The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-24
A FAVORED REGION.

Robert Mills, the eminent architect
and civil engineer, Surveyor General
of South Carolina, writing in 1925
speaks as follows of the value and i'm
portance of the High Hill section
of Sumter county.
1.-The High Hills OF Santee are the
greatest natural curiosity III the dis
trict. They are spur from the sand
hills of the middle country, which are
orr secondary mountains. The former
take their rise little above Jacks
Creek, about nine miles north CT Mel
sons ferry and from that fine body OF
brick mould land in the Richardson
settlement After continuing about
eight miles they become suddenly SAND
hills, giving rise to three delightful
streams of water, to the planters be-
low, and little above Manchester.
At the end of eleven miles they again
become red land which continues to
Buck Greek, above Stateburg, nine
miles. These hills, to this point, ap
pear to hang over the Wateree swamps;
but now they diverge, and turn to the
northeast, with one ridge in the mid
die forming a backbone; breaking off
into hills toward the Wateree, and
sloping off gradually towards Black
river. At Buck creek the hills again
become sandy, which gradually RI
c-eases to Bradford's Springs rs Or
l6 miles a little above this place
they join tee sand hills Of the middle
country. Round Stateburg the high
hills of Santee are elevated about 800
feet above the bed Of the river, and
command in two points view of 30
miles. These lands are here generally
laid of in small tracts for gentlemen's
seats, and afford pure air and water:
but the neighborhood of Bradfcrds'
spring is dry and elevated, and consid-
cred TIE most healthy. These hills,
now generally callsd the Santee hills,
give rise to all the head branches Of
Black river, and to many creeks that
empty into the Wateree. They slope
towards the former, and with the
valley between them and the latter,
afford the best pine lands in the
State, thicsly settled. The sand hills
of the middle country are thought to
be of little value; but they furnish
salubrious seats for the planters on
the rivers Their height, and the
pure dry air coDdense the vapors pass
ing from the sea and low country up
wards, which afterwards descend in
showers, refreshing -she crci5 ard fer
tilizing the lands. For the lass thirty
years is has been observed that all the
summer showers come from the sand
hills. The only exceptions are when
there is 9. spell Of wet weather; then
they come from al: directions. These
hills are evidently designed for wise
purposes by benefcent Providence;
for had the vapours been suffered to
float so far from the middle country as
the Allegheny mountains, they
would hardly have returned to it in
showers; bnt would have been ex-
haustsd in the intervening country.
These hills are admirably adapted to
the cultivation of the vine: and if ever
wine is made in our State, the proba
bility is these will be covered with
vineyards; and thus become extremely
productive. The soil of these hills is
as rich as of the grape departments
of France. :: Several mineral
appearances exhibit themselves in
various places in springs. The most
noted of these are the Bradford
Springs, much freousated. The
waters ara chalybeate, with little
sulphur, and prove highly tonic when
drank freely
More than three quarters of a CEN
tury have passed since The attention
of the people of Sumter county and
the world at large, for Nj. Mills's
book on South Carolina was widely
circulated, was so forcibly directed to
the remarkable adaptability of this
section to grape and fruit culture, by
Mr.. Mills, one of the greatest author
tiles of that day, but the High Hills.
still remain bare of vineyards and the
fruit trees can be numbered by dozens
where there should be thousands. 1t
has long been by.word that the
peach crop in the High Hills never
fails and shat the finest peaches that
we obtain are grown there, but the
supply is so limited, as the result of
the little attention that has been paid
to fruit growing, that there is never
enough to meet the local demand, not
to think of shipping them to market.