The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-07
THE PALMETTO STATE.
The First Observation-Disclosures and
Resources.

The First Settle,nent---Productio and
Resources.
Notwithstanding the several early at
tempts made by the French under Ri.
bault and Landowners, and the ill-fateo
expedition of Sir Walter Raleigh il
1854, no permanent settlement was effect.
ed in South Carolina until the arrival oi
William Sayle, in 1890, who landed al
Port Royal large number of emigrants
who had sailed with him from England
in two ships. we'll supplied with arms
and munitions of war, and all necessary
utensils for building and cultivation. In
the midst of active arrangements for the
government and welfare of the young
Colony, Sayle died. He was succeeded
in the government by Sir John Yea
mans, who had some years before plant
ed Colony which he had brought from
Barbados, at Cape Fear, North Caro-
lima.
His authority was extended 80 as to
include both colonies. Upon. the
strength Of this increase of power he
gathered the planters together and re-
moved with large following of Cavalier
families to The banks Of the Ashley River,
"for the convenience of pasturage and
tillage." This removal took place in
1871, and in the same year the founda-
ton of Chsrlestown was laid con the first
highland" on tho western banks of the
Ashley. This became and continued the
capital of the Southern settlements until
1872, when, by formal order of the
Lord proplietors, removal was made to
Oyster Point, narrow neck of land at
the confluence Of the Cooper and Ashley
Rivers, where the foundation was laid OF
the present City of Charleston. The re-
moval from the first site was made in
consequence of: the many local disad-
vantages, especially with regard to the
want of commercial facilities, being in
accessible to vessels of any considerable
size. By the removal to Oyster Point,
a beautiful and safe harbor, almost land
locked, was secured, which has developed
Charleston into one of the most inpor-
tant ports of entry in this country.
1t would, indeed, be pleasant to the
writer to dwell on some of the thrilling
episodes to be found in the history of the
early settlement of Carolina, but the
scope of this brief introduction of early
history simply to refresh the memory of
the reader with the important facts show
ing by whom, and at what time, this
member of the "Old Thirteen" was set
tied. To these original settlers must
not omit to mention, that in 1874, large
number of Dutch from Nova. Belgia, now
New York, sought refuge in Carolina in
consequence of the conquest Of their
colony by the English.
They founded a town on the south
west bank of the. Ashley, which they
called jamestown, but they afterwards
deserted it, and spread themselves
through the, country, where they were
Joined by large numbers from the
"Fatherland," whose descendants are to-
day some of our ,most respected and USE
full citizens. Subsequent to this, came
the revocation Of the edict of Nantes,
and very soon after a large influx 'of
French FIotestants, called Huguenots,
who have furnished some of the most il
lustrious names in the history of this
State. OF such constituents was the
early settlement of South Carolina main
ly composed.
INDIGO AND RICE AGRICULTURE
at once became the leading industry Of
the people, and with the introduction Of
African slavery, such rapid strides were
made in its development that tobacco
and indigo early became the basis of q
considerable trade through the port Of
Charleston with the mother country. In
addition to the lucrative price obtained
for indigo, a handsome bonus was paid
by government for every pound imported
into England. This bonus at one time
amounted to a matter of twelve pence
per pound. This encouragement. so
greatly promoted its production, and the
shipments became SO heavy, that the
bonus WIS withdrawn. The price also
became SO greatly reduced in conse.
quence of its successful cultivation in
other of the colonial dependencies Of
Great Britain, that its propagation ulti-
mately ceased. What was once staple
product would to-day be considered 4
curiosity if seen growing.
Towards the. close of the seventeenth
century Il small parcel of rice was pre-
sented to Landgrave Smith, by Captain
Tradd, the master of O vessel trading
from Madagascar to Charleston. This
he distributed among his friends, and
planted IN his own garden in Charleston.
From this small beginning rice became
one of the great staples of South Caro-
lima. So great was the success in its cul-
tivation, that, as early as 1871, forty
thousand barrels of rice were exported.
Previous to the war the production OF
this staple had assumed magnificent pro-
portions, and the rice plantations of Car
lima were considered models of scientific
culture, while the quality of the article
was unapproachable by that grown in
any Other part of the world.
COTTON.
The invention of the spinning jenny by
Hargreaves, 1867, and subsequently, per
fected by Arkwright, did little to in
crease the very small production of cot
ton in this country. The difficulty and
expense Of separating the lint or wool
from the seed was so great as to limit its
production almost entirely to domestic
use. But no sooner did Eli Whitney in
vent the cotton gin than the labor Of the
civilized world was revolutionized by the
impetus given to the growth OF this
hitherto Insignificant product.
Previous to T90, the United States did
not export pound of cotton. In 1882
the trfAing quantity of 1883 pounds
(equal to about PIT bales) was exported,
Whitney's invention came into operation
in 1898, and in 1894 1,6O1, ,76O pounds.
and in 1895 5,276,306 pounds were ex'
ported, and so astounding has been the
growth of this stable that the crop of this
country now amounts to near 5000, ,O0C
bales annually. 1t was in the years 1895
and l796 that the planters OF Caroline
commenced to pay serious attention tc
this cultivation, and so great was their
success that South Carolina was soon re.
cognized as one of the principal cotton
Il Al TI-,aa lUtth thso hrta