The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-03-30
An Interesting Letter ffen North Paeelst.
r.,rv.--x< q n March DE-

An Interesting Letter fom north Faoeist.
TnIcxkrrrs 8. c.. March 26.
EprroR TiMks--As North Pacolet, embracings
representative portion of Unios County is dead
to the outside world, 50 far a. newspaper corr
respoudencs 10 concerned, have concluded 10
give you . few penscrapings from that dark and
quiet corner. As you justly say you cannot give
County news without correspondents. 30 we who
wish 10 get the news OF ihs County should be
willing to contribute our mite towards furnish-
ing II, sad not complain at what il our own
neglect. 4 do not know how or whore to begin
10 furnish nsws. but shall beg your readers not
to critioiss my informal efforts in this my hrst
attempt at "Editoral correspondence"
That portion Of our County demonstrated
.sNorth Pacolet," lays between Broad and Paco-
let rivers and South Of the Spartanburg line,
containing about one hundred and fifty square
miles Of Territory-once the finest farming and
most productive portion Of tho County--but
being trsversed by several water-courses, the
principal Of which are Thicketty, Gilkie's and
Abingd on Creeks, It is very hilly and broken,
except in few small central elevations. Con-
sequently, under cotton culture it is now much
worn and washed yet it is claimed to possess
more rich bottom lands to the area than almost
any other section of the Piedmont region Of
South Carolina. A large per cent Of it is not i'm
cultivation, or only nominally so, from neglect
| in keeping the channels of the streams clear OF
obstruction. Since the close Of tho war tho
corn crop has been of secondary consideration
and the care necessary has not been bestowed
in the draiuage of these fne lands. This neg
| lsct is most conspicuous on Thicketty and Gilk-
les Creeks, on which streams, from Thompson's
Mills to the shoals above, there about fifteen
| hundred acres Of the finest bottom lands, half
Of which is entirely swamped the other nearly
so, not producing more than fifteen thousand
bushels of corn, when, with good drainage it
would average thirty bushels per acre-making
o difference in favor Of drainage Of thirty thous-
and bushels, usually worth one dollar per bush
el Quite N item in favor of drainage-enough
to attract the attention of those interested in
heme supplies.
North Pacolet contains an active and energetic
ropulation-mostly poor, because its efforts are
made in the wrong direction.
The whites are in the majority now, though
at the close of the war the opposite was the case
Many of the negroes have gone somewhere, can
hardly tell where, but know they nre disap-
pearing from our midst, while the white popula
tion has been increased by many from the old
North State who came to better their condition
by raising cotton, and have given us a valuable
addition to our numbers, being peaceful AID in
dustrious citszen.. Formerly the farmers ofthis
8. eton followed nixed husbandry, but Of lateit
is different and there is visible change in the
condition Of the people, from cash to credit, from
| ~. 20 all NeccSsty oply
will force q return to the old style Of farming,
which is the best for our soil and latitude; and
we will never prosper until We conform to til Q
conditions corrtlllitio by which natural laws work.
More wheat md oats were sown last Fail than
usual; but as yet fsc.> prospect is gloomy
Farmers arc busy preparing SSr summer crops
and the weather is fine forit. More cotton than
ever Is the motto with most Of us. >Strange out
true, under the lights NC have, to seq psSe.e 60
ing thus.
The utmost peace and quiet rcigns throughOu
our section.--exccpt now and then there is q
skc daddlc among tho whiskcy pcddlers, whom
the Hampton T. Us are down on rs they will
not be allowed, as others formerly were, to share
| in the profits thereof. AS for local news there
is a dearth DR.. Mason Smith had genuine
a close of Maninscts few days past, in u little
boy, and succeeded in thwarting the fatal mon
ster. fear an epidemic of tho disease. North
Pacolet is blessed with ten pbysicans-six of
whom arc practcing medicine.
will inform you of any noteworthy event in
future, if You can spare room in your valuable
Journal for my feeble attcmps at correspondence.
l.