The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-18

Years ago, in the days before steam
transit came in to, reyolutionize civil.
cation. the road wagon was pivotal to
inland commerce. Especially in the
ses..h country, anii, more. particularly,
in the 'tobacoo-growipg regions of it..
Tobacco was sent away In hogsheads---
big, stoutly-hooped casks, packed with
from fifteen to twenty-five hundred
pounds. Every considerable tobacco
plantation had its pregs--known local
~ as prize-but wagons @"e-e none
go plenty.
They cost pretty penny oe iirst
outlay, and were bssides, costly TO
keep in repair. Oxcarts,, contrariwise,
witch answered admirably for farm
hauling, could be made by the planta-
tion carpenter-that is. except the
wheels, and &hey we're easily got from
the nearest wheelwright. So, when it
came to moving the crops, and bring
ing back equivalents in many man
ners Of merchandise, che road wagons
had things pretty much their own
way.
These same road wagons would
seem odd to us now. They had long,
high bodies, sloping up at either end,
and furnished ct top with q set Of
atout bows, TO which the cover of the
stonteat cotton cloth wss securely
fastened. There was feeding though
across the hinder end; Q water bucket
and tar bucket swung amicably cheek
by-bowl underneath the bed.
Five to ak horses drew o wagon
harnessed either two and two, orwith
two wheelers, and the three leaders
abreast. Some few teamsters Pot the
fifth horse out in the lead alone, hitoh-
ed to long, very stout chain. This
was termed "fifth chain" How
ever harnessed. the driver always rode
on the back Of the near wheeler, and
guided his team by single rein, run
ming to the bit Of the near leader, OF
the beast at the end Of the fifth chain.
There was always q wagonboy-to
scotch going uphill, when the team
stopped to breathe, OF else to lock the
wheels in progress downhill. He
walked OF rode in the front OF the
wagonbed at inclination or the whim
of the driver.
The driver himself walked some
times-in rising steep hill, or pull
ing across q mudhole that was very
bad. Every WAGNER worth the name
WAS, in his own way aE artist, delight
ing to keep his team in heart ami set:
tie, sleek and ne.pulling, however
deep the mud or mountainous the
road. TO have 6 team stall--that. ie,
be unable OF unwilling to pull its load,
no meter what the road-vas deep
disgrace, one that . true WAGNER
avoided at any cost. Il was the hills
and amudhoies tine. brought about
staliing hence the caution in getting
over them. Aristoorots among the
Wagoning fraternity bought bells for
their teams. They were il ssts Of
four, Ginning we'll together, and s#aSs
in metal frames, fitted to the tops Of
che vheelara' ha1naa issv,ihaeege: ::!..ss=ss
bell-team claimed precedence on.
!: the road, until in aome5 i'll day he
Found mud too deep, or Q lond too
heavy, and so stuck fast. The next
WAGNER pulled him ont d much
was demand ed bys road comfy. In
reward shs pailsrsout claimed and
took the bssIa, letting his own team,
exult Id thelna until the day sof down
fill deRnes Tor ihipss - for hisi road.
brother. Il
IS Road Wagons commonly travelled
B in company three so . half dozen.
Whatever She load II was packed ,es-
enrely under tho cover, but never
quite ID high I'D shs bows. In freight.
ing ont tobacco 80 no hogah aad 8 nss.iia
Ss load. They lay snd q and !. snugly.
sn the bed, 81 i aiii5 u Tho spass m above,
mp 20 the bows, packed slightly with
) fodder the dsied blades atsippad
from growing cora Ear sorn,s rii, gor III.
oatbags huddled down. front. q Pro,
tsvisiuns for maj, aud team were 81.
ways furnished bys tho plsntess owning
ssthe tobacco haul There Waas d dc.
finite allowance fors eaoh s'afty miass' of
road
Tie Wagon box alg lgays bsld bssont,
1neal aonr, sug gars and cofTee, with
now and sgsin kisSuit and ad ginger.
bread read sbaked. Hut tho wagon.
:srs prided themse lyss not q littl on
81 Che cir Il c(jo kerry. Each md I il aIiI i