Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-04-24
Lettor from North Carolina.

HIGHLANDS, N. c., April Is, 1879.
Editors Courier: The spring at Highlands
is Somewhat backward. 1t has been cold
and wet since April came in, though at pres
cnt it is warmer.
improvements arc slow in progress and
some disappointment is felt at the ron az
pcarance of a larger number of settlers this
spring Esquire Hill has completed his
house, which is quito convenient and the
grounds arc quite tastcfully and prcttly laid
out. The Esqnire's open handed hospitality
IS well known and we wish him and his
pleasant family house full of guests.
Smith & Ba,hrick have their hands full
ut the saw mill. X. Elias. ESQ, Of Franklin,
though meeting with terrible misfortune in
the loss Of his splendid now house, undaunt.
cdIy set to works rebuilding. giving Smith
& Bathrick the contract for the saving of his
lumber.
|. is somewhat amusing to find what cxng-
geratcd ideas some have Of the greatness and
possibilities Of Highlands. There are some
twenty buildings on tho town site; thrco of
the number aro stores and ono school house
a colored man strolcd into town ono day.
lie stopped in tho centre Of the village and
asked q man Il he would tell him where High
lands was? When told "This is it," the poor
boy seemed dumfounded After moments
thought he slowly moved on and was never
seen after. 1t often happens that persons
seeking work say they heard money was
plenty here and thought they would come in
and get some Of it.
AS far as business is concerned and from
conversation with some who understand tho
matter should say if ono merchant could
have all the trade within the circle of eight
miles Of Highlands it would scarcely be enough
to satisfy i've business man in one of our
railroad towns. When customer comes into
the vngc thrco stores seem to realize it,
and it is not uncommon to hear the bidding
for the customers trade in auction STYLE, even
on tho half cent.
The opening for mechanics is not promising
Those who have sottled here arc mostly per.
sons Of small means and have built n very
cheap class of houses, and have cleared
limited number Of acres, though fcw have
cleared on larger scale. yet one can live
choaply here, rs the demands of society arc
very simple
1t is very hard to sustain school and
constant Sunday preaching, and must con-
tinuc 80 unless q larger influx of settlers
c>mo in than have the past two years. Quite
n number Of persons who anticipated settling
here left the place last fall; yot they wore per
sonswho could DO easily spared, as they were
people on tho lookout for soft places. The
country needs farmers. men who are not
afraid to bare tho arm to labor. The cli-
mate is herc, tho soil and tho water; but it's
resources must be shown When wo arc
able to show strangers waving wheat. mead
ows of tame grass and golden fruit, thcn there
will bo Inducements to settle, and q practical
invitation to capitalists and time will do this
view oftho healthy nature Of our climate,
it is q pity thero is not good hotel. A five
| or six thousand dollar iotel, rightly managed.
would DO n valuable auxiliary in tho settling
of Highlands. 1t could be advertised for
summer occupancy which would attract at
tcntion to tho place and each year would
leave somo Of its guests behind ns permanent
residents.
In regard to building. We might add that
&C. hutchinson. Esq, is building house
"hlcn DluS lnlr 10 DO ono OF inc DGSt IN the
county. Most everybody has good word tc
say Of Nlossrs. Hutchinson and kelsey, and
wo wish more such would como into ou,
country. Mr.. Hutchinson appears to bo a
gentleman Of means and culture. Col. kelsey
has been so long in our midst that be il
! pretty woll known. Ills untiring energy Is
pr0verbial, and his constant cheerfnlness and
genial nature has won him host Of friends
SIDNEY.