The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-12
If Proper Encouragement Is Extended the Wis
itation Will Prove Benefit by Starting
Charleston on the Road to Prosperity.
The Gty's Poorly Constructed Buildings
and Its Apathetic Inhabitants.
A Town Where Old Age and Chronic Dilapi-
dation Are Considered of More Value than
Things That Are Bright and Modern.
A WEEKS OBSERVATIONS.
The City's Dilapidated Buildings-An In
dOlent and Apathetic People.

dOlent and Apathetic People
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE Journal CORE
spondent has just returned from Charleston, S.
c., the seat of the earthquake excitement
arrived there in the midst of the apprehension,
when the scenes of horror were the most ap-
pallng, and never spent more miserable week
anywhere. The suspense the fear. the horror
at Charleston during the forty eight hours i'm
mediately following the bombardment of Fort
Sumter at the Inauguration of the late civil
war did not reach the height of that entertained
on Wednesday and Thursday of last week In
deed, the trepidation continued till Monday
last and it will be some weeks before people
can sleep we'll and confidence will return.
There is npalling feature about these earth
quakes which seems to have passed the compre-
hension of the people at distance, and which
1t is difficult to appreciate without feeling 1t is
the sudde~' of the approach of the earth
quake, its or, and the absence of any indi-
cation wi the thing is over--or rather under
that makes it awful. That bravery which
leads man to rush to rescue in water or
Are; that prompts him to strike down an enemy
and assert physical manhood does not apply to
the panics in earthquakes. Strong men become
as weak women or children.
IF Charleston is given proper encouragement
she will benefit by this visitation, so far as busi
ness and all that goes to make a successful city
is concerned. It will result in putting some new
buildings in there, and that is one of the great
est needs of the city There Was not more di-
lapidated city in the United States than Charles
ton before the calamity of Aug. 81 came The
buildings were not only OLD in architecture, but
they had long been built. They were tottering
from age, and were ready to fall at the slightest
indication. When finally they did topple they
were perfect mass of sand and lime There
was no mortar in the debris. It appears that
the buildings were constructed before our pres
ent knowledge of brick and stone masonry was
discovered. Such a thing hair in the lime
and sand--an important ingredient to mortar
was not known I am told that in the middle
of the last century, when many of these struct-
ures were put up plaster was made of
pulveriZed shells and lime which took the place
of mortar, and that it was sometimes superior
to the mortar Of the present day.
An old builder at Charleston, speaking of the
character of the buildings there. said
1.-THE work was we'll done. on the whole. a
century and half ago. What has made these
buildings weak and made them fall so wildly is
age The cyclone year ago loosened the walls
in many places. and this Jar, these constant re-
curing shocks, have done the work Of demoli-
tion It is the most difficult thing in the world,
however, to have good work put in buildings
here. The great majority of it is done by coll
ored men who lay no claims TO any special ability
as mechanics. Why three-fourths of the sand
used in the construction of buildings here dur.
ing the past fifty years was secured by digging
holes in the ground at the points where the work
was done. The soil here is very sandy as you
will see, but by this indifference almost as much
mud as sand has gone into the lime for mortar.
Besides, when you put the average holman
here to work at mortar he is just as apt to put
twice as much lime in as he should use as he is
to put in too much mud and sand. The material
used has been and is now very inferior"
member of the relief committee said this
about rebuilding the city:
II don't think Charleston will ever recover
from this calamity. Her business has been kept
up by the cotton and rice trades Those have
for years been shifting to other Cities and we
have not held our own. The great bulk of the
loss by the destruction of buildings falls upon
an arstocrisy which has been sustained more by
pride than wealth. 1t owns these blocks of
business houses, which are its only support. 1t
has no other means, and cannot rebuild Pride,
family pride will not permit the transfer to per-
sons who have the means to rebuild, and, unless
assistance comes from the outside, the lots where
the wrecks of business houses stand now must
be vacant when the debris is taken away.
Charleston has less real wealth than any city Of
it's size in the country. You will observe that,
the bank deposits not heavy, and short time
sales are the rule. Business property does not
pay good rents and residence properties are a
hindrance If you do not occupy them yourself"
/ especially impressed with the supreme
quietude at Charleston. In times of excitement
Ia Northern cities, the streets are flied by day
and by night. In Charleston, in the day time
one will not meet half-dozen persons in
block, in travelling the business portion of the
city, and will frequently walk two squares in
the residence portion of the city without en-
countering a solitary pedestrian. During the
most exciting nights | was there / would walk
squares and squares in going to and from the
telegraph Offices and not see dozen people NOV
ing. There were many in the streets, but they
had canped out for the night. All of the resi-
dences have the odfashioned roomy piazzas
running around each story, aud the members of
the families not actually employed spend their
time in the siesta the salt breezes produce when
one reclines thus in the shade There is very
little pushing work in Charleston at any time.
The very air is enervating TO the Northern man,
and the native has inherited an inclination to
take the world easy, and this be cultivates.
There is profoundness about the apprecia-
tion of the people of Charleston of what the
North is doing for them that remunerates one
for what he gives. The natives look North now
for assistance just as the little boy turns to his
maternal ancestor for advice in the hour OF
trouble There vet in the city some of the
men who helped TO lombard Fort Sumter and in
augurate the very initial blow given TO the govern
ment; and what is more. they speak of il with
pride to this day. AT this moment however,
they speak of the government at Washington"
as ''our government and as earnestly anticipate
assistance as the child could hone for aid from u
fond father. The magnauimous treatment tho
North is extending to those people will solder
their patriotism TO the old flag. and weld them
firmly to the Constitution. 1t is not timely
occasion to make the remark, but
it may be said that whatever
Charleston lacked of reconstruction ten days ago
she has now, and IN such abundance that sha
can give to others A people with larger hearts.