Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-12-18
lCoRREspoNDENCE OF THE KEowEE COURIER. |
LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.

MEssRs. EDITORs: Tho Grant tboom," the
Bayard "boom," tho Gary "boon,," and every
other "boom," have become Of no significance
in Charleston during tho last ten days, for We
have had an excursionist "boom," cclpsing
them oil. The agricultural fair and tho con-
vcning of The Grand Lodge of Masons, together
with the excursion rates. have caused such m
influx of visitors rs is not remembered since tho
war. Our country cousins have filled tho
streets, overnowed the hotels, crowded the
stores, and, in fact, have been everywhere. We
arc glad TO see them. 1t is good thing for tho
OLD city They have spent great deal of money
here and have stimulated everything, and wc
hope they like us we'll enough TO want to come
again. 1t is pleasant TO sec it stated, too, that
the purchases are not confined TO mere neces-
saries, but extend TO many articles of luxury,
such as handsome apparel, sc. This is cheer
ing. 1t looks us if our farmers have done we'll,
aud rs the prosperity Of oil classes depends on
them, it gives hope for the State.
There is only one thing TO be regretted about
the excursion, and that is, the want of facilities
10 meet such II movement Of people, both on the
railroads and in the city. 1t seems as if the
railroads in South Carolina always make point
OF having IN excursion train behind time, and
SO many trains have been delayed during this
excursion as 10 add very much to the trials and
fntigncs Of travellers. Here in the CITY. too, tho
regular course of business and travel does not
JUSTLY either the merchants or the hotels to
keep themselves prepared for such an unusual
visitation. The consequence is that hundreds
have been turned away from the hotels and
have had great trouble in getting any sort of
lodgings, while those who got in at oven our
crhck houses wcro not properly attended 10 and
Will not remember their experience pleasantly.
In the stores, too, although the clerks have
done their best, and been run almost 10 dcsrac-
tion night and day, il has been difficult to get
oneself served. Freights also pile up at the
depots for transportation to such an extent that
it is believed tho excursion would have paid the
railroads handsomely even without tho passenger
fares by Tho increased freight receipts. Largo
numbers Of the cxcursonists have left the city
within the last ono or two days, but we expect
new arrival hext week for the Methodist Con-
ference.
The exhibition Of articles at our fair is not as
extensive as might be expected but one sees n
great many things there that he docs not come
upon anywhere else. There was printing ma
chine in operation, there was tho electric light,
there was bell buoy, largo collection of
fossils, rare and varied collection of objects of
art. paintings. drawings, fancy work, &c., and,
what Interested mo very much, on exhibition of
various styles Of gas stoves. These stoves are
delightful for cleanliness and convcnicncc-no
SCOT and no fire 10 be madc up. Last year when
there was so much mix about Edison's electric
p oil
Edison's light delayed, confidence in gus re-
turned, the stocks rose up again and some snug
sums were made by those who had bought when
it was down. Now, if gas can be produced
cheap enough TO bring it into general use as
fuel, (and the company is trying to do this
gas stock may defy Edison and all his lights.
But We have had another thing this week that
makes everybody rejoice You know already
refer to the election of Courtenay. It is tho
redemption OF the city for four years, and his
| dcient would have been the worst thing that
could happen. One grand feature Of it is that
it was fair election and q fair count Of
course there was that traffic in votes incident to
oil elections, but rs far as tho management OF
inc election went, G, Try step was taken 10 secure
fairness. The commissioners instructed tho
managers to allow ono challenger for each cnn-
didate to stand near tho box all day at each
precinct, and also to allow ono representative Of
each candidate to be within the enclosure where
tho count was made in such position that ho
could SEQ everything that took place. A great
many negroes voted for Coiirtenay. Election
day was perfectly quiet, the police and constabu..
larry being arranged to stop riot in short order.
have been writing on cheerful subjects.
must now como to what Is less encouraging,
Although at tho opening Of our cotton season,
rs | wrote you at tho time, thcro was very