Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-02-27

CduihS. 1uuCSu3 ~ ""' DoS
bal Cain, and was once arrested for issu-
ing counterfeit coin ofhis own make. A
carriage builder and trimmer too, made
his living in our midst; and | must not
omit the silver-smith, who manufactured
his wares here, and whose sterling silver
is still to be seen in Beaufort, bearing the
name, of Brabant. He committed suicide
off one of our wharves in consequence Of
incurable disease. He was Frenchman.
The trade of Charleston had largely in
creased; and, anomalous as itmay seem,
the introduction of steam boats between
that city and Beaufort. completed the de-
cline of thelatter. Planters sent forward
their produce to find market there, and
ordered their supplies thence.
The long delays attendant upon the
movements of sailing vessels, farther re-
tarded by their frequent calls at numer-
GUS landings, had rendered a constant
supply of commodities indispensable to
the thrift of the Beaufort merchant, as
vii, as the convenience of the buyer.
When, however, the regular trir of the
steam packet assured the planter that his
wants would be punctually supplied on
the day designated for her arrival, his
orders went to Charleston; where, his
crops having been disposed of, his fluids
were readily available. Thus the the
trade of Beaufort dwindled to mere re-
tail business. These steamers made
weekly trips between Charleston and
Augusta Ga, until the completion ofthe
S. G. R. R., after which their terminus
was Savannah, as at the present day.
Great cities, unless aided and patron
lied by government, are seldom found
except at, or near the mouths Of naviga-
BILE streams. A commodious harbor is
not the only requisite for an emporium OF
trade; there must be support OF back
country; and that back country must
have means of transportation to the
ocean, the great highway of commerce.
The finest harbor in the world is said to
be Milford Haven, and yet so insignif-
cant is its trade, that deem it necessary
to say where it is, on the coast ofWales
1t has poor back-country, and access to
it, from within, is obstructed by rude and
barren hills. Not so with Port Royal,
deep spacious, easy of access, having over
twenty feet water on its bar at lo,o tide,
with secure anchorage and as fine shelter
as haveueouid have in which the nav
les of all the maritime nations might ride
iYsafety. To crown all this; we haze a
fertile and abundant country. Our only
need then is a navigable stream. Had
Savannah river found its way to this
point, and made its embouchure into ouI
bay, there would, long since, have been
seen the crescent city of the South Affair
tic, with its salubrious shores bristliul
with masts; and the beautiful bosom oi
our waters covered by the white-winged
messengers of commerce. But it is to
the absence of large river dischargine
itself here, that we owe our immutable
fbar. Being natural arm ofthc sea, and
not the mouth OF considerable river,
the bar at the entrance has remained al
most without a change for century
The British Government is said to be ir
possession of most accurate chart oi
these waters, taken prior to the Revolu'
Ation. Recent comparisons have shown
that there has been scarcely any change
inn that length of time.
Now, the great substitute which art
and the ingenuity of man offer for tbe
navigable stream. is the Railway, 1t has
long since been shown that,7w While water
course is the most economical motive
power for mills, factories &C., steam is
the most desirable; because unvarying,
eouable and coutrollable. So ,lso, is the
railway more regular, more under the
management of man, though produce
may be waited at less expense on the sur
face of n rapidly descending current
With the acquisition of labor, good, reli
able labor-the great disideratum of ou1
sorely smitten country, what future ma5
we anticipate for our port, blessed by ma
turc with such extraordinary advantages
But am exchanging the part ola chron'
icler for the role ola speculator, must
desist, and offer as an apology for the
awakening of these sentiments, the fas
approaching completion of our great en-
terprize, the Port Royal Railroad. A
different theme will engage our thoughts
next week.
The Hop ut the Sea Island.
The hop given in honor Of Washing