Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-28

Eighteen Years Ago and What 1t Is Two Important Movements i'm the Right Direction.
 COLUMBIA, S. G., Feb. r. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER: - Just eighteen years ago to day this city
 was to great extent burned to the ground.
 To those of the northern States who were | children during the stirring scenes of our civil war, the events of those four years are l simply matters of history. Not so, however, to those of 8 corresponding age in the South,
 who have had before their eyes the devasta- tions of war, and were reduced from life of ease to penury. This is the case here in Columbia. On one of the prominent cor ners of Main street are still some of the ru- ins of large hotel, large pillar, about 20 feet high, marking the corner. few blocks farther down stand the side walls of the Confederate mint and in the center of the city is the unfinished Capitol. About it lie the huge pillars. some just from the quarry, others partially cut, and some complete-aII silent and still these eighteen years, where for three years before the hammer of the Italian sculptor was heard, and many hand was busy in erecting Capitol to be the pride of the State! And why? If were to ask I might be answered with impatience Sherman destroyed everything we had, and the negro administration for the subsequent decade squandered what little money we had left.r
 But enough of the past. I took up my pen to speak of the future, but I have been, led to say this much about the past for I notice in this evenings paper poem, 'sThe Burning of Columbia, D that tells of the bit terness which one heart at least still cherish es As I was passing by the old mint the other day, looked through the broken walls and noticed that some one had utilized the ground within for cotton growing, and the thought struck me that the best and surest way to get money is, after all, to work for it in the plain old fashioned ways. This is what they are proposing to do.
 There are two movements which have late- ly come to a head that will greatly affect the future of the capital city, and upon which Columbia may well congratulate herself the one for better educational advantages, the other for developing the water power for the introduction of manufactories. The State funds directly available for school purposes will keep the schools open but about three months in the year, and this has not been supplemented hitherto by local taxation in Columbia Soma of the progressive men of the city three years ago agitated the subject, and the Legislature granted Columbia the power to levy local tax, with the permission of its taxpayers. Some of the people here, however, do not regard ''public schools" with much respect as New England does They believe the ''public school" means school for the colored people, and the whites will send their children to private schools whether there are free schools or not Hence there was much opposition, both silent and outspoken, and the proposition was voted down at the meeting for two years This year, however, by free discussion in the papers, and by the support of some infuen- tial men who had voted against the tax be- fore-among them the Mayor of the city there was large attendance at the meeting and a tax of one mill was ordered by ma iority of three to one. This, then. will be the beginning of regular public school sys- tenn to last through the most of the year. There is not much doubt but that the people will avail themselves of it. The South Caro- lima college. appropriated for the colored people after the war and run into the ground, has been revived. Last year there were
 fifty students; this year there are nearly two hundred and full faculty. The Theologi- cal seminary too, which was closed for two years for want of funds, has opened again this year. Columbia, therefore, is about to furnish increased advantages for education in all grades.
 But it would be presumption for me to write farther. Let me simply say that Co Iumbias canal on the Congaree, so much talked about here for the last dozen years, is really being opened at the State's expense, and in three years. when it's completion (in- oIuding the dam) is promised. it is hoped that cotton mills will speedily line it's banks Indeed believe one northern firm has all ready consulted about the matter Colum- bias hospitable people will, I am sure, re- ceive anyone who will come among them with welcome. Will it not be better, indeed, instead of thinking of one sad anniversary February l7th-to think rather of another February 22d-and be filled with the patrio Washington2 ".