, butter, bacon aud
other articles Of Tarm growth. bring from two
to four-tod the prices OF fifteen years ago.
Any person visiting the town will be struck
with its large trading business. AS he ap-
it, wagons will be met for several
miles IN every direction, returning loaded With
groceries and other necessaries, and as ne en-
ters the north or south end OF Main-street,
the sight Of horses standing ut every rack Tor
o milo, and from ten to fifty wagons loading
and unloading at the various business houses,
greet his eye. Everybody seems to be busy
and money crcqlates Teey; Moss % Oh @ tne
citizens have newly painted their stores and
dwellings, which adds to the beauty and at
tractiye appearance Of tho town. lts educa-
tional advantages are in keeping with its ira
ding prosperity, and presase higher grade
OF future scholarship among US. Besides
several prosperous private schools, q male and
female college is located in the town. The
fermer is tho Newberry College, under the
charge Of DR.. Smeltzer and other able pro-
fessors. The latter is under the direction OF
the Misses Morgan, from Sumter, ladies OF ac-
knowledged educational abilities. The new
male college building will be completed in
short time, and we feel justified in the asser-
ton that its able corps OF professors, to.
gether with its healthy location, cheapness OF
boarding and ease OF access by railroad, will
secure q large collection of students from dit
fsrent parts Of this and adjoining States.
Such is Nalhalla Of the present. What IS
in ssore for it ip the untried future? We an
ever, growth and prosperity. 1t Is situated
in what we might term in this mountainous
country broken valley. To the eastward
lie the fertile low grounds Of the hcowee aud
Little Rivers, with their tributaries, tho sur
plus products Of which must always seek
Walhalla for market; to the Westward rua
the Chauga and Tugalo; whose rlcn hlilsldes
and valleys will send their teemlng harvests OF
wheat, corn and OTHER grain, to swell the trade
Of the town; whilo to the Dorthward from SIX
to twenty miles distant, in different directions,
runs the blue limo OF mountains. From them
comes tue onions, cabbage, Irish potatoes.
and buff apples, which are so mucl
relished by our Columbia and Charleston
friends. The eastern slope of these mountains
are perhaps as favorable to the growth OF the
grape as any part OF Europe and tho time may
soon come when the manufacture OF wine will
be q calling and occupation among US. la ad-
dition to these mhercnt sources or wealth, the
country abounds in water powers and every
facility for manufacturing purposes; lis healthy,
bracinS climate makes 1t o desirable summer
resort TO The yaletudiuariaU; its Furnishing in
stitutions Of learning render it a favorable
place OF residence to persons having Children
to educate, and its beautiful mountain scenery
will always attract the pleasure-seeker. With
these natural advantages. who cen deny that
the future prospects OF Walhalla are cheering?
Since the convention OF 1888 divided Pickens
District, it has been made the county slto OF
6conee, and 1s now as we'll tle Judicial as the
commercial ceEtre OF the county.