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V m C A c> C College ' A* i ' ■ ^ jV •./< ■ ^ ^ ifc^v? -4 u/ T>r-« “ * / THE •*"1 1 ? • ?ji* •-»•*'•flf' RECORDER. BY YOHD & McCRACKEX. pines, and so fur from the sea that the air is dry and salubrious. I found t^e hotel accommodations good; and they were well filled with a good class of guests, who had come to the place as a pleasant resort, where they could enjoy a mild and healthy climate, and escape the rigors of a Northern Winter. liespectfuJly Yours, James W. Bradbury. From Kon. C. H. Graves, Mayor of Duluth, Minn. Duluth, Minx., Nov. 29, ISS^. E. P. Hexdersox, Esq.: Dear S.r—When my wife had pro nounced trouble in November, 1^82, I took her promptly to Aiken. Three months residence there, with daily drives over the delightful sandy roads and among the pines, completely re stored her to health, and the debt of gratitude that I owe to your charm ing little town cannot be repaid, but may certainly be acknowledged, since you offer the opportunity. Very Truly Yours, C. H. Graves. AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1889. PRICE $1.50 A YEAR. DRIEST CLIMATE EAST OF ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Elevation 505 Feet—Mean Temperature for Winter Months 50 Degrees. Aiken fulfils these conditions better than any other re¥ort yet discovered in America or Europe, as has been proved by (be number of invalids who have been cured here, and of consumptives whose sufferings have been alleviated, and whose lives have been prolonged. As to that insidious enemy of the white race, often the post of so-called health resorts,—malaria,—the physi cians of Aiken will testify that they have never known a case to originate within the- limits of the Town. The nature of the soil contributes almost as much to the health of the place as does the atmosphere. Being of loose sand, mixed largely with gravel to a great depth, lying upon a stratum of red clay, or kaolin, the rains soak directly in and are carried As there is considerable interest ^ ^ once to the creeks and rivers; . 1 so that almost immediately after the manifested in the .South, at this time, heaviest rains n o water is to be seen on the ground, and persons can walk AMPLE HOTEL ACCOMMODA TIONS EXCELL ENT EAIL- WAY FACILITIES. BANKS—DAIRY FARMS PAPER MIIjIjS—COTTON FACTOR IES— KAOLIN MINES—COTTON, FRUIT AND TRUCK FARMS. by persons in search of resorts in which they may escape the rigour of out with impunity. Farmers know he northern pfimate. or mav mebe 1 from practical experience that a san- pe^qianent homes, for other reasons, a litthT accuiatc information about Aiken and its many advantages may not be Unwelcome. The Town is the county-seat of the County of the same name, has a pop ulation of 3,000, and is situated at the junction of the South Carolina and the Carolina, Cumberland Gap & Chi cago Railways. 120 miles from Charles ton and 17 miles from Augusta, Ga. It occupies the highest point of land between Charleston and Augusta, be ing 506 feet above the level of the sea, and 400 feet above Augusta—only 17 miles distant. Graniteville, only 5\. miles away, Is 300 feet lower than Aiken. By this may be seen what an elevated position the Town occupies. This elevation is suflicieHt to secure the dry, bracing atmosphere so grate ful to invalids, yet not to produce the discomfort so often experienced by them in greater heights. For many years the Town has been noted for the dryness and the tonic qualities of its climate,—just such a climate us is usually sought by persons sutiering from throat or pulmonary ailments. Its softness and balminess are most soothing to those who have irritated throats or lungs; while its dryness is such as is not to he found near the (Gist or in Southern Georgia or Flor ida. For a radius of twenty miles the Town is surrounded by a pine forest, which protects it to a great extent from bleak winds, and gives a sweet aroma, most soothing and beneficial to invalids. The long leaf yellow pine is the characteristic growth of this region from this tree the climate of Aiken doubtless owes much of its well de served reputation. The temperature in winter is mild, and the observa tions of the thermometer in the open air show the average daily mean for the colei season to be about 50degrees. Of course ice is formed on many days, and once or twice nearly every win ter snaps of cold will send the mer cury down as low as 15 or 18 degrees above zero. Last winter the lowest point touched was 18 degrees, and that on only one day; and during the season not a single Hake of snow fell. The summer temperature is also mod erate, and never as high as it is for a short period at the North. The dryness of the air is its great and most valuable eiiaracteristic. Sta tistical reports of the humidity of the different health resorts