Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-03-03
"a Visit to Anderson, Go, ,
TUaALoo HoMB, February 2B. 18e

HEssRs EDIToRs: Having little business at
Anderson Court House threw two bales Of cot
ton on my wagon on Friday, the 11th instant,
to test the market Of that lourishing town.
The morning was warm and pleasant and bid
fair to bo pleasant trip, but We had not gone
far before low muttering thunder was heard in
the West, and at IL o'clock the rain commenced,
NOT falling but pouring. The ground already
being wet The roads were soon flooded and tho
streams that were subsiding commenced rising
again, but we managed to get in striking dis
tance Of Anderson and struck camp for the
night thoroughly saturated from tho inoesant
rain. During the night the weather cleared up
and ndsaturday morning Was blustery and freezing
cold. But We wcro in town by the tme the
market opened, notwithstanding dull cotton
reports We sold out at tho first bid at eleven
cents for good cotton. Anderson is among our
best cotton markets and her buyers know what
ehey arc doing and bid without hcsitanoy.
It is quite refreshing to visit Anderson and
note her progress, not only in town, but along
the road everything SCENE TO ''breathe along the
face Of things" progression and material i'm
provement noticed along the road to Ander--
son four cotton gins propelled with steam and
the road was literally thronged with wagons, not
only loaded with guano, but with bacon and
-four! These Indications are unmistakably an
index and point to new era, new departure,
progression onward and upward, showing the
Influence of the feecy staple, our great money
Drop! Just across the Blue Ridge, almost in
sight, is a country tecming with tho cereals,
grasses, clover, hogs, mules &c., with no availa-
die means Of raising cotton. We on the "sunny
side" Of the Blue Ridge are not exactly in the
cotton belt, but with tho improvements in agri-
culture many of our best farmers equal the
best farmers Of tho Mississippi cotton lands in
ante bolum days. With these facts staring us
in the face wo do not wonder at meeting so
many wagons loaded with bacon and flour and
every livery stable stocked with horses and
mules from Kentucky, Tennessee and North
Carolina We're wo to predict tho farmers pro-
gramme, and 1t is gradually making tho change.
would say fence the stock, give the cotton the
rioh feIoe rows, buy principally our bacon aud
Hour, keep but few improved stock, no surplus,
and modify our corn, oats and forage to suit that
few and We will harmonize in advance of what
will inevitably be forced upon US by tho hand of
progress. And this view will be moro feasible
as soon as there is q railroad constructed to tap
this rich grain growing and stock raising coun-
try beyond the Blue Ridge, and this road Is
certain to be built ere long If progress is let to
have her perfect way.
But for fear we are accused with fancy theo-
rising we will turn back and deal with facts that
no ono can gainsay. Anderson is extending her
suburbs and enlargng her store rooms and every
department of business is increasing, and among
other improvements noticed several first GLASS
oonfectoneries, combining almost cvcry variety
of domestic and foreign fruit, and quite unique
In design. Ono thing I noticed these houses
furnish as we'll as some Of your merchants of
Walhalla and that is oat meal for porrdgo and
is destined to become leading article among
our table comforts. It is in tho form of por-
ridge or bread highly nutricious and lis analysis
places 1t equal to other cereals, but of this more
anon. In fact see go much to admire in An
,derson and her surroundings that to designate
all would require too much time aud spacc at
this particular juncture.
The citizens Of Anderson are fondly antici-
pating the good effect of the Savannah Valley
Railroad when completed. The directors have
let out twenty miles for grading. But learned
there Is somo dissatisfaction in regard to taxing
only the townships through which the railroad
passes and the county will have some litigation
over the matter in this springs court But such
Important enterprises Of progressive improve.
ments are not apt to be seriously mpedcd for
trust there is too much harmony between our
Legislature and our courts 10 admit of much
trouble In the way Of litigation. This road is
destined to open up and revive the old trade
with Augusta, to say nothing with its competing
effect with The Greenvie and Columbia Rail-
road in the way Of shorter routes to Charleston,
Savannah, Port Royal, sc. When this road Is
Completed would IL not make the Fair Play and
Westminster Railroad moro feasible?
AS o general thing the people Of Anderson are
well pleased with the stook law and where you
find ON opponent there is a corresponding lack
OF go.aheaditivcness in all Of his surroundings
On our return VIC had to lay over at Deep
Greek Saturday night not because tho bridge
was gone, but the creek was over it. Kauf.
mann's bridges do not wash away. Mr.. Kauf-
mann, Of Walhalla, has number of substantial
bridges that he has constructed in Anderson
county, all Of which give tho County Commis-
sioners no moro trouble, and If everybody
praises the bridge that carries them over safely
Kaufman will certainly receive many enco-.
rniums from the travelling public.