The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-17

stitutions-H Handsome Pirate Residences s.
Social Gossip Journalists Miscellaneous
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocated
AUGUSTA, GA, January II, 1885.
A multiplicity of pressing duties has prevented
the earlier fulillment of my promise to write the
ADVOCATE a letter from this most charming of
Southern cities. Augusta is situated on the right
bank of the Savannah river about $50 miles from its
mouth. 1t is the county seat of Richmond county.
next to Savannah Founded in 1885, it has been
from colonial times an important trade centre and
of the most progressive and enterprising places
in the South. In the early days of the colony twas
the seat of government and was them as now, noted
for the refinement and culture of its people and its
profuse and lavish hospitality. AS far back
dictionary times it had fourishing trade with the
river towns which it retains to this day. Its in
crease in wealth and population has been almost
phenomenal. In dHe-beltna days it drove thriving
trade in the heecy staple, and had even then en-
barked in manufacturing, the Augusta cotton fac
tory having been established in 1877, with capital
of $4,000, since increased to $4,000 out of the
legitimate profits of the concern In 1860 Augusta
had population of little over 1900. The war re-
tarded its growth somewhat, and the u s. census of
1870 gave it only Is 400 inhabitants but in 1880 the
population had increased to nearly 600, and in
the year of redemption-1SS5-a careful and very
accurate enumeration of the inhabitants gives i'll
round numbers, astonishing total of $4,000 If it
is asked What has caused this rapid growth? an
swer manufactures. There are sc manufactures
here, employing $500 hands and S5G00000 capital;
wages paid 81 152 000-an increase since 1880 of 125
per cent in capital and 100 per cent in wages
The wholesale business is put down at S21 0O0,0 600
per annum and the trade of the city at over S27 Co.,
000 Cotton receipts 10000 bales yearly, and the
banking business amounts to 500 100000 annually.
The debt of the city is but S2O000O with assets Of
81 10000. City bonds Is per cent? are quoted at
S10710S The chief factors in our business develop
ment the cotton mills of which there are eleven,
viz: the Augusta Enterprise, Sibley, John P. King,
Riverside Globe Sterling, Shamrock, Summerville,
Richmond and Algernon, with $5375,000 capital.
There are two ice factories here two foundries a
tobacco factory and number of smaller establish
ments
is furnished by canal ~ miles long, IL feet deep
and $50 feet wide "A 600 horse power, costing nearly
one and a-half million dollars. The handsomest of
all the mills is the Sbey, which is on the right bank
of the canal but few hundred feet from the river.
This mill is erected the site of the famous powder
works of the Confederacy, and is a prominent fea-
ture of the beautiful country through which the
canal winds its peaceful way.
The city water works. which have been recently
enlarged Cat cost of $50000) to meet the demands
of growing city, are located on the canal, just
cotton mill of Augusta Clarks four mill is be-
tween the water works and the factory.
" Wsncee and ann1sy mills IN Sonb
Carolina few miles from this city. Mr.. y c. Sib-
ley, of Augusta, is president of the LAT Sey mill,
and all three are largely controlled by Augusta
capital.
Augusta is great railroad centre and is very CEN
from which all trains start The roads entering here
are the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta, South
Carolina Georgia, Central Port Royal and Augusta,
Augusta and Knoxville, and several branch roads.
These, with the Augusta Gibson and Sandersville
K. r., now in course of construction, make nine
from Charleston, 132 from Savannah 127 from Ma
con, III from Atlanta 112 from Port Royal los from
Beaufort So from Columbia &C., and 1856 from Char
lotte, N. c.; from Baltimore, 636 miles
Augusta is one of the cleanest, best laid-out and
most beautiful cities in the Union well of
the healthiest The streets. are wide straight and
well-shaded with magnificent live oak elm and
magnolia trees Broad street is $50 feet from curb
to curb, and over three miles long The central
fOffb ic
while the upper and lower ends are lined with
handsome residences, and an arch of oak and mag
nolia trees extends down the middle of the street.
Stately trees adorn both sidewalks; thus there are
four rows of trees, forming a dense shade in the
spring and summer, and adding very much to the
beauty of the city. All the hotels are on Broad
street. The principal ones the Planters kept by
Gen. Smedes, Western man; the Globe of which
B. f. Brown is proprietor; the Central conducted by
Mrs. Thomas, a most estimable and popular lady;
and the Augusta, one of the best managed and most
home-like hotels in this section, conducted by
Messrs Lewis & Doolittle. The Central is rather
famous hosiery. Before the war it was known as
the United States Hotel During the war the pro-
prietor Mr. Thomas, who ardent secessionist,
changed the name to the Southern States Hotel and
after the his widow, who still conducts the es
adjustment changed the name to the Central which
is very appropriate account of its central and ae
eessible location The Central was always the favor
Robert Toombs and the immortal Alex II. Stephens.
