The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-09-06
.. For the Herald.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S. O.,
September 1st, 1877

friends to know what is doing in
this locality in the way Of efforts
to dcvclope our resources, l pro-
iposo to jot down to you an account
of q visit to the plantation Of
Messrs. Knox & Whcclocls, on Hob
cav Creek, tributary Of the
.Wando River.
THIS place formerly owned and
worry successfully cultivated by
Hon. Chas. Macbeth, former
Mayor Of Charleston, lies about
three or four miles from Mount
Pleasant, on the Matthews Ferry
Rohd; was purchased by tho pres
ent 0Mncrs Immediately after the
war. They very soon set about
tho task of transformation, which
has eliminated in the result now
shown-a model plantation. This
is due to their energy, will and
work, as we'll rs Tho large capital
at their command, in which last
particular our people do not share,
unfortunately, tho results Of the
War leaving them without means
I'd attempt improvements, and in
most cases unable even to cndcav.
or to cultivate their lands without
hel p from the means Of others.
Approaching the old hom cstcad,
in which resides the senior part.
ncr, through an avenue Of giant
sycamorcs, W h osc intcracing
branches, at this season, form u
vcrdant and pleasant canopy and
turning to the left you arrive at
tho large building, occupied on
the lower floor rs the Commissary
Department., where tho laborcrs
arc nightly settled with by tho
obliging clerk in charge, Mr.. j. S.
Fraser, in money or stores, ut the
option Of the receiver, tho throng
of orderly recipients, passing in
and out, AZ each squad completes
the business.
The junior partner has his resi-
dencc above, and from his win.
dows and piazza IN extensive
view Of the whitening cotton folds
is obtained, now beginning to be
trav,rscd BY tho busy "pickcrs."
On the right Of the homestead
stands the now cotton house, 25 y
40 feet, Of two stories, and con-
ncctcd by gallery 25 feet long,
on the right with the two and Il
half story gin house and grist mill,
with it's cupola containing the
huge tell TO warn the Iaborcrs to
their work.
This building is 80 X SO feet,
and contains in the lower portion,
five "McCarthy" Gins for prcpar-
ing sea island cotton, and two gins
for short cotton, one " double
'cylindcr, Browns patent. Hop.
pcrs from the floor above supply
these gins, and the seed is deposit
cd by an elevator. An st'In gcrsol's
Improved Lever Press packs the
short staple, and the packing fix
turcs for long cotton arc in prox-
unity to tho gins which prepare
that quality, and the cotton Binns
and moating room adioin.
The grist mill can furnish 200
bushels grist and meal per day,
the motive power is communicated
to all the machinery in this build
Ing by IN iron shaft onnectcd with
the engine Of 80 horse power, at
thchcd TO the saw mill some so or
90 feet to the right.
This building is Of two storica,
noarly 100 feet long, the machine
ry is Of the most improved style,
md tho immense circular saw cun
bo worked to cut it's 1000 feet Of
lumber in day. In tho upper
story is the carpenter and wheel
wright shop, where tho wood
work for tho place and for con-
tracts is prepared. The propric-
tors had large contract for mak-
ing boxes for shipping vegetables
to Northern markets. TINS scusvii.
The growing and shipping Of car
ly vegetables is n feature which is
extending in this locality-but of
this, more anon
In the rear Of the gin house is
another "cotton house" Of II sto-
rios, Is x 40 foot, and near by is
tho blacksmith shop, where all
tho work of repairing wagons and
ploughs for the plantation and tho
ncighborhood is done.
The barn and stablos, u little
distance from Mr.. WhceIock's resi-
donce beyond tho wagon shods,
present convenienccs and arrange
monts making it q model, at least
in our State. Tho length is so
feet, built on tho side Of rising
ground, furnishing an enclosed
basement, into which tho offal
from the stables above is thrown
through trap doors, this is COM
bined with salt, mud, swamp muck
and leaves carted thither, and 80
or 40 porcinos kept therein to earn
their "bread" by their roofing pro-
clivities, and thus aid in compost