Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-18
CURREsPoNDENCE OF TIE KEoWEE COURIER.
LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.

CHARLESTON, S. c., September Is, 1879.
Messrs. Editors: Since my lass letter q
change has come over tho aspect of things in
that portion Of our city where the cotton and
rice business COOS on. Instead of tho dull
inactivity of the summer months, ono now
hears tho roll Of cotton drays moving along
tho streets, and secs factors and clerks mov-
ing about with on mir of business, instead of
sitting down in idlcness to take care of an
Office. No moro doing nothing now, no more
slow walking in short, to use term of art,
no moro "lonfng."
The rice crop is said to be we'll up in time,
and this staple is coming in actively. Cot
ton is two or thrcc weeks behind hand. but it
has begun to come in quito briskly, the esti-
mated receipts averaging eight hundred or
nine hundred balos per day. Tho receipts
will increase rapidly, and heavy business
for the season just opening is expected. The
jobbers rcapcd harvest by the excursion Of
week before last.
Another thing that looks like lifc in our
old city, and it is one of our latest scnsatione,
is tho telephone. company has recently
put it in operation. and it is found to be q
satisfactory and delightful convenience. II
is worked in this way: For the reasonable
charge Of So per month tho company sets up
IN instrument in your Office; ut the same time
also giving you list Of all tho Offices or
houses which have subscribed to it. If you
wish to talk to anybody in any one of those
Offices, you give signal on the instrument
which is heard at tho main Office. From tho
main Office thoy ask you what you want.
You say you want to talk to Mr. Smith, ut
such q place They call Mr.. Saith at his
Office by a signal, and connecting your wire
with his at The main Office, they tell you to 60
ahead and talk. Then you and he talk to
each other perhaps four, six or twelve blocks
apart, and when you arc dpno talking you
toll them at tho main Office and the wircs are
again disconnected At your instrument you
hear the talking distinctly, but it cannot be
heard at tho main ofico, so that you secure
secrecy. Having to connect with 80 many
Offices Of course takes q great many wires,
which give to tho streets whore thoy run q
most lvoly and business like appearance,
especially East Bay, whcro tho telegraph
poles already support thirty or forty wires,
and are arranged to receive as many more.
This is indeed an nge Of marvcls and VIC seem
to be conquering both time and space. A man
may leave New York Mt 10 o'clock in the morn
ing and be in Charleston ut $40 p. NJ. The next
day, just about thirtytwo hours or n little more.
Wo hail the new fast schedule on tho Green.
vile and Columbia Railroad. II looks like an
appreciation of the business necessities Of tho
times, and Charleston needs every such means
Of closer connection with the rest of the State.
Gen. Conner is an able lawyer, brave soldier,
and has dono his State invaluable service Mt tho
cost to himself Of great sacrifices. Let us wish
him all success In his management of tho road
as receiver
The great topic now Is The election. There 10
an excited dispute as to tho powers of the City
Democratic Executive Cemmittee, and also an
anxious discussion as 10 the conduct of the