Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-26
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM ROCK HILL.
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LETTER FkOM ROCk HILL.
Rock HILL, s. c., July %.
Since my last communication to the En-
ou1RER, many and varied have the changes
been il, our town and the State. Since the
yoke of oppression has been removed, our
people are progressing onward with renewed
vigor and untiring energy, cheerful aud hope
full of better time coming. .sr-,-,a.sa,-as~4-,
The wheat and oat crop have exceeded the
most sanguine expectations, and some of the
most uncommon yields have been realized by
farmers of the surrounding country. Mr.J.
s. Poag gathered from choice patch Of three
acres, seventy-6ve bushels, the rest of bis
wheat crop averaging fifteen bushels to the
acre. Mr.. j. Rattaree realized an average
crop of nineteen bushels to the acre. Oats
in many places proved equally as good.
More oats and wheat were sown than at any
time since the war. the farmers having devo.
ted their time, money and best lands to the
cultivation of cotton, almost to the entire neg.
lect of small grain crops. 1t is highly graft
flying to see that the farmers of this country
seem now so fully aroused to the utility and
economy of fgrowing small grain enough, not
only for home consumption, but for market,
in the sale of which they will, doubtless, in
all cases, realize more clear profit than BY
growing cotton exclusively. 80.
The growing crops in this section, were, up
to Thursday, very promising. On, that day,
between the hours of II and o'clock, there
came rain which some of the oldest citizens
say is unprecedented. Never before, to their
recollection, has 80 much rain fallen in so
short time Capt. J. F. Workman says be
has lived upon Fishing creek for more than
thirty years, and he has never before seen the
stream at such height. The waters cover
ed the whole face of the country, rendering
it impossible to locate accurately the channel
of the creek. The other smaller creeks we're
correspondingly high, sweeping everything
before their turbid, rapid waters, and bearing
away every fence along their course. Col.
Little says he has been - resident near the
creek (it running through bis plsce) for fifty.
eight years, and he is satisfied that the creek,
from the rains of last Thursday, was four
feet higher than since his recollection. All
the fences in range of the waters Of Fishing
creek, Wildcat and Toole's Fork were swept
away, leaving not rail. Major w. L. Rob.
ertson had three hundred dozen bundles of
very fine rust.proof oats washed away. and
up to Saturday night had not found 3 living
COW on bis place. He thinks the cows were
in their usual range on the creek bottoms
when the rain came, and we're drowned. 5l7t
The railroad bridge over Toole'sl Fork was
slided, by the water, some twelve inches, caus-
ing the down train 10 lay over here till after
IL o'clock that night. -" '>.i '....
Mr.. R. w. Workman informs me that on
Friday morning following, be and islaborers
went into the bottoms to gather the rails and
straighten up the corn. While thus engaged,
quite heavy rain came upon them. They
worked on, regardless Of the shower, but soon
they we're forced TO leave the bottom for high
land, as the water had, in very short time,
risen up around them to their waists. He
asked the negro man working with him
"Tom, what do you think Of the fence law,
now 7" "Ah! boss" was the answer, "God
Almighty has done passed the fence law now.
It's no use to resist bim" The darkey was
certainly correct for the farmers cannot now
rebuild the fences which were swept away by
the freshet. The only way to save themselves
now is to erect gates at the ends of the lanes
on the highways. ~
I am sure under the existing circumstances,
none will raise dissenting voice. There
need be no legislation in this case Of extreme
necessity. None. as yet, have been able to
ascertain the amount Of damage they have
sustained.
The question Of Fence or No Fence has
apitated the minds of the citizens Of Catawha
township since first an election was ordered.
The new system, proposed ny the Law, of fen.
cling the stock, instead Of the crops, meets
with more determined opposition, on the part
of many, than was 6rst anticipated by the
advocates of the new system. Various reasons
and arguments of every conceivable idea have
been advanced by the opposing party to de-
feat the project; while, on the other hand, the
advocates as strenuously and forcibly present
the utility and economy of the proposed
change. '"I ....,.-
On last Saturday our town was alive with
citizens. The fence question was the entire
and consuming topic Of the day. Excitement
ran high, reminding one Of the Hampton
canvass. Some, L regretted to observe, who
opposed the present measure. were disposed
to introduce politics, and bring up old issues,
which now rest and should ever rest, buried
far beneath the better feeling which seems to
prevail amongst us. t'i'5''' e" '5'' 'h1'''
The changing of the election precinct from
Rock Hill4to Hopewell Church, seemed to
disconcert q few but their better feelings
predominated. and soon they became recon
ciled, and resumed their efforts il behalf Of
the proposed change with cheerful but more
determined resolve to win. The change is
not conducive to defeat. .'i4 l3'h =" =.
Our town has been dull forH some time.
Business seemed stagnant.H Our eyes were
seldom gladdened with the appearance Of q
gentleman from the country, either for re-
creation or on business-an evidence that the
farmers were otherwise and more pro6tably
employed. ....
The Rock Hill Dramatic Association enter
tanned quite large crowd in Holler's Hall
on Friday night last, with the highly amusing,
suggestive and instructive temperance drama,
"Ten Nights in a Bar room" concluding the
evenings entertainment with the laughable
farce, "Rough Diamond" The entire per-
formance was complete success. All of the
actors and actresses acquitted themselves in .
most handsome and creditable manner. They