The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-21
IrRox OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE

EDIsTo ISLAND, May lS.
The planters are having substantial verif-
cation of the old saw, ut never rains but 1t
poure" Wednesday afternoon they were
blessed with thunder shower; Thursday after
noon we had very severe wind, rain and hail
storm; and soaking rain for the greater part
of Friday night. This morning Is cloudy and
clustering, giving fair promise OF more rain
before the sun goes down. The cotton crop Is
very promising, the stands are excellent, the
fields free from grass, and the plant Is grow
ing finely. Very little corn seems to have
been planted 80 far, and In such fields OF 1t as
can be seen from the roads, the crop ia rather
backward.
The material prosperity Of the island seems
to be increasing. The planters generally have
curtailet tho area Of their operations, and are
devOtng Increased time and attention TO the
cultivation of q smaller number OF acres. The
system which prevailed year or Two ago Oh
planting the greatest number of acres posi-.
BILE, end only half caltivating them, ls last
DYING out, and tle better plan Of planting only
that number of acres to which the most care
ful cultivation can be given Is very generally
adopted. The number OF stores on lne lsland
is quite surprising. In addition 10 the small
cOMmlSSaEy',, h6pL NY OtCly PloAtCht eaSAS
are on single public road no less than nine
laIHe stores within distance OF eight miles.
There has likewise been marked improve
ment In the conduct and condition Of the
negro. All observant men agree that ne ls
more polite and less turbulent than formerly.
There is some difference OF opinion as 70 MS
disposition to work, some men OF intelligence
maintaining that he Is growing lazler each
wear, while others hold that he Is getting more
Industrious. The truth is, probably, that he
will work well tor those who watch him closely.
There is no question as to tie Improvement OF
his pecunlary condition. There is scarcely
an individual darkey, Of industrious naolts.
q few who own or hire their twenty to forty
acres OF land.
The great project of the day here Is the
building of the Adams Run and Big Bay (nar-
row gnage) Railroad. An act authorizing the
construction of said road was passed during
the recent session of the legislature. The
road will rla from Adams Run, on the SaVan-
nah and Charleston Railroad, to either
Edings's or Big Bay, on the seashore OF Edlsto
Island Its completion will put Charleston IN
daiv communication with one Of the most de-
lIghtful watering places on the Atlantic coast.
With such names among its lncorporators as
Hon. william Aiken, Hon. John ToWnsend,
and q number of other equally respectable
gentlemen, the scheme can hardly fall to be
successfully carried out. A preliminary sur
vey of the proposed route was made on The
18th instant by superintendent Gadsde OF
the Savannah and Charleston Railroad. me
construction of the road will be commenced
some time next fall; the actual survey will be
begun Immediately. Books of subscription
to The stock were opened on the 4th instant,
and considerably more than one hundred
shares were taken in ten days. The growing
tr81fic between Charleston and Edisto and vi
cinity renders the completion of this road an
absolute and growing necessity. sPRITE.