The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-28
THE NEW ROAD OPENING UP A MAGNIF-
ICENT COUNTRY.

willie. Diamond Springs-.-A Love
Affair Of the 0lden Times---Benu.
tifuI Scenery, Etc.
Correspondence ofthe Savannah Ne'cS.
Before proceeding up the main trunk Of the
Augusta and Knoxville Railroad in the direc-
tlon OF Spartanburg, your correspondent &c
cided first to explore the line Of the savannah
Valley Road TO its present terminus, which is
IS miles from Mccormick, the initial point.
The writer left Mccormick on the night train
and went through to LowndesyiiIe ui, without
however, by daylight and made careful note
of all that was TO be seen.
When the road Is completed 1t will be turn
ed over to the Georgia Central. This Surrcn-
der is announced to take place about July l5,
when the trains are expected to reach Andcr-
son, the western terminus. The entire length
of the road is 5Sl@ miles Capt. ltaoul Is the
contractor, but it is well understood that the
Central Railroad will control majority or
the stock and is the virtual owner Of the prop
erty.
before inviting the reader to take d trip
with us over the line,
LowNDEsvILLE,
The present terminus, is entitled to special no
ticc. This is one of the ancient towns of Car
Olina, delightfully."- situated in fertile region
hickory, where gushing springs Of ice cold
water, purling streams, lofty hills and verdant
valleys arc ever chal llenglng the admiration
Of the visitor. 1t is the centre OF refined
helpless by the cruel fortunes OF war, and de-
privcd until now OF railroad and market facil-
iticS, has had n hard struggle for eX lstence.
Still they have held their own bravcly, and
with the opening up of the avenues Of COM
merce and daily communication with the
busy world, We trust will come renewed life
and energy, and u new departure in the road
The town was settled IN 1881, but had It's
charter renewed In 1S72. 1t contains three
handsome white churches, one school, one
carriage shop, six business places, three doc
tors (but no lawyer, and 2OJ Inhabitants.
DIAMOND SPRINGS,
seven miles west OF Lowndesvilie, was for
merly one Of the favorite resorts OF the nobteSse
OF tho Palmetto State. The hotel was erected
by Senator George McDufte and others,l and
hithcr the most ilustriOus disnttarics OF the
commonwealth were wont to congrcsate ev-
cry summer. The water was considered high
ly medicinal.
The new road passes through what was once
one of the most opulent and fertile districts of
tic State, but the greed for cotton and wretch
ed system Of culture pursued by the slave
Owners told fearlnlly upon the soil. Mucll OF
1t was greatly impoverished or allowed to
wash away. There still remains, however,
broad cxp;lnsCs Of virgin forest, and the larger
portion of the cleared land is susceptible OF
speedy renovation under the salutary system
OF hillside ditching tcrracing, rotation of
crops, liberal lcrtillzing and Intensive iarm-
ing"
MOUNT CARMEL
eighteen miles from LowndesvilIe, is u very
old place and has been fast asleep for fifty
years. The scream of the locomotive whistle,
however, has infused new life INTO The people,
and several new buildings in progress show
~ hay. itsn lIpr
tCrcStS. The town is noted for its health and
contains SIX stores, one church, one school
and one carriage shop.
EXrRAoRDINARY LONGEVITY.
Asan evidence of the salubrity of this re-
giun in an old burial ground in the vicinity
Of the village six pcrsuIS of the same family
are inferred whose ages range from ~ To J3
years.
II was in fur milcs of MI. Carmel, at Will
iugtnn; that the celebrated school OF that
q eat educator, President Waddcll, was l0c;lt-
ed Here the most iiluStriOuS sons OF the
South were trained for their fields uf usclul-
ness IN which they afterwards aclercd I'M
mortality. Scarce u restiSc OF the old school
house reInalliS.
AN INTERESTING REMINISCENCE.
The writer has the highest authority for the
truth of the following romantic INCIDENT in
the career Of the great and learned DR.. Wad-
dell. \ native OF Virginia, he resolved To
seek his fortunes farther South, and, mount
cd upOn Il truSiy strcd, started for Georgia.
tttcr several days of diigrnt travel lie found
himself at nightlull at the residence OF Mrs.
Calhoun, the mother Of the i'll uslrlous states.
man, and asked for recommendations tor hlni-
sell and horse: tic was met ut the door bT Il
lovely girl. To whom the request was made.
She replied, Il Will ask my mother, SIR
Instantly seeking the lady of the house she
said "MOthcr, you remember the dream last
night that related to you to-day, in which Il
traveller who Was to b. my
FUTURE HUSBAND
called nj the door describing him minutely)
and asked for Il nights lodging? That gentle
man is now 1T Inc gale ana DcSS 10 DC iccoll-
mudatcd.'
T'he result was that the handsome young
stranger was admitted, and madca most IA.
vO"abic impression upon both mother ana
daughter. Indeed ii WAS almost Il case OF love
ut first sight. The next day young Waudcll,
before taking his departure. asked the priVl-
lcge ol corresponding with Miss calhoun, but
WAS denied OH the ground nf tflcir brief ac-
upaintaucc. This brought forth ample letters
and testimonials from high sources In Virgin
in as To the character and good standing ol
the young man.
mir hero then proceeded on his Journey,
and %, ,curd school in Columbia county Ga.
He aitcrw;SdS visited his namurata paid his
addresses to her, was accepted, and To make a
long story short, they were mari led, and thus
it will be seen the first wife of Dr. Waudcll
was q sister of the great Carolina Senator.
Afterwards he removed TO Wellington, four
miles, as stated, from Mt. Carmel, and eStab-
iiShed that world renowned fame OF science
where such men as George McDuflc, Petit
grow, the immortal I.onSStreet, George w.
Crawford and other noted celebrities drank in
Spirati0n from his lips.
The Savannah Valley Railroad will prove
the open sesame to all this beautiful historic
region, which was the birthplace Of Calhoun
and The home of many Of the noblcSt sons OF
Carolina. IN effect 1t Is Il new country. ana
only needs to he properly known and adver-
tScd to bc appreciated. With the faciiiti lies of
transportation afforded by the Central Sys-
TEN, and ocean outlets easy of access, the fu-
ture Is certainly radiant with hope to this
long ucglcctrd portion Of our sister Stale