, 1889-03-06
FRIDAYS FERRY.
1T IS NOW KNOWN, HOWEVER,, AS
COLUMBIA, S. C.


ltFNNAAA SOfEcNIOh1tuCt-l
New YORK, Feb. 21.-It was in 170S
that a certain John Stevens published, i'm
his collections of travels, "a New Voy-
age to Carolina, with n Journal of One
Thousand Miles Island" This quaint
narrative. issued the following year in
separate form, was the personal eNpe-
iience Of John lawson, surveyor general
Of North Carolina. among the Indian
nations of that province and adjacent
territory. In 1712 he was captured and
killed by n predatory band of these first
settlers. When he visited South Caro-
lima. in 1900. there were probably three
thousand aboTigines within its colonial
boundaries. They consisted of Chero-
KEGS. Catawbas. Uchees and Creeks or
MuscOgees, the latter being divided into
twenty minor tribes. Lawson found the
Congarees on a river of that name. Their
own of n dozen huts was in possession
of the squaws. Only one man was to be
seen, and the women were occupied in
gambling. Near this primitive and un-
inviting settlement was afterward estab-
lished Fridays ferry and in 1885. on
the 22d day of March, the Legislature of
South Carolina passed two important
'hStHs ~ NOV IA w a iOtRl
Fridays ferry on the Congaree to the
town of Augusta, on the Savannah river;
and h second was to establish the seat
of state government at Fridays ferry. to
lay out n town there and to call it Co
lumbia. -
Today this town Qong a city, has a
population almost double that accounted
by the census of 1880, when a total of
10.036 was returned. Since the terrible
night conflagration of Feb. II, 1865,
when over fourteen hundred buildings
were destroyed. Columbia has put on
many architectural graces. Its site, a
beautiful one, about $50 feet above sea
level, was originally timbered with giant
pines, oaks and hickories. Col. Thomas
Taylor was first owner of the lands. His
descendants still reside upon them. The
town was laid out in 1887. 1t is ON a
granite promontory, 200 feet above the
east bank of the Congaree at its juno
ton with the Broad and Saluda rivers.
What are known as the Great falls of
the Congaree begin at the upper end of
the town, and within less than three
miles descend thirty six feet, in an ex-
tremo river width of one-third of n mile.
Thc.city is two miles square, with rec
tangular streets, lined with fine shade
trees. Richardson street Commonly
called hlain) is $50 feet wide, its road
way m~acadamized and sidewalks neatly
paved. -
Columbia is not only the capital Of
South Carolina. but also the county seat
of Hichland. Its natural advantages are
unquestioned. That it has of recent
years become the winter residence of
opulent N%ortherners, whose modern
villas dot its suburbs, is ample testimony
of the locality's healthfulness. An I'M
ceasing supply of spring water, that is
sues from a valley between town and
river, is raised by steam pumps 100 feet
at the rate of n million gallons per day.
The city drainage is good, and, with n
porous soil, an equable temperature, two
daily newspapers, electric lights, three
first class hotels, ard only ten cents ON
nibus charge to and from the union depot
(for n traveller and his gripsack), there is
no doubt that Columbia will have n IA
diant future, whether Engineer Holly's
wonderful canal be completed mex year
or n few months subsequent thereto.
When l asked about that canal n spry
NeuiiS NAbiI0i IHc oNft W LINZ Il
look at it. This is the history and pros
pect in brief: Seventy years ago the
state of South Carolina dug n waterway
from the Broad river, aboveG Columbia,
to n point five miles distant, on the SAT
from tinted Congaree, below the city.
The two rivers were thus connected by n
channe along the western edge of the
town, and for very many years this canal
was used for purposes of navigation.
The work of charging it SO it could be
made available as a factory water power
vas begun in 1882, and in five years
nearly $4,000 were expended upon it.
Then, half completed, it was ceded to the
city; $500. 900 of 6 per cent. thirty years
bonds have been thrown upon the
market.
Five trustees, appointed by munich
pal authority, hold title to the canal,
and are vigorously striving to secure a
mill driving capacity equal to 5000
horse power. During the past ten years
local manufactures have shown n five
fold increase. AS early as 1902 there was
a cottonseed oil mill, a ropewalk and a
profitable vineyard at Columbia. In
1880 there were fifty-two mechanical and
manufacturing industries enumerated
with an annual product of $3.50, 900.
The city has now two of the largest cot
tonseed oil mills in the south. There are
many f%oundries,.a hosiery factory, an
ice factory, a large cotton comsress, a
shoe factory, a canning establishment,
two extensive cotton mills In course of
erection, railway and machine shops and
several flour and grist mills. The quar-
rying industries are on a large scale.
-
In its railway facilities Columbia re-
sembles Atlanta. There are four main
lines which center at the union depot,
with numerous day and night trains,
east, west. north or south. The passen-
ger and freight stations present lively
scenes at hours of arrival and departure.
A city street railway has several miles of
track and is well latroaized. There are
two national banks leach having IA cred
liable surplus fund.- and three money in
stitutions of smaller capital. The de
posits, in all, reach a million dollars.
Tax rates on real and personal property
are low. The city debt is easily handled