The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-03
Portman Letter.

Ii paper, time and patience wero as
pientiiul this week as water, what vol.
uthes we could write; but it is wise
providence that knows where tn draw TIE
line. Who would torture his brain with
tho babble Of cur tongue and the scribble
Of our pom? The Creator knows
VIII re patience ended, and where ind,g-
nation had began. The volume OF water
fell, and the tongue WAS silent. and the
pouring Of the river still thnn.!ers Gil ant;
we hardly dare wriIe about it lest touching
at all upon tho subject we may not know
where or when to stop.
Perhaps 1t is news to the County hat
the workmen on the present construc-
ton OF the dam, never, during their en-
Ragement, saw Tho river so high or bois-
terous as 1t was during this last heavy
rain On the morning. of the 10Th inst.
there WAS atumultuous, heavy, overbear-
Ing, overlooking flood that asked no con-
diions Of any man to show itself su-
psrb. high vaulting. hydrostatic engine
that could push half the world before 1t,
! or bore q hole through To China. Trees.
| and broken boats, and the debris of miles
hurried along on its current, pitching
over the embankment, or cautiously find
Ing come hiding place In the banks whore
they could remain until low water, when
they might como ou. at their pleasure, or
In the veruacular-stick.
The heavy tide was at tirst red sandy a
powerful stream carrying along tons of
tha adjacent soil which 1t bore from the
accu mutation OF creeks ard streams
which had washed the farme, and unter-
raced red hills. The following day when
tho work Of distant streams had cut into
tho hills, plowing into their deep clay,
the estream was g Giugy thick brown,
and more sullen and powerful in it's as
pec. Alter three days there was sub.
sidtncc of volume. Up to the present
there is no controlling the dam. The
Seneca owns all it touches. Tho work.
men have been able to do little building
around the approaches. Practically 1t
has been week of enforced 81 olime OBJ
servation; but the men perhaps need this
rest Faithful labor needs conscientious
rest. The power house also has been
rendezvous of relaxing wheels; the high
lido interfering with their science CT hy-
draulio pressure.
THE INTELLraENCER readers will OBJ
serve how well the correspondent under
stauds the power Of o besetting sin. The
correspondent knew that to touch this
river was to clutch 1t with both hands,
and carry 1t over pages Of otherwise IRE.
proschable paper.
Well, we referred to sunshine and now
1t ia rain, and the elements are becoming
pretty we'll blended. Giving the prefer
ence to sunnhine, though, the skiileA
w0rkmeD Of color on the Portman Shoals
dam would be the happier for long sum-
mer day Or tho lazy spring. Speaking 70
tho inspector OF the works MOI long ago,
an intuitive son OF Ham said: SNOW,
they deaf needn't be too p'rtiolar roun'
here Wild dere hans; We dom take muffin
OF nobody soon. Der sun jes gwine ter
shine pretty on de farm an de birds
Ringln' Sweet Marle.", This ia euffioient
for the farmer who has hired good
African hand; fll his lungs with the lazy
sunshine aud his ears with the twitter of
birds, o soft mound Of earth to recline
upon a. midday, and hoe or plow ham
die for his staff OF life. and no "sk!iieii
workmanship" will call him into the
envisd region Of quarries and iron hoist
inge. The African Ia usually son of
toll rather than q scion of dexterity.
| Our postoffice regulations have been
subject to interference. The high tide
obliterating the location Of bridges, Port
man mail did not reach or arrive from
Anderson within four days; but once
more we are In communication with the
| W,rld.
Mr.. N. 0. Farmer, postmaster OF
Broyles. and his SOD, Mr.. Henry Farmer.
paid Visit to the dam end surroundings
this week-not the least of the surround
irgs being comrsde w. f. Lee, VITO, with
Mr. Farmer as Lieutenant of Co. d, Gist
Rifles, Hampton Legion. Mr.. John b.
Ki"g, Of Piedmont, also visited Purtman,
being the guest or Mr.. Lee.
| Those OF our farmers here who are not
too busy for news, are too tired Of wet
weather or their wives are too sick with
| the CRIME. r. RI