Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-03-27

BLACKS STATION, S. c., March "A, 1879.
meeting of the citizens of Western York
was held at this place last Friday, for the pur-
pose of discussing and setting forth the advan-
taees and necessity of making a survey of
Broad river, preliminary to improving the
stream and rendering it navigabe for small
steamers The advantages of the proposed
work, and it's results to the future develop
ments of section remote from Railroad facil-
tiles and without the advantages of shipping,
were discussed at length. Several gentlemen
being present who are practical in their knowl-
edge of the river, and who have had expert
ence in boating upon it with tiat-bottom boats,
say, that only money and means are necessary
to make the scheme success. Capt. John b.
Mintz. who has boated on the river, says the
rapids can be ascended by throwing up break
waters in diagonal direction, thereby eddy.
ing the water, the boat turning across the
river from bank to bank, but gradually ascend
ing the stream.
The meeting appointed Capt John B. Mintz,
J. A Deal, Esq, and DR.. John G. Black, a
committee to get up all necessary facts and
forward them to Representative Evins, to he
placed by him before the Surveyor-General
The committee, agreeably to instructions,
Immediately prepared their report, of which
the following is copy. - .....
l. Between Columbia and the Atlanta and
Charlotte Airline Railroad bridge, and lying
on either side of Broad river, there are eight
counties which produce large per centage of
the cotton and grain crops of the State, and
the greater part of these counties are remote
from railroad transportation. The farming
of tho 70
" promoted, and the value of the property
would be greatly increased by opening up this
route.
2 That the section of country embraced in
the counties of York and Spartanburg con-
tains large beds of iron ore of superior quail
ity, which is not utilized for lack of stone
coal, which could be supplied by steamers. The
same section also contains ineXhaustible guam
titles of limestone of excellent quality for
building or agricultural purposes, and also
could furnish the sulphuret of iron, from
which sulphuric acid is made, and is so neces-
sary in the manufacturing of fertilizers at
Charleston, which forms one of the important
industries of that city.
3. This section of the country is burdened
by high railroad freights, as we labor under
the disadvantages of having no competing
routes and the carrying trade on this route,
in the taking of cotton and grain to Charles
ton, anu DTluSlliS DdCh Suppllco, ii0ltt,iliS
fertilizers would be very heavy.
4. 1t would cause manufacturing to he car
ried on at the numerous immense water pow
ers that are to be found on Broad river, and
which are now neglected on account of having
no convenient means of transporting the man-
ufactureS to market.
5. The navigation of Broad river by small
steamers, as high as the Airline Railroad
bridge would render this large and fertile sec
tion of the country accessible from the East
and Northwest, as well as the South, of which
it is now to a great extent deprived.
We desire to say to you further, that these
assertions we believe to be true, and that no
part of the United States would better repay
the outlay than this. If we can aid you, III
any way, in your praiseworthy efforts to open
up Broad river, we shall be happy to do so.
Very respectfully, JOHN B. MINTz,
J. a. DEAL,
JOHN G. BLACK.
Pleasant Walls, colored man, said to be SO
years of age, died here last Friday. In the
days of slavery he was the servant and fore
man of Mrs Walls of Fairfield On the ap-
proach of Sherman's army, his owner fled,
leaving all her property, including plate and
valuables, in the hands of this trusty slave.
The other negroes on the plantation informed
the soldiers that Pleasant had charge of all the
valuables of his mistress, when they hanged
him bv the thumbs and tortured him III many
other ways to induce him to reveal the place
of concealment of the property entrusted to
his care but he was true to his trust, revealed
NOTHING and i'm dine time returned money and