1t here that first met and conversed with the
former of these great men, who is still living at
green old age honored loved, aye, reuered for his
many noble qualities of mind and heart and greatly
endeared to the people of this Congressional district
which he SO ably and fearlessly represented for
MANY years in the councils of the nation. No man
has been more grossly slandered and maligned than
Robert Toombs, and to-day there lives not in this
broad land warmer-hearted more generous, noble
minded man. His name and fame will survive
long after his detractors are forgotten. Though to-
tally different in every respect Stephens and Toombs
were lifelong friends and the people ofths district
justly proud OF their two great representatives
Georgia has been prolific of great men, but it is safe
to say that district i'll the State was ever more
ably represented than the Sth Congressional, of
which Augusta is the chief city 1t was my fortune
to meet Mr. stephens two separate occasions; and
also to have some correspondence with him. twill
be pleasure to my dying day to recall the Kindness
and courtesy with which he treated me, and have
been at loss since to account for the wonder
full hold he had upon men. 1t seemed to me that
nobody could come in contact with Alexander H.
Stephens without becoming better man. He was
the very soul of ruth-the personcution of all that
was noble and good in man.
In front of the Central Hotel in the centre of Broad
street. stands the finest monument south of Balti
more, erected by the Ladies Memorial Association
of Augusta to the memory of the Confederate dead
It is of Italian marble u feet i'll height and was
erected by1Mr Theo Makrwalter of this city The
monument is enclosed by neat iron railing. About
10 feet from the base is a platform, on which are
four figures little larger than life-Gen. Robert E.
Lee StoneWall Jackson, Howell Cobb and Gen. VIM
H. Walker a gallant soldier of this city, who was
killed in June 1864, in one of the battles around
Atlanta Above this platform the monument tapers
gracefully to the top, which is surmounted by the
figure of Southern soldier on guard. The figure
bears u striking resemblance to Berry Benson,
wel-knoWn cotton broker of Augusta who was Sc
lected as d type of the Confederate soldier-certany
a high honor for a living man.
Greene street-so named after Gen, Nathaniel
Greene of revolutionary fame - is the prettest
i'll the city. The handsomest residences are To-
Gated on this street, which is a great promen-
ade 1t Is 160 feet in width and double row of
stately trees extends down the centre its entire
length. Most of the houses stand back from the
sidewalk, with large yards in front, filled with
choice flowers shrubbery fountains and beautiful
evergreens. At this writing japonicas are blooming
in the open air fruit trees and Towering plants are
budding the air is mild and balmy, and with the
thermometerup in the seventies finds it hard to
realize that it is winter and that in less favored
climes people are nursing coal fires and shivering
with the thermometer below zero. A walk under
the lindens' on Green street OH day like this is
treat to one who ertwhe shrivered at the icy basis
from the East river in New York. The bell tower,
at the corner of Greene and jackson streets is in
stitution of the city. IL is simply spiral stairway
leading to small room at the top, Y feet from the
ground in which two watchmen keep sharp look
out for fires ponderous bell, suspended within
easy reach, is rung by the Waterman on duty when
fire is cited and the fire laddies always prompt
to respond. This toweris relic of ane-bet,m times
which the citizens propose disseminating, and will
substitute the Geographic realarm service therefor
few squares below. on Green street in front of
St. James Methodist Church, is a handsome ceno-
taph monument of white marble, 80 feet in height,
erected by the Sunday School in memoriam of the
boys, in gray from Richmond county who gave
their lives for the lost cause Many of these heroes
were scholars of st. James.
The City Hall, fine brick structure, with white
marble columns anu eoStilg over t @ stas d
fronts Green street. Facing the City Hall is the
monument to the Georgia SgnerS OF the Declaration
of independence, granite structure 90 feet high,
pyramidal in shape, and inscribed in honor of the
three signers, Hall, Gwinnett and Walton.
On the corner of Greene and Mcintosh streets is
the Christian Church. an imposing brick structure
with steeple 100 feet high, and costing 100000
The church was the gift of Miss Telfair, wealthy
maiden lady.
The Catholic and Presbyterian Churches have
handsome editices on Tefar street, each occupying
with the grounds an entire square. The Presby
terrain church is attended by the de Ia of
the city, Ii is a stately structure of brown stone,
a grove of fine oaks in the middle of lovely park
Adjacent to the church is a neat and substantial
school building, in front of which is statue of
Rev DR.. Irvine the lamented pastor of the church.
When Dewitt Talmage here, few years ago.
he preached in this church to an immense audience
Talmage has uncle buried in Macon, and is con-
nected with the South by other ties of an enduring
nature. lie is very much liked here.
The Episcopal Church, of which Rev G.. c. Will
lams is rector is located at the corner of Reynolds
and Washington streets, and is the oldest i'll the
city The building is built of bricks brought from
England and stands on land decided i'll 1854 by Geo
III for that purpose. This church has the finest
choir in the CITY, In the graveyard attached to the
church lay the remains of the revered BiShop-Gen-
era Leonidas Polk, First Missionary Bishop of the
Southwest and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in the Armies
of the Confederate States killed Atlanta June
80 1864" as the beautiful tablet to his memory i'll
the church states.
Augusta has a churches and number of excel
asylum in the South. The City Park Tor May Park,
as it is called after our popular Mayor who has
filled the position seven times) is a lovely little
breathing spot of 1917 acres with fountains, lakes
gravelled walks, abundant shrubbery and choicest
flowers 1t has cost the city only $4,000, and is
the City Cemetery Capt. Bryan, the efficient super
intendent takes great pride in the adornment of