The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-25
THE TOWN OF ABBEvILLE pRosPERs.
While GrumbIers and Ma%lcontents
May Say the Town is Tagging Re-
hind, the Real Condition is Graft
fSinc.

We think this town has had enough talk
about its being a dead town. While nc citi-
zen has amasscd a great fortune, yet. as q rule,
each and all Of our citizens are doing well,
and, in tie aggregate, the growth OF the town
is actual and permanent. To uiSprove the
idea that we are goin- to the bad it would be
only necessary TO mention a few facts in con-
nection with tins prosperous people who live
in peace with all mankind.
There never was a more homogeneous peO-
pie. and there never was less arrangement
between neighbors than there is between the
people Of Abbeville. They live as %neighbors
and friends, who, will an exceeding few en-
ccptionS, consider the good of the own as OF
the first Importance. They patroniZ9 each
other in their different trades and professions,
and. as a rule, each is glad to see his neighbor
prosper.
While other towns have been prospecting
and proudly advertising their growth 10 the
world, Ahbevillc in her modcsty, and in her
unpretentious spirit, has boosted OF nothing.
but has kept on in the even tenor of her way,
and has, we presume, since the war. built q
greater number Of firSt-class houses than any
other town of its population in the up-coun-
In 1850 we had many rich men here. In 1885
we nave almost no rich men. In 1885 we have
at least four times as many comfortable
dwelling houses as we had in 1861. Nearly
every family is the owner OF q homestead TO-
day, while the great mass of the people had
no homes in 1850. In 1860 we had only three
churches in town. In 1885 we have eight, and
all are paid for. In1S60 we had not more than
a dozen good store rooms: Now we have for
tn brick store rooms and two wooden store
rOoms-all of which have been built since the
war, except eight. In 1885 several individual
houses have as much business as did the ag-
gregate Of all the mercantile houses of the
town in 1860.
Our store rooms with two exceptions are all
two.story..brick buildings, and for comfortand
style are not eXcelled In any country town
in the South. Our merchants are solid and
go, act n ~ Hal l,t1cj ~ nCC lS.nn n c 1 G 0SsQ NV I'M
fact that we have had perhaps q smaller per
cent. of failures since the war in this town
than in any other town IN the State. Our
merchants are reliable and fair in their deal
ings. They are men of commercial eXper-
fence and Of the highest integrity, and whose
Judgment of goods IL not surpassed. Their
stocks are carefully selected. and the very
best quality, of goods can be had Of them.
Our churches, for style, beauty and comfort,
will compare most favorably with the church
es of any town in the State.
Our hotei is the largest and most elegant
establishment of the kind to be found in the
possible, and to the entire satisfaction OF the
travelling public.
We have more elegant private residences
adoppe anS BY ' eronn St VI, whi s1se are en the 'p prst,i Hss
in the State. We have more white
lead on our houses. and more ornamental
trees and rare plants in our gardens than can
be found in the gardens of any town In the
South.
Abbeville is making no step backward, but
her citizens are hopeful for q bright future,
and to show the earnestnesS and SteadfhSt.
ness with which they are determined to stand
by the old town forever, we would say that
no man who has ever become identified with
her has sought q home elsewhere, There is
not to-day one vacant dwelling house in the
town. All Of our citizens are buying lots and
building houses as fast as their means viii
allow. AS proof OF these facts we would
mention some Of the improvements and the
buildings which have been erected within
the last three years, and which are now un'
der contract for completion, as follows: