The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-24
Correspondence Of the Richmond Disp aich. !


CHARLESTON, S. c.. May 22, 1873.
Richmond is better known in Charleston
| than Charleston Is in Richmond. The re-
mark is made with no intention to f1at1er
YOU. Your city is not more worthy to be
known (says one who has had his washing
done in both plices). But you are more con-
spicuou>, that We grant Away down South.
hugged to the bosom Of tic SEA by two fair
arms, repo>in-- peacefully amid the shadows
OF her mosS-robed expresses and l,ineS. in
haling the sweet breath OF her i,lstrous mag
noils. Charleston has perhaps been tuo easy
going and indifferent to the notice of the
busy world. And vet any man, whether he
wishes TO cultivate hi, taste or to turn over
his money, might go further and fare worse
| than il he should stop here,
The population of Charleston b nearly
$4,000. 1t is situated upon peninsula
formed by tho Ashley and Cooper rivers.
which rise in the >wamp> of Colston and
Charleston counties. about forty miles above
| the utv. These streams ir1C nirigabIe for
| fifteen or twenty miles; and uniting ut the
| eastern and southern boundary Of the city.
they " form noble bay sufficiently large 10
accommodate all extensive commercial ma
| riuc. and having an average depth of water
| of from five TO seven iathom>, with an cX-
| trcmc depth of fifteen lathomS.'
There are now eight fine steamers run
| ming between this port and New York, all
having ample and tirst-class passenger ac-
comlnodatious 8; three on the Baltimore line,
two TO Philadelphia, and two To Boston.
| Besides, there are steamships TO Florida Ito
all points on the st. Johns river) to Savau-
| nah, Beaufort. Georgetown, dc. Both the
cou>twi>e and foreign trade OF the city have
| greatly improved in the last two or three
years. Three important LINES of railroad
also centre hcre-thc South Carolina. the
Northeastern. and the Savannah road. Some
| idea of the business of Charleston may be
| gathered from the following facts, taken from
recent publication Of the Chamber of Com
| mcrcc:
During the season of 1S11-'72 there were
| received in this city ,0s6 bales Of cotton,
of which nearly half was directly exported.
and ,61T tierces of rirp. of which more
| than 3n.nDD tirrreS were exported. The cX-
ports of lumber were nearly 20, 900 feet.
and of naval stores nearly 10000 barrels.
| Truck farming employs Il capital of about
| 100000. Machine shops and sash and blind
| factories mot to mention otherS) turned out
manufactured articles TO the value OF $780,
| 900. The bankin" capital OF the city Is put
down ut S3.500,0n0, including capital of pr-
vatc bankers and the total deposits at nearly
| 1000, 900. six companies, with capital ot
\ ,0Ou, 900, are engaged IN or near Charles
ton in The business oi manufacturing COLI
mcrcial fertilizers from the South CaroilE'
phoSplltcS. These companies shipped du-
rinm the year nearly 10000 tons Of manu-
flcturcd fertilizers.
From such figures it will he seen that
| Charleston is far from liclcsS. In truth, she
was never more vigorous and hopeful. The
last year was. ny long odds, the best fol
business since the wIr. The appearance I"
this city is Strikin@ly antique. The public
buildings, which are unusually numerous
present the classic rather than the modern
STYLES of architecture. and some of them are
specimens which RuSkin himself would lake
pleasure in examining. Churches abound
| i'm every direction, and every body iii su
ciety" must 20 to church once on Sunday
As a general thing. private residences mt
larger than in cities further north, abound N
piazzaS, and stand with the 9ube-end to the
street.
The characteristics of the people are just
| such il, YOU would expect to find in de.
scendlnts of old English and Huguenot fam
| iIieS-cOurte>y. courtesy, courtesy, every
where c-men, women, anu children alike
and even the negroes. excepting the younger
oncs--in the countin"rno,D, i'll the Office, III
| the street rs we'll Il. at home, show courtesy
| To all. And vet there is no ai1ectatlOn. III
| is natural and true refinement. The Iadles
are always quiet and gentle, and even the
men are never bru>qIc or bolsicrouS. Ar
and literature are cultivated quite generally
and everything that adds grace or Swcetness
lu social lite is peculiarly valued. Music and
flowers and tine pictures abound i'll al
houses of the better claSA.
| There hav" been 2l"al changes. ii Is true
but Charleston i Cha! lesion still. The heart
and mind of the people are now as they
ever were.
In politics all is quiet just now. The ne"
| postmaster, Dr. Boyemln, mulalto, hi'
taken his place and gone to work without
making much conuSion; but the di;p!ate
mcnt of Mr.. Trott was Ill lInlIlltlgatet
| shame. La