The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-17
[FRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE


commanding sites on the outskirts of the
city, handsome residences are being erect
ed. It is rather drawback to the natu-
raj feelings of congrstulatlon with which these
enterprises would be noticed, to reflect thai
many of them are the fruits of that peculiar
industry which has been manifested by the
swarm of adventurers who were stranded,
poor as church mice, upon these shores at the
dissolution Of the Federal army, and that they
are to be considered, therefore, as the monu-
ments of successful political schemes, which
might be briefly and accurately described as
thefts, rather than as the results of any honest
enterprise or industry; but for all that they are
great additions to the appearance of Columbia,
and contribute far more effectually than any oi
the public acts of their builders toward oblit.
Grating the memories and evidence Of the
war. OF course these remarks do not apply
to all these enterprises. and probably not to a
majority of them, and in the following brief
summary of the operations your correspond
ent certainly has no desire or intention to
specify which ones, In his humble opinion,
should be placed In either class.
To begin with the public improvements:
The first In size and Importance ls the splen-
did government building on the corner of
Richardson and Laurel streets, to be used as
. the United States Customhouse and Postof'
fee. This is to be massive three-story build
Ing, about one hundred feet square, and built
entirely of granite and iron. The foundations
have been laid very deep, and are composed
of grubble laid in concrete, and the walls of
the building are now above ground to the
heighs of the first story. The granite is q
home production, being quarried at Woods
boro', Fairfield County, and is of splendid
quality. 1t Is lighter In color than the cele-
brated Quincy granite, although it is said to
contain smaller proportion of mica, and 1t
makes a handsome, snowy and substantial
building.
Oh the CO. nero Richardson and Washing
ton streets the new City Hall ordered by the
council is being rapidly constructed, and the
itiends Of the present city administration
claim that the frauds which were charged
against the former couacll In connection with
this lob have all been rectiaed, and that tie
people viii VOW get the worth OF theii money.
The new wing of tie Penitentiary Is ad-
vancing rapidly, Notwithstanding the dis
charge of convicts for the want of rations,
but the improvements on the LuDatlc Asylum
are at q etand.stlll for want of funds, and the
work Is not even covered from the weather,
and has been damaged by recent rains to The
extent of two thousand dollars. The new
wing Is Intended, when completed, to con-
tain about one hundred and forty cells.
The work on the Columbia Canal is pro-
crossing very WELL. and Colonel Pesrce Is
keeping force of one hundred and fifty to
two hundred laborers constantly employed.
The. work of rebuilding the old Congaree
Bridge, destroyed by Sherman, is also rapidly
approacll tcompletion. The massive stone
piers of this bridge are still intact, and the
kind of work that was put into such strnc-
lures in the good old times Is shown by the
fact that, Notwithstanding the terrible fire
that burnt away every vestige of the super
structure, the piers still stand as accurately
level as though built yesterday. The new
bridge Is an iron truss bridge manufactured in
Philadelphia, and large portion of the iron
has arrived in Columbia and will soon be
placed In position.
To come now to the private enterprises: A
large and elegant building is about to be
erected on the corner of Richardson and Plane
streets by the Central National Bank. It will
be of brick, two stories high, with an orna'
mental Mansard roof, and with stores and
offices fronting on either street.
On the opposite corner DR.. E. W. Wheeler,
the gentleman who, with Colonel Pearce, rep
resented Columbia In the Cincinnati Conven-
ton, and as to whose existence the Charles
ton Republican, under its former manage
ment, displayed lamentable degree OF igno-
rance, Is erecting handsome brick block,
which will have seven stores on the ground
noor, while the rest of the building will be oc-
cupied as hotel on the European plan.' DR..
Wheeler is also building thirty new cottages,
and handsome residence for himself.
Next to this block Mr.. Berry, furniture deal
er, Is erecting three.stnry brick building, to
be occupied as his store and residence. A
little above this, on the same side OF the street,
DR.. Helnitsch has just completed tWo.story
brick building, with an ornamental stucco
front, which is occupied by .'tokes's stationery
and bookbinding establishment, and by the
Office and composing room of the Daily
Union.
On the opposite side of Richardson street,
next to the Phoenix office, Mr.. sweigert Is
erecting three-story brick building, to be
used as algrocery store and dwelling.
On the next block, between the Columbia
Hotel and the Columbia Bank and Trust Com.
pany, two fine buildings are In process of erec
ton. One of these is expected to be the
handsomest building in Columbia. 1t Is being
erected by Messrs. Wearn & Xix, the enter.
prising photographers, and is to be known as
the Art Building. It will be three.storles
high, with brick side and rear walls, and an
elaborate iron front, which has been cast In
New York st cost of about three thousand
dollars. Next to this two-story brick build
ing, of which the walls are nearly completed
which is being erected by Mr.. Jacobs and Is to
be occupied by him as grocery store ant
residence.
Further down the same street, near Lady
street, Mr.. Joseph Taylor Is putting up two
story brick building, 10 be used TOR stores ane
offices, and near this Messrs. Fagin Brother