The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-06-24
For the TINES.
A Sketch Of Lockhsrt Shoals.

LOWoil VI tue oeutu, your sCrloc nus uoeHiCu
it a duty to furnish an imperfect description
of it, thinking perhaps it would interest
some of the rea iers of the "TIMEs." These
Shoals on the eastern eide Of the river are
loca ed in the northwestern part Of Chester
County, eighteen miles northwest of Chester
vi lage, and fourteen miles south Of Sharon,
s alton on the "Three Cs" Railroad. The
Shoals on the western side of the river are
in Union County, fourteen miles northeast Of
the town of Union.
In giving the natural formation Of the
Shoals l cannot 20 better, perhaps, than
repeat what has already been said by Civil
Engineers who have examined the Shoals.
Lockhart Shoa's is formed by the intru-
sion Of two trap dykes, 500 yards apart,
causing the bed af the river to be field OF
Jagged rock, much resembling tho crater Of
an Old volcano. On tho west shore the
ground i, very hilly, AMI there is much
magnetic attraction. The eastern shore i'
Irregular, and wiiens from 800 to 700 yards
Above tho Shoa's the river contracts to
200 yards, and forms the eddy which is
,495 feet lorg, and 20 to 20 feot deep. The
western shore is there level, and the hills
recede 800 yards from the river, and gradu-
ally return to it above tho Shoal. Farrar's
mill is on the west, aud 0Sborne's mill on
| the east side of The Shoals. The total length
| Of Lockhart Shoals is l.4l miles, the fall is
| 47.6G feet or 1913 feet to mile. The
| height above the sea determined by a barom-
| eter, differs FROM that determined by u
preliminary railroad survey from Chester to
Union, by 2.Sl feet
| Those Shoals took their name from
| family of Lockhar,s, who lived on the east
side Of the river. Why this name should be
given them is no. known, as the property
| which was owned by the Lockharts was in
| the possession of other parties previous to its
ownership by them.
| The scenery in and around those Shoals
on both sides of the river is grand and sub
timely beautiful, which, when viewed from a
| boat in tho eddy situated between Upper
and Lower Lockhart Shoals; inspires one
with feeling of awe. Near the foot Of the
| Lower Shoals on tho cast side of the river
| is situlted circular "lndian Mound"
| which is about 100 feet in dlmater at the
| base and so or 60 feet in diamater Gt the
apex and 80 or 40 fest in height. a few years
ago the late DR.. W. NJ. McClllum, made
excavations into the side of this mound AMI
obtained human teeth, and also dog teeth :,
| in an almost perfect state Of preservation,
aud also n small amount of"wsmpum," The
| land on both sides of the river at these
Shoals is Strewn with broken pottery and
arrow heads; some Of these AFRO owheads are
very perfect specimens of Indian skill and
| ingenuity. Tratiiion says that the Indians
| from many miles of the surrounding country
collected at this mound at the proper season
| If the year and hold their "groen corn
dance Possibly ut these carousals the
Indian hunter made love to the dusky
black-eyed maiden. This doubtless was prior
to the lauding Of Columbus at San Salvador.
They also camo here for the purpose of fish
ing. often ca ching fish in immense numbers
| Even at the present time this is great
4, ~ m w isl fo in "a
fishing sport. In spring large numbers, not
Indians, however, gather here, and for two
or three days enjoy an encampment~
| This place is also Of historical interest,
| although its history is yet unwrittep, but,
like Homer's :I'iad" will for the fist two
or throe hundred yenrs of is existence, bo
carried down from one generation to another,
| father relating it to sOa aud son to grand
son. As have it, tho british during<the
American Revolution wore acoustomeqSf9
grind their gr,iu for supplieseat Eif8 hiiftf{ f{s{
the east side ofthe river, ,ehwhpseosps Tss
true 10 The cause of hesSolopists 1Sfiss6f
b was as. 2 psipiitsk ls,fsiSslfI
"driyxA hpa Shil| " iiiilsssA #
.hi eSsasae s&g H EfaEss Sses' SssSg q sIe
| fnai resort, hsnGiog, h,m up by the, ,thupaSss
ttIi. iron 10 The Bsi,i ss and lhs mill was
agslp putiatoSa tiys.i,ss e.
SiSssss : AS IA ssiSstfA AdftRisd' SITE.
Il Iasiiy ilSS' We scome & Consider the Shoals as
lsattmanlfacluring sat site. The only reason that
,Ethefwater power at this place has never been
utilized for manufacturing purposes, is the
want Of tran sportaion. Several efforts have
been made within the last few years TO OBJ
| tain Railroad communications, all of which
waro futile. This scribe has been told by
those who were conversant with the facts,
that the Senators from Chester, York and
Union always bitterly opposed any scheme,
which would give Lockhart Shoals Railroad
Communications. This il is said is a matter
of record in Columbia. There is o RAILROAD
scheme on hand at the present time, known
Us The Cape Fear and Cincinnati Railway
Company, which proposes to bnid road
having as objective points, Southport on tn,
North Carolina Coast. aud Cinoinnati, Ohio
This would give the people on the east side
| Of the river direct railroad communications
as the county of Chester has subscribed
bends to The amount of 100000, and it is
stipulated i'm tho bonds that the railroad
whom built is to run 10 or within one hall
, mile of Lockhart Shoals. II is said by per-
sons VINO are in position to know, that this
road will certainly be built A great deal OF
! INC TOuc nus DceIl lOcateu ny tnelt
Engineers, yet they are slow TO commence
the work Of grading.
The scheme which promises to give the
earliest communication, is the one which
was gotten up recently by the tircless energy
and perseverance Of the Messrs. Farrars, of
Union. This road, when built, will be q
short liue, having for it's objective points
Lockhart ShoIls AMI Jonesville, on the II
and ID. II. II. system.
NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
Now, as 10 the natural advantages. Tht
undeveloped horse power at these Shoals il
simply immense. 1t is sajd, and has been
written by every engineer that has examined
these Shoals, that the advantages of this
place asa manufacturing site is second to
none in the United States, in the sense that
greater power can here be developed, at lcss
cost than at any other manufacturing site
examined by them. Concerning this, Mr.
Geo. j. Ladshaw of Spartanburg, an Engi-
nser OF established reputation, says it is sell
| dam snch n watar c;viiaoo x;oto x,h;,l