The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-08
Wednesday, Nov. 8. 1899.
Respectfully Submitted,

Respectfully Submitted.
Though dealing with Charleston in former
years." said the Abbeville Press and Banner
recently in one Of Its always interesting num-
bers, "our people we're forced to part with
some Of the stores on our public square, and q
Charleston f1Tm, in the same way, became the
owner % a.s Of sooaSre farm IN, near p.6 The city,
contains about two columns Of masters
Sales" There are nine of these advertise
ments announcing the sale Of about 5000 acres
OF land at Abbeville on Monday next under
foreclosure" proceedings. Five Of the plain
Lifts in the suits in which the orders for sale
were made live in the city Of Abbeville, We
beIieve-none Of them lives In Charleston.
The land to be sold is situated in Long Cane,
Lowndesville, Diamond Hill, Cedar Springs
and other townships, but we do not think II
would be quite the right thing for the people
residing in these townships TO close their bus
mess dealings with the merchants and manu-
facturers and newspapers Of the town Of Alb.
beville'' because about 5000 acres Of farming
day next at the instance of persons residing
in that enterprising city.
we wish our friend OF the Press and Ban
ner would tell us how 1t strikes him. III the
Abbeville merchants should quit dealing
with Charleston because "a Charleston firm
In the same way 10y force) became the owner
why should not the people of Abbeyile Coun.
ty Quit dealing with Abbeville because "by
force" somebody will become the owner OF q
4,7l0acre farm not great distance from Alb
oSNAi0 oa hCAc N&Ohooy 6-4NCmo aho SodA1C 1CA'
We have no desire to be disagreeable. and
we hoped not to refer to this matter again,
but we do not put the Masters Sales" as ad-
vertised last month, on the same footing with
the contracts of the Charleston merchant Ia.
In the cases Of the Abbeville foreclosures
there Is not q merchant among the number,
and many Of the plainti1s do not live at Alb.
beville. These sales are for money lent. by
private persons. or for the purchase money of
the property.
In the case Of the ATS acres, the sale WAS
made to recover property which was sold on
credit to speculating company, who pro-
posed to oolonize thrifty Germans to raise
beets on land that scientific, or practical ex-
pertinent, had proven was deficient in the
saccharine producing element The price
promised was excessive, but the money was
never paid.
In case OF the Charleston merchants they
sold in this county not only the houses and
lands referred to, but other large tracts OF
lands and other valuable houses in different
parts Of Abbeville county.
The debts In these cases were for merchap
disc and the liability accrued from the
Charleston plan Of requiring OF debtors the
shipment OF certain numbers Of bales OF cot
ton or the forfeiture Of q heavy penalty.
While the plan on its face seemed fair enough
yet we believe. with a single exception, 1t is
true, that all the Abbeville merchants who
did any considerable business in Charleston
on this plan were wrecked.
We have no record OF the stocks Of goods
that were sold and the stores that were closed
by Charleston whose owners had no land, but
Charleston owns large per cent. Of the stores
on our public square. Besides stores, other
real estate here is owned by Charleston,
which was either taken in payment OF debts
as above, or we're bought and paid for with
Confederate money.
No other city owns or holds any real prop.
erty here, although our merchants have dealt
much more largely with other cities.
= When IT. was proposed to build our cotton
4mill the city which held 80 much property
here refused to invest a cent, and we had to
60 to New England for aid-where we got lib
eral help.
The building Of the cotton mill presumably
added to the value of the Charleston proper
ty in Abbeville.
Before the dispensary law went into ef.
feet some Of 1t was occupied by bar rooms
and some Of IL. We believe, was vacant. Ev-
cry one Of these stores is now occupied.
As q rule the people OF Abbevile who have
dealt with Charleston are today financial
wrecks. 1t may be that they would have
gone to the wall anyhow, but the facts re-
main, and the evidences are here. II Charles.
ton had made 1t to the interest OF our people
to trade there, we presume that some OF their
customers would have survived, ana that we
would still be doing business In the good old
city by the sea.
We are glad to recognize any evidence of
kindness from our Charleston con ontemporary.
The people, as rule, would be loyal to both
Charleston and her great daily, II that great
daily would emily align itself with the people,
and show the least Difference to the popular
feeling. We are pleased to note that it is less
ill.humored in its headings than at one time
The people like good humored paper that is
fair-no matter what its bias or convictions.