The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-08-27
Darlington Dots.
Editors Orange6urg Democrat:
E.pIy'o Cpooa Ro.Dc h,o

AS the editor always follows the
fashion Of writing whenever lie takes
an excursion away from home, per-
haps few notes will be acceptable
from this county, as I have seen
nothing concerning it in the papers.
Every outgoing train being now la
den with passengers off for summer
tour, it was not surprising TO see Or.
angeburg SO. we'll represented on the
3Oth of last month, Glenn Springs,
Greenville and Hcndersonviile being
their principal destinations. The at
fractions in the capital are not so
much appreciated while the noun
tains are seen in the dim perspective,
but the friends and associations of
other days clustering around alma
Hnatre, rendered my stay in Columbia
very enjoyable. The State House
was tile lonliest place I saw, as only
an occasional politician was visible
lingering in the cool passage-way or
reclining on the steps idly watching
the few loitcrers who were inspecting
The monument. Some small degree
OF excitement attcndad the ride on
the Wilmington, Columbia and Au-
gusta Railroad, which left at five
O'Clock Z. M. It was discovered that
there was q lunatic in the same coach,
and it would have been difficult to de-
eide just then which ofthe passengers
was from the asylum. The conductor
soon appeased our fears by saying he
was quite used to it, as mad men and
pcnitentiary convicts were frequent
travellers on his train, though lie usu-
ally secured them as baggage. Apart
from this the seventy mile ride 10
Timmonsville was devoid of interest.
This town, though small and some.
what unfavorably located, is one of
the plcasantcst places l have ever
visited. The Inhabitants have not
merely n local reputation for their So
cial and hospitable traits, but their
meiits are known and appseciated far
and wide. Indeed, this county gene
rally, bears off the palm in these re-
spects. 1t is very thiclily settled,
and is hard to excel in its social ad-
vsntages, the present week affording
an opportunity TO display them effec-
lively. The Floral Fair and Joint
Summer Meeting of the State Grange
and Agricultural Societies drew dis.
tinguished visitors from oil parts of
tina State, but, sad to relate, Orange
burg was not represented at the meet
ing. The Graugers certainly missed
the opportunity Of visiting the finest
farming section of the country, the
Pee Dee belt being justly celebrated
for it's productions. A prominent
and successful citizen gave me some
surprising statistics concerning the
values of cotton lands and the pro-
gress in the county. How would our
farmers fancy paying from 500 to $50
per acre for their lands? Real estate
has increased SO per cent, in choice
sections 100 per cent, in the last few
years. A tract in this vicinity re.
Gently sold on the sheriff's block at
S2l per acre cash. Some of the visi-
tors from the Piedmont belt were ex-
ceedingly surprised to see such q
thriving condition of affairs. A
granger from the mountains asserted
seriously that he thought Darlington
and Orangehnrg was the land of alli-
gators, rattlesnakes and mosquitors,
where it was impossible to live out
ones natural life, for if these did not
destroy, fever and ague would ce--
tainly cut short our days. He exspect.
cd to find wilderness, the inhab-
tants living in log houses and run
ming one house power on their farms
instead he discovered q blooming
garden, healthy intelligent people,
handsome residences, and rich lands
in high state Of cultivation. His