Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-01-28

grafton has now Degun III ealnesC, ano "'ii
Increase rapidly, as all who have settled along
the Piedmont Railroad are sending back good
reports. Surely this report will crafty the
friends of select immigration all over the
State, and cause all to lend assistance and
co0peration in a work destined to enrich the
State to so great an extent. Mr.. Gaines in.
forms US that many capitalists are beginning
| to look Southwark.
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, January 25, 1875.
The anniversary celebration of the organi.
cation of the Stonewall Fire Engine Company
of Chester, takes place tonight. The enter
tainment is-expected to equal in brilliancy, if
not entirely eclipse, the Masonic entertainment
giving during the holidays, of which mention
was made in my correspondence at the time.
In addition to the members Of the company
and considerable number of invited guests
from this place, Hon. Zeb. Vance, from North
Carolina, the officers of the fire companies of
Charlotte, and the officers of the fire compa.
MES of Rock Hill and Winnsboro are invited,
and are expected to be present upon the happy
occasion. The distinguished gentleman from
the old North State, whose oratorical powers
are known and appreciated throughout the
Carolinas, if not throughout the entire coun.
try, will doubtless favor the company with
one of his happiest efforts. The toasts to be
given on the occasion will call forth responses
from speakers from home and abroad, and
the evening will fairly sparkle with scintilla-
tions of wit and genius. Expectation is on
tip-toe, for in point of magni6cence of scale
it will far surpass the preceding anniversary
celebrations, which we're highly successful and
enjoyable affairs Major T. S. Mills, the Cap
tain of the Stonewall Fire Engine Company
of Chester, is exceedingly popular, and will
doubtless be in command Of the company as
long as he desires to retain the position. At
the last anniversary celebration he was pre-.
sented with a very handsome gold headed
cane, in token of the esteem in which he is
held by the Stonewalls. This fire company
has rendered excellent service since its organ
ization. 1t was through their indefatigable
efforts that the destructive fire of 1872, which
laid in ashes one side of our principal street,
was prevented from crossing on the other
side and completing the scene of destruction.
The Stonewall Fire Company was organized
on this day FIVE years ago, Immediately after
conaagration which swept away several
stores Long may it live and flourish.
The firm of Smith & Melton was last week
dissolved by mutual consent. The senior
member of the firm will retire from business,
and enjoy in quietness the large pile of this
worlds goods he has been successful in accu-
mulating during the past few years. Major
G. w. Melton will continue his operations in
cotton, and thus endeavor to add to the store
of riches he has been fortunate in heaping up.
The firm of Mitchell, Mills Il Co., of Black
stocks, has also been dissolved, and the busi.
ness will in the future will be conducted by
Mr.. Mitchell.
Messrs. Wilson & Cousar have moved into
one of the magnificent store-rooms Of the new
building recently erected on Main street.
The arrangements of the room are of such a
nature as to meet fully all the requirements
of the grocery and cotton business. In the
rear of the storeroom is large and commo.
dious house adapted to the storage of cotton.
Messrs. Wilson e. Cousar are now splendidly
fixed for the carrying on of their cotton opera
tions. They are good business men, upon
whom the goddess of fortune has bestowed a
favoring smile. The beautiful store-rooms in
the Wilkes portion of the new building, will be
occupied in very short time; one by Mr.. R.
Brandt, and the other by Mr.. F. M. Torbit
The quality and quantity of the goods that
will be exhibited to the public will doubtless
be of a character to correspond with the beau.
ty of the rooms. This structure of granite
color, and with iron front, is an object of ad-
miration by all beholders.
This will doubtless be a busy week with the
treasurer of our county. The total tax levy
of Chester county for the fiscal year begin.
ming November 1st, 1874, is S68,000. About
$4,000 of this amount remains unpaid, and
must be paid before the 1st of February, or
the penalty of twenty per cent. additional
will attach. The hardness of the times is in.
dicated by the disposition of so great number
of taxpayers to postpone the evil day Of pay
ing taxes until the expiring day of grace. If
I am not mistaken, Governor Chamberlain
recommended, and so directed the county
treasurers, to allow sixty days for the collec-
ton of taxes, from the time of the opening of
the books, before the penalty should attach.
Treasurer Yocum opened bis books on the
18th of December, and, consequently, should
keep open until the 18th of February. An
extension of two weeks for the payment of
taxes would be of immensehelp to our people.
From the published proceedings of the
stockholders of the Charlotte, Columbia and
Augusta Railroad, it will be seen that 1858
bales of cotton were shipped from Chester,
over the road, from the 3Oth of September,
1873, to the same day in 1874 During the
same time 12,O60 bales were shipped from
Rock Hill, and II ,421 bales from Winns-
boro. As figures are proverbial for telling
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, the evidence is unmistakably clear
on the side of Chester being far in advance
of her sister towns as cotton market.
Owing to the enhancement of the price,
considerable amount of cotton was brought