Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-11-26
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.


spent week in the thriving CITY OF Co
lumbia. South Carolina. where he attended
the meeting of the United Lutheran SYNOD
of the South, and he has thought that his
impressions of his visit might interest," MS
readers.
Columbia Is an interesting and oeaIltl'ui
CITY, with an individuality OF us own.
hen the people OF South Carolina
wanted a location for their capital some
thing over a hundred years ago they
started surveyors out to find the geo
graphical centre of the State. lhey
agreed upon beautiful site on the gently
undulating plain on the north bank OF the
Conearee river, and here they determined
TO have their capital city. The State
House was planned, an imposing and
architecture lily beautiful building, from
viii h broad streets run north. south,
east and west Ii is apparent that a
genius-a man with princely ideas-lalo
out the city, for il has the making OF a
great metropolis and many generations
shall come and 90 before there shall be
any crowding. All ofits streets are broad
and noble and some of them are exceed
ingly beautiful There is room down The
centre OF many OF them for line OF
splendid oak trees, with ample roadways
on either side for the traffic OF vast city
if such development shall come IN future
wears. Not only are the streets gener'
ously broad, but the sidewalks are WIDE
enough tor pavements and bit OF park
ing beside-and, with it all, most OF the
dwellings are set back in yards with space
for beautiful plants and flowers. A Strik-
ing feature OF the city are the noble old
water oaks-great trees whose spreading
branches extend far over the street and
whose trunks are from four TO six feet in
diameter. These fine old trees ale i'm
posing at this season, when their leaves
are gone and they are almost bare-one
can imagine their m'gnificence in the
spring and the comfort OF their shade in
summer.
Columbia is an old city, and yet 1t is
new. For while II was established more
than hundred years ago, II had 10 De
rebuilt after the war, The cruel Sherman
having reduced il TO ashes in 1864. Main
street, we are told, was burned almost
ITS entire length, together with the build
ings block deep on either side. II was
a long time recovering from this blow,
for the people OF the whole State, and,
indeed, OF the entire South, were in
poverished and discouraged It's popu
laiion in 1890 was only about $4,000
Within the last twenty years, however, IL
has taken on new life, and now has nearly
60 600 inhabitants, "includin' de whites,
rs an old colored man expressed It II
has oil the Improvements OF an up-to-
date city. Many OF its streets are SPLEEN
didly paved with asphalt; the trolley syS-
tenn is fine there are several imposing
and beautiful skyscrapers, the last thing
in architectural elegance and business
convenience; good hotels, one OF which
is uo to New York standard three great
| railroad systems and other smaller lines
| In Columbia are numoer Of enormous
cotton mills, one OF which is the largest
| in the world, and there are cotton com,
i Il
dries, etc.
The dwelling houses OF Columbia are
IS rule OF frame, very few brick resi-
dences oeing seen All OF them are pro-
vided with ample porcheS. and it is evil
dent that the people enjoy outdoors to a
considerable extent. The most OF the
houses are large and roomy, but candor
compels the statement that barrels and
barrels OF paint could be used to advan-
tage. The flowers and vines are prob
ably very beautiful in the summer, but
they do not take the place OF paint in the
winter.
Columbia is the educational centre as
we'll as the political headquarters OF South
Carolina. The State University is located
here, with a great lot OF buildings, some
oil which look as if they date back to the
date OF its establishment in 1906; other
educational institutions are the PreSby-
terrain College for Women, the PresbV-
terrain Theological Seminary, the Catholic
Ursuline Institute, and similar good
schools. Within the past couple OF years
The Lutherans have established here
their Theological Seminary, which is
occupying splendid new granite build
ing on superb site and which has been
wisely planned for future growth that
even already seems assured.
Columbia is the home OF Governor Cole
Blease, who is one of the most talked OF
men in the country. He has perhtp>
more bitter enemies than any other man
IN The State. yet no man has more friends
or followers who are more true and de-
voted. Governor Bease is unique char
dcter, whose chlef ofienSe is the upset
ting OF traditions, an exceeding plain way
OF telling the truth and The application Of
common-sens methods that are not al
Ways agreeable TO those OF delicate tastes.
He is a wonderful man in many respects
and we predict that in the future m my Of
his ideas which are now condemned
will be agreed 10 as practical and sensl
bic. And although his term OF office will
shortly expire, we shouldn't wonder il
the country will hear more from him.
One can notice some genuine southern
scenes in Columbia. There are OF course
many negroes living there, and il is q
common sight TO see stout old colored
| ..z.~.o. laI,karotaIy ,noII;un oiNpu the