The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-20
EARTHQUAKE BONDS.
THE "KEowEE COURIER" FAvoRs AN
EXTRA SESSION AND FALLS INTO
ERRORS OF FACTS.
CharlestOn's MisfOrtunes Recited..-
Fire, waE Cyclone, Earthquakes
These Four. s.--.. -
heo,Uee 'Cutirier.

Heo,Dee Courier. 80
The press Of the State has In most cases f1-
dicated lis opinion In reference to affOrding
relief for rebuilding Charleston. A majority
of the papers are opposed TO an extrs, session
OF the Legislature for this purpose, and Gov.
Sheppard Is reported as saying that no. organ
lied effort In Charleston or elsewhere hds
been made To induce him to convene the Leg.
isaturc for the purposes Indicated, and 1t
Seems probable that he will not act unless he
Is satisfied the people of the State desire him
to do 30. -..- $500.
There is abundant evidence to show thst
tho destruction Of the property OF the people
Of Charleston by the earthquake ts an extra.
ordinary occasion which would warrant the
the purpose of considering the propriety OF
granting relief 10 the unfortunate people Of
thatclty. ..f
In 1888 a destructive fire consumed a large
oe the people % ''e OF Charleston. W The Governor
thereupon convened The Legislature In extra
session, and, on the first day Of June In that
year, authorized and granted a loan OF two
| million Of dollars, which, when realized, was
loaned to the people Of that city for rebuild.
ing the same Every dollar Of this large sum
was repaid by the borrowers, and the people
af the State did not lose anything by their
generous guarantee.
In 1851 Charleston was agair, visited by
most destructive fire. but war was raging HI
the time and the great loss scarcely attracted
attention. The war over desolation was to be
seen on oil sides in the devoted city. Then
years of Radical rule-intinitcly worse than
fire and war-followed with the usual disas-
tr0uS results.
In the midst of those misfortunes much OF
the trade and commerce Of the CITY was di-
yerted In to other channels. With the politi-
cal SUCCESS of 1876 hope returned and the pe0-
pie went to work heroically to rebuild the
waste places. The manufacture OF phos-
pilates and the truck business, with the trs.de
and commerce retained, inspired the people
OF Charleston with the hope that their former
greatness and prestige might be restorei. In
all this they have merited the well done OF
the people OF the State.
In 1855 disastrous cyclone destroyed a MIL
tlon dollars worth Of properly; and now the
terrible earthquake has destroyed s. 100000 of
property, excluding the great relief afforded
| by The generous pc ople Of the whole country.
| This Is the condition Of Charleston to-day.
It Is our chief city and has paid annually
about one-hfh OF the taxes OF the State. She
not only does this, bat pays the interest on
several millions OF her public debt promptly
and largo tax to maintain her city govern
ment ".....
Charleston cannot recupcrate for many
years, II at all, without help. We cannot
afford to see the metropolis OF the State strug-
Cling hupclessly against fate. Let her have
reasonable aid When she rebuilds she can
repay. The credit and honor OF the old city,
! ;an1Ir al her adverse circumstances, have
% OF Glilod her In the past; nelthQr d. We bes
lieve that they will III the lu.ure,