Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-06
THE NEEDS OF CHARLESTON.

From the New York world, OF september 3O
Capt. F. w. Dawson, the editor of the
Charleston Ne,cs and Courier, arrived in the
city last evening, and is stopping at the
New York Hotel.
II am in position to state from personal
knowledge" he said "and l think it is
time it was stated to the generous public,
which has come forward 80 promptly to
Charleston's aid that the money so far re-
ceived and now in sight-that is to say
which has been subscribed amounting, If
it is all paid in, to $3.50, 900 or $500, 900, will
suffice to render habitable tho houses of
those of our citizens who are absolutely
without means TO help themselves. refer
to laboring people, poor widows and the like
who owned little homes with mortgages up
on them, and who would be utterly without
resources to repair damages were it not for
timely assistance.
"Then you mean that no more help Is
needed?"
''No. Far from that. The double blow
which Charleston has received, first from
the cyclone and then from the earthquake,
is one that she cannot recover from unless
she receives other organized aid from out
side. If it can be arranged so that she can
borrow money at q fair rate of interest, say
four per cent-borrow, not in wildcat
way, mind you, but on perfectly good, sub
stantial security, which she can furnish
then we will be able to rebuild and in few
years be on our feet again. One thing more
is needed to put Charleston where it was
before the disaster. That is for the Govern
ment to aid us by promptly pushing for
ward the work of building jetties at our
harbor's mouth and thus giving us twenty
five feet of water in the channel. This
work, you understand, has already been
ordered, and all that we ask is that it be
hastened forward as fast as possible. 1t is
not that it will bring much money to
Charleston-for it will not-but it will give
US facilities for business which must greatly
benefit the city.
"You may say" added Capt. Dawson,
"that the contributions which have been
sent to Charleston have been received and
distributed in the same spirit IN "hlch tneN
were given" w.
'Has there been much indignation in
South Carolina over the Presidents failure
to express any sympathy"
II do not like to talk about that" replied
the Southern editor with feeling. II have
been very close to the President, and have
had high admiration and love for him. 1t
certainly seemed, considering the fearful
calamity which had befallen city, that the
proper thing for the President of the United
States to do was togo at once to Washington
and say to the suffering people: 4 am here
at the postof duty. What can do for you I"
We expected it, particularly from Dem:
ocratic President. Hisfailure to say word
caused not so much anger as disappoint-
ment and pain. We don't know what to
make of it. But it was not merely the
President who surprised us. There is Sen
ator Wade Hampton. He has been the
idol of Charleston. And Senator Butler,
also OF South Carolina. We have not heard
a word from either. Butler is in Europe,
but there is the cable. 1t would not have
cost so very much, either of money or labor,
for him to send us few words. No; we
don't know what to make Of it all. You
remember how Charleston came forward at
the time of Cleveland's marriage and sent
beautiful present to the bride. We have
always stood staunchly by him.
"a pleasant contrast was the energetic &C.
tion of<Adjt Gen. Drum, the acting secreta-
ry of war. The engineers he sent down
were of incalculable benefit, not only in de-
termining what buildings were unsafe, but
which ones, though they looked unsafe, were
not so. I tell you it was splendid work
those gentlemen did, and it did seem as if
they would work>themselves to death, SO
zealously wereMey prosecuting their task"