The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-03-23
Old Paper Tells of
Bambegr,s S Business

Through the kindness of Mrs. j. f..
Davis, of Barnwell, We have been
! shown copy of the BarnWell Sem
tinel of the date of October goth,
| 1866. On its first page it bears the
names of E. A. Bronson, as prOprie-
tor and Samuel J. Hay, as editor.
| 1t reflects the spirit of the hard
times in which it was being publish
ed, being but little more than a year
after the surrender Of the Army of
Northern Virginia at Appomatox.
It is four page sheet whose pages
measure about eleven by eighteen
inches, or a little less than half the
page of the present issue.
Although the echoes of the Con-
federate War are passed but few
months and a profound business de-
preston has settled over the coun-
ty yet there is evident that spirit of
industry and determination that
laid the foundations for later pros
perity. On the first page is an ad-
vertisement of Simon Brown, Of
Blackville, which is as follows: The
subscriber has just received from
New York a large supply and fine
assortment of DRY GOODS, Gro
ceries, of adj descriptions, Hard
ware, Fine Ready Made Clothing,
Saddlery, etc., all of which he offers
to sell as cheaply as the same can be
secured in Charleston, Augusta, or
any other market in the south.
Those wishing to obtain their fall
supplies should examine my STOCK
before purchasing elsewhere, Simon
Brown" l. S. Bamberg & Co., also
have a similar advertisement in the
same column. The only other coun-
ty advertisement in this issue is
that of Brabham, Hoffman & Co.,
of Bamberg, who do general mer-
'chandise business.
The general business of that day
is reflected by announcement from
the Sentinel owner that Necessity
.compels US to adhere, strictly to the
CASH SYSTEM, and that in every
instance, payment in advance will
be required for all job work and ad-
vertising. PROVISIONS of any and
every description, taken in exchange
for the paper, or for payment OF
debts due this Office" In spite OF
the depressed business conditions
of that time, advertising and sub
scription rates were far higher than
today. Advertising space was One
Dollar and Fifty Cents for twelve
lines or less, while the annual sub
scription price was $500 year IN
ADVANCE.
Those who feel that taxes are un-
bearable today should take comfort
from the fact that in 1856 there was
in addition to other taxes a tax on
cotton at the rate Of three cents a
pound. This tax was not collected
until the cotton had left the district.
It was therefore urged as the best
means to outwit the Yankees and be
revenged on them, to manufacture
the cotton at home. The collection of
taxes was so ruinous until the editor
prints a selection from the S. G.
Statutes giving the exemptions un-
der the Homestead Law Of that day.
The general scarcity Of money was
reflected in the number of parcels OF
real estate which were advertised
at public sale to satisfy judgments
which had been obtained in the
courts. The editor, Mr.. Brunson,
tells in the following editorial very
modern story which is literally true
today: We have on our books hum
dreds of dollars for advertising (the
same is true of subscriptions which
were payable in advance, with prom
ises from those who had the bene-
fit of our labor, that the same would
be paid in a week or two. Months
have elapsed and the same are still
unpaid.-Publisher.
Among the names attached to the
legal notices of that day are Sheriff
w. W. Woodward, Ordinary, or
Judge of Probate, John W. Freeman,
James Tupper was Master in Equity.
Except to their children and few
older citizens, these names mean
| nothing now.
This issue contains an account OF
| a meeting in New York between Gen.
P. G. T.. Beauregard and Gen. U. s.
Grant.
Letter postage Of that day was
fo, or