The Greenville times., 1910-10-07
"reminiscences of
JAMES ROBERTSHAW
An Interesting Paper Written By
An Old Greenvillian At The
Historical Associa-
tion Meeting.
Continued From Page One.)

was easy SdIilHS On the seas VI
finance and commerce until the fail
ure of Barring Brothers, a stupendous
international concern which produced
worldwide stringency, when in pro,
portion as money became stringent pro
dncts became cheap, and to add to the
distress the agitation of free silver
drove untold millions for safety to
Gold STANDARD countries, further re-
ducing commodity values and causing
loss to the cotton belt alone of hun
dreds of millions of dollars. All over
the land distress prevailed and this
section did not run the gauntlet I'M
scathed. The wonder is that the
wrecks, though numerous in the mer-
camille world, were not more disastrous
in financial circles. AS it was the
Bank of Greenville, the great upbuild-
er of the country, after carrying over
balances augmented annually, went to
the wall Any one at the helm of
business enterprise during this trying
period will never forget the difficult
ties by which he was beset and the re-
lief he experienced when the money
question was finally settled. From
that day forward confidence in the flu
ture began to grow and great enter
prises in their embryonic state began
to germinate and flourish. Every day
1
men looked forward to the DAYS to
come unafTaid. Just a little in ad-
vance of the trying period described
the city of Greenville with the assist
ance of the general government, revet,
ted the shore of the town and thereby
made city realty a reliable fact What
effect this much needed protection had
can be measured by those familiar
with realty values previous thereto
compared with what they are today.
RepOsing in safety from caying
bank, with the shrek of the saw mills
in one quarter. the Whirr of oil mills
in another and the whistles and bells
Of the incoming and departing trains,
with several lean years behind US and
rcmunerative prices for staples ahead
Of us, our merchants and planters have
made remarkable headway in all that
constitutes the upbuilding of an ideal
city and business interests. Munici-
pal improvements became the order of
the day; first model system of water
works, followed later by extensive sew
erage, which latter, though not all that
could be desirel added so much to the
immunity from sickness and domestic
comfort that all but the fault finder
is satisfied; contracts for street paving
and sidewalks were subsequently en-
tered into and effected, and though the
tax to perform these wonders weighed
heavily on the best and almost crush
ed the few, the result in convenience
enhanced value of property, which to-
gether with civic pride, proved ample
compensation. Along the same line of
marked improvements school houses
ed with more ornate and substantial edi
fees, and the structural beauty and
style of architecture of two of the last
named is not surpassed by any on this
continent.
At certain periods after the epidem-
ie of 1873, or whenever yellow fever
was known to be in New Orleans or
Immediately adjacent to that city, an
exodus would occur of those sufficient
ly affuent to quiet their apprehension
by flight, leaving others less fortunate
to a terror they could not evade,
Those remaining never failed to in
angurate a quarantine. How success
fully they did their part is evidenced
from the fact that there has been ne
second visitation of this dreaded
scourage in period of more thar
thirty years. Many of us can recall
the anxiety of men with families ant
men with business cares when it wa:
reported that yellow fever was in {
nearby town, and with what a4aerity
one and all took counsel together fol
the safety of all. To what exten
this cemented lasting friendships WI
may never know, but we do know tha