of this coun try and Europe prove this to be a drier climate than tliat of any of the other places in this country east of the Rooky Mountains, or of any one of the principal resorts reported in Europe. The mean relative humidity is 58 per cent., compared with 71 in Jacksonville, r.3 in Tbomasville, 70 in Mentone, and 71 in Nice. This state ment will surprise many who are not conversant with the facts, but it will stand the closest investigation A well known authority on pulmo nary complaints,—Thorougood—lays down the following rule for the gui dance of physicians in search of a health resort for consumptives: “En deavor to have a residence on a dry soil and at a rroderate elevation, where there will be tree circulation of air, and avoid plages lying low, where dy soil is a warm one. On it the air is never damp, stagnant or cold. The glorious sunslnne, made more brilliant by the clearness of the atmos phere, is one of the most marked blessings that invalids enjoy here. Daily, during the fine weather that usually prevails, many strangers may be seen strolling about, or resting on the benches placed about the town parks, basking in the sun and drink ing in the air, as if they cannot get enough of it; and even during the winter months, in most piazzas ham mocks remain hanging, in which in valids may be seen during the warm portions of each day, lying at ease, enjoying their sun-baths. From Joseph Pulitzer, of The New York AVorld. New York, 2f>th November, 1886. E. P. Henderson, Esq. : Secretary Executive Committee: Dear Sir—The health of one of my children compelled me to speud.the winter in Aiken, and I can bear testi- niony to its advantages, attractions and importance as a Winter Resort. Those who are unfortunate enough to sutler from bronchial or lung trou bles, may regard themselves as fortu nate if they are able to spend at least the harshest part of the winter in Aiken. Yours Truly, Joseph Pulitzer. From Mr. Geo. A. Lewis, of Xauga t tick. Coni). E. P. Henderson, Es<*.: Dear Sir—Replying to your favor of the 24th of November, would say, in my humble opinion, Aiken has no equal on the lace of the earth as a Health Resort. I went there some six years ago a complete physical wreck. Three months started me a long way on the read to regained health, and an annual visit since that time has completed the cure; and of my own knowledge can state that my experience lias been that of hundreds of others. Yours hastily and most sincerely, Geo. A. Lewis. From Gen. W. IV Ilazcn. U. S. A., Cliiel Signal OIRcer. Mr. E. P. Henderson, Aiken S. C.: In reply to your letter of August 1st —received while 1 was absent from the country—1 am glad to say, that having placed my family at Aiken for the Winter of~1885-6, and from my knowledge of that place as a winter residence, I consider it in point of temperature and climate the most de sirable of any place in the United States. N ours Very Respectfully,- W. B. Hazex, Chief Signal OlficeE Testimonials. As evidence of the good results ob tained from the climate of Aiken by those who have come here, we in- | elude a few of the many testimonials in the hands of our people: From a Northern Settler. Messes. Editors—I would he glad ! to state what our experience has been i in Aiken County din ing a residence j of nineteen years. Our former home j was in middle New Jersey. My wife I had inilammation of the lungs for four years, and our physician warned me that she would not probably pul! through another winter in a northern climate. I therefore came south in the Eall of l.~t> *. and went to Florida, but found the climate there too ener vating. 1 then travelled through Georgia, without finding such a cli mate as I sought. I had avoided South Carolina, as J was prejudiced against the people as the leaders in the Scces- and to the exhalations I siou movement. But I finally deter mined to visit a friend who was living at Aiken; and as a result, purchased a farm about four miles from the town —a place that was said to be the poor est in the County. I soon found I could do more work in three months here than I could have done in a year at the North, before leaving there. I have raised diversified crops, fruit, «fce., have made a comfortable living, and laid up something for a rainy day. My farm has increased in value, and I have recently refused a cash oiler of four times as much as I gave for it. We have been respectfully and kindly treated by all of our neighbors, and have never regretted our move south. Hero we found health and comfort, and here I would advise all persons to come, whose health disa bles them from standing the northern winters. Yours Respectfully, J. H. SATTERTHWAITE. From Capt. Oscar Coles, ot New York. E. P. Henderson Esq.: Dear Sir—I should deem myself sadly deficient in gratitude, were I to hesitate a single moment in speaking in most eulogistic teims of Aiken, the hamlet of the hill country of Carolina. Its dry climate, free from the slightest miasmatic tint, coupled with its various attractive attributes, will always render it not 01113- a Mecca for invalids but a resort for those who would exchange the rigors of a North ern winter for an atmosphere of semi- tropical brezes from the Gulf of Mexi co, mingled with the bracing air of the Blue Ridge. After a residence of twenty winters, my own practical ex perience leads to the belief that.Aiken has no equal East of the Rocky Mountains. Your Obedient Servant, ‘ Oscar Coles. From Dr. F. Gedcliiiffs, Chairman of the Committee on Hygiene of the Immigration Convention in 1S70. “Fortunately for those resident up on that soil, as well as those from a distance, atfiicted with this class of maladies (throat and lungs), the\- find in the high climate of Aiken, as well as the light, dr\ T , pure air pecu liar to the sand hill region so often referred to, a ph3-sical combination of inlluences more favorable to restora tion, and even to prevention, than any other known spot on the face of the ()lat>e. It is a familiar expression : “See Naples and die!” We would say to persons laboring under pulmo- naty and throat disease: “Come to Aiken and live!” is of excellent quality, pure and wholesome. This hotel accommo dates about 300 guests. All the corri dors and public rooms are heated by steam, and nearly all the bedrooms have open fire-places, which are sup plied with oak and fat pine for fuel. Connected with the hotel is a well equipped livery stable, and the roads leading in vi rious directions through the pine forests afford ample facilities for driving and riding. " . The other hotels are the Park Ave nue Hotel, under the management of Mr. A. M. Taft, and situated imme diate^- opposite the railway passen ger station; and the Busch House, on York Street, under the management of Mr. Henr3-Busch. Both of these houses are well located, and offer ever3’ comfort to guests. In addition there are a large num ber of private boarding-houses, many of them affording unusually excel lent accommodations at reasonable rates. In respect of market facilities, Ai ken is not surpassed by any town, and is at all times supplied with the best meats, game, fish, fruits and veg etables in season. Recreations As inaii3- visitors come to Aiken who are not really invalids, they nat urally wisii to know what recreations can be had here. To provide these the place is well supplied with several excellent livery stables, where vehi cles, and horses for driving and ri ding, may be had at all times. There are several good roads leading through as attractive bits of forest and as liiglil3' cultivated farms as can (be found anj’where. Among the most attractive of these roads are that along the old track of the South Car olina Rail\va3\ by the Mill Pond bought a few 3’ears ago by Miss Eus- tis; that known as the lower road to Graniteville; and those through the farms on the Levels. During the months of March and April the woods along the first two of these reads more particular^*, are filled with the beau tiful and fragrant jassamines. and the dazzling kalmias and azalias. In the eastern part of the Town are the extensive grounds of the Aiken Driving Park Association, where fre- ‘^y v * n 8 every quent games of polo are plu3-ed du ring the Winter and Spring seasons, and base-ball during the Summe^ Several of the visitors who have been attracted to Aiken for a number of 3-ears, are very expert pla3-eYs. and the games alwa3-s attract a large numbei of spectators. For those visitors who may not desire active out-of-door recrea- 1 tion, the Aiken Club affords a pleas ant place of resort. This Club, or ganized by the gentlemen of the Town, has its rooms on Laurens Street, where the latest papers and periodicals may alwa3s be found. A stranger may be introduced by a member, and then if he desires to visit the Club-rooms frequently, he ma3 , I upon the payment of a small fee, become a member for the season. Ik-giving qualities, as from them supplies the Highland Park Hotel, keeps about 70 head of cattle, old young, all carefully housed in a at two-8tor3 T stable, that probably bis not an equal elsewhere in the South, and also depends almost en- tiffly upon the silo sj-stem for feeding hif cattle. This farm, like the other, is well worthy of a visit. Both these gentlemen find dair3* NN"« profitable, and are satisfied that it will become one of the leading industries of this section. tbvm for the i >• From Sir Morreil Mackenzie. Extract from a private letter from Sir Morrell Mackenzie to a resident physician at Aiken: 19 Harley Street, ) Cavendish Square, W.\ I am alread3' aware of some cases that have derived great benefit from a residence at Aiken, which place ap pears to compare favorably with the be.-t winter resiliences in the South of Europe. Believe me, dear sir, Yours Tru!>', Morrell Mackenzie. From Hon. J. YY.-Biiullmry, Ex-Sen ator from Maine. Augusta, Maine, Dee. S, 1SSG. E P. Henderson, Esq.: Dear Sir—In rep!3- to 3-our commu nication, I can sa3’ that I spent a part | of two winters in AiKen, and,I have) a verv- favorable opinion of its loea- ; tion and climate. The village and ' hotels are situated upon a long ridge the air is damp, stagnant and cold.” j of dry, sandy land, surrounded with Appearance of the Town. Aiken is probably the most hand some^- laid off Town in the State. If we ma\* compare a small tiling with a great one,—like Washington, in its incipienc3*, it was wisely plan ned, with a view to its future impor tance. The streets cross each other at right angles, and by the town char ter are fixed at 150 feet wide; so there can never be the crowding that is so | conducive to disease in cities. In all ; of the streets there are from two to! four rows of shade trees; and in the | principal Avenue of the Town—Park , Avenue—which is 200 feet wide, for a distance of half a mile the middle ot j the Avenue, between \?ach cross! street, is preserved as a park, planted ! with shrubs, evergreens and fipwers, ] all prettilx- kept, at the expense of the Town. The private residences are unusual-! lv good,—far better than are com- 1 monK' seen in the interior small I towns of the South, and nearl3- all of them on lots of from 100 to 2<Mj feet frontage. Hotels ami Private Hoarding Houses. In the matter of hotels and private j boarding houses, the Town otters all j the accommodations that the travel- i ling public can desire. The Highland Park Hotel is in Uveiy respect a first- class house, of large size, fitted with | all the modern improvements, and situated in a commanding position,; affording a beautiful view of the Town and surrounding county*. The; grounds around the Hotel include , about 400 acres of pine forest, and all the sewerage is conducted through 1 tile pipes a mile out to Mr. Chatfield's farm. The water supply is obtained from a natural spring, which dis charges about 7,000 gallons daily, and Churches and Schools. Among the first inquiries made re garding a place ty strangers, are as to the church and school facilities. With both of these Aiken is well supplied. The churches are the Baptist, Episco pal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Ro man Catholic. In addition to these there are several churches for the ne groes—Baptist, Methodist and Pres- b3’terian. The educational advantages for chil dren in the primary departments are unusually good. There are two large public schools—the Aiken Academy, Mr. J. R. Mack, Principal; and the Aiken Institute, Mr. F. H. Curtiss, Principal. Besides these there are several private schools. There are also two schools for negro children, one of which is admirably conducted b3- the Rev. W. R. Coles, the pasty of the colored Presbyterian congregation. This school now has an average attendance of about 90, and a new building is about to be erected at a cost of ^3,500, which will accommodate 250 scholars. The other, the Schofield Industrial School, has been established a number of 3-ears, and is a thriving institution, giving tuition and industrial education to a large number of pupils. There are two large buildings, one of brick and one of wood. The Meilieal Profession. As to ph3*sieians. it is naturally to be expected that a noted health and winter resort such as Aiken, would attract some of the best medical talent in I be country; and thus we find that the profession is most ably represent ed here ly members of both the allo pathic and homeopathic schools. Dairy Farms. Among the industries that contrib ute largely to the welfare of the town and afford most interesting places for strangers to visit, are the two Dairy Farms. That conducted ly Mr. H. M. Dibble, at his farm, “Vale of Montmorenci,” about seven miles south-iast of Aiken, is well worthy of repeated visits. The place itself is vey prettil3- located, in a hilly, bro ken county, is handsome^* laid out and improved, and contains one of the best arranged daiy establish ments in the South. He has a herd of 36 thoroughbred Jei\se3* cows, from which is made the butter that has earned a high reputation here and in the Augusta and Charleston markets. Mr. Dibble finds read\*saleat 40 cents per pound for all the butter that he can make, and is unable to supply the demand. His cattle and all the horses and sheep on his place are fed on en silage, and his s3-stem of silos is of itself most interesting. On the northern side of the Town, just be\-ond the corporate limits, is Mr. B. P. Chatfield’s Dairy Farm, “Rosa Villa.” He devotes his atten tion principally to the Holstein breed of cattle, on account of their great ' Banking Facilities. /The Banking facilities are unequal- leH by any other Town of the same size in this State. There are two B^nks here, both organized under S'kte charters, with capitals of $50,000 eaih,—The Bank of Aiken, Mr. F. B. Hlnderson, President; and The Ai ken County Loan and Savings Bank, Mr. W. W. Woolsey, President. These BVnks buy and sell exchange on all tlie principal cities of the county, ar*l afford eyey accommodation tor deposits and loans, and The Aiken County Loan, and Savings Bank has a savings department, in which in terest is allowed.on deposits, at the rtCeof 6 per cent, per annum, com pounded semi-annually. The business of the Town is suffi cient to afford steadj- use for the ag gregate capital of $100,000, and to en- aiije the banks to obtain an average rate of discount through the year of aliout 6 per cent, per annum, and to obtain all the ftrst-class paper that they can safely handle. Both of these BKuksare prudently and economieal- ly managed, and have thus far paid ni«wi satisfactory dividends to their sh'jtfioiders. ‘lOkfe Bank of Aiken occupies an ex- ceBcnt banking house on Laurens Struct; and the Aiken County Loan an4-Savings Bank is now erecting a hsadsome building for its use, at the corner of Laurens Street and Park Arenue, and at present, while its new building is being erected, occupies temporary quarters on Park Avenue. At' both of these Banks strangers m*y always rely upon receiving every reasonable accommodation, and of facility extended to transaction of business. Value of Property. gradual but uninterrupted ex tension of the Town has caused a cor- n- ponding steady advance in the value of real estate. While there has net: been at any time a speculative hi. 'in,—such as has been manipulated in many other places in the South, to fofit of the few and grief of the the increase in values has irf4K*teady, Within the past twelve or thirteen years the population has increased from about 1400 to 3000 per manent residents. With this in crease has come the necessity for more houses, more stores, and many small industries that add to the general welfare. While no one has made a fortune out of the enhancement in values, there has not been an instance where anyone has bought a desirable piece of property, that he could not sell it again, after the lapse of a few 3'ears, at a good profit. The Town has been steadily growing, and certainly during the past several 3'ears the brickla3-ers and carpenters here have had all the work they were able to do. The values of property are on a solid and healthy basis. Farming Lands. The farming lands of Aiken County possess that combination that is rarel3 T found anywhere else in the South— fertility of soil aud healthfulness of climate. As a general rule, wherever tertile soil is found the natural causes that have produced this fertility have also made a climate unhealthy for a white man. This County is an un usual exception to this rule; and while it is not pretended that the fer- tilit3* of the soil here approaches that of the Mississippi valleys or other river bottoms, it is sufficient to repa3’ the farmer for his labor, and enable him to earn a good living while he may enjoy the best of health. Of course there are tracts of land that arc very poor aud really worthless for purposes of cultivation; and stran gers will do well to see that such tracts are not put upon them.' But most of the Count3’ is sandy, with a cla3' foundation, is retentive of ma nure, and responds liberally to the application of fertilizers. There is none of that tenacious cla3' which, in winter retains moisture to an un- healthful degree, and in summer dries and bakes, to the detriment of the crops. A large portion of the fertilizers used on these farms is manufactured near at hand in Augusta t>3' the Geor gia Chemical Works, which is the largest concern of the kind in the United States, and well worthy of a visit by strangers. The effects of these lertilizers are so favorable that lands which were thought worthless a generation ago, are now productive, and command high values. The val ues of course var3’ according to loca tion, improvements aud other circum- stances. and range from $5 to $64 per acre. O11I3’ last week a sale was made of a tract of 132 acres, within one mile of the corporate limits, for the sum of $8,500 cash. Within four or five miles of the Town ma3* be seen some farms as handsome as can be found anywhere in the county*; and many of these are conducted by men who started ten or fifteen 3 r ears ago with but little more than the unimproved land, but now have very attractive places, and are thriving and have comfortable com petencies laid by. Some of these far mers came here from the Northern States, ill with pulmonar3* diseases; buti they have recovered their health whne they have earned their living. Th# character of the soil is peculiarly adapted to the production of fruit and vegetables; and while the general products of the country are cotton, corn and water-melons, some farmers devote their attention to raising peaches, grapes, raspberries aspara gus, etc., for the northern and western markets, and have found these crops very remunerative. The seed used on many of these farms is obtained from the Alexander Drug and Seed Com pany, of Augusta, Ga., a firm that has a high reputation over a very large portion of the South. The Azalia Gardens. Among the many attractive places to which visits may be made from Aiken, are the Azalia Gardens, at the old plantation “Magnolia,” on the Ashley River, near Charleston. In the month of April, when the azalias are in full bloom, these gardens are said to be the most beautiful of their kind in this county; the plantation is also one of the oldest, having been settled in 1671, and it has never passed out of the hands of lineal descend ants of the original grantee. During April the South Carolina Railway Company runs excursion trains from Aiken to these gardens. Hallway Facilities. The railway facilities are unusually good. The Charlotte and Augusta Railway passes through the Count3’ from north to south; the South Caro lina Railway from east to west; the Cumberland Gap and Chicago Rail Aiken LamI and Improvement Co. Among the foremost enterprises here, promising the best results to the Town, has been the organization of the Aiken Laud and Improvement Company. This Compaq* has an ex ceedingly liberal, in fact, elastic char ter from the Legislature, allowing it to buy and sell real and personal propertj*, to build houses, cotton mills, saw mills, and cut lumber, mine ores. &c., &c. Its capital stock is $200,000, and the Directors are Dr. T. G. Croft aud Messrs. Geo. W. Croft, B. P. Chatfield, H. K. Chat- field, and Henr3* Smith. The Presi dent is Dr. T. G. Croft; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr, H. K. Chatfield ; and Superintendent, Mr. B. P. Chatfield. The object of this Compaq* is to af ford facilities to persons who wish to obtain homes, as these can be had most effectively b3* a combination of capital. It owns a large number of most desirable town lots, on which comfortable houses will be built and rented or sold to those who want them. Along the line of the C., C. G. & C. Railway the Com; any owns large tracts of land, much of it heavily timbered with the valuable yellow pine; and in several tracts are exten sive deposits of kaolin cla3*, near the surface of the ground, and 13’ing most advantageously for railway transpor tation- Borne of these lands lie along L. way is being built from Aiken to Asheville, North Carolina, and trains are running to Edgefield. Another line, ver3* important to the people of Aiken County, is the Blackville, Al ston and Newberry Railway, which has been built already from Black ville to Seivern, in Aiken County, and will be continued on to Newbeny. The Atlantic Coast Line has com pleted the survey of the line from Sumter, S. C-, to Augusta, Ga., pass ing through this Town and the Una- ka Line, through Rabun Gap from East Tennessee to Port Royal, S. C., will pass through the western part of this Coui^’; while the Port Royal Railway, from Augusta, Ga., to Port Royal, S. C., traverses the same part of the Count3*. Here are seven railway’s running and to run through Aiken County; three of them have been running for a number of 3*ears, two are being built, while the other two have been surveyed and will be built. These facts show that this County is not in an out-of-the-way location, but that it is an important centre, directly in the route of most important railway' con nections. Water Powers. The hilly and rolling characte; of much of the land in Aiken County, and the very elevated situation of the whole section, give this County un usual advantages in water powers. One cannot travel a day’s journey without crossing several bold streams that await development by capital ists. In the neighborhood of the Au gusta and Charlotte Railway there is Horse Creek that affords power for the prosperous Vaucluse aud Granite ville Mills; and then passing on fur ther turns the wheels of the mills at Langley and Bath, with much power and several fine sites yet unutilized. Good Spring, about Smiles northwest of Aiken, is a spring of uncommon boldness, emptying into Horse Creek and affording an admirable site. On the northwest runs Shaw’s Creek, about 4 miles off, possessing along its course through the County many val uable sites for factories. This creek is crossed by the present railway from Aiken to Edgefield, thus having its resources immediately available. The South Edisto River, about 12 miles frsm the Town, also affords several very valuable sites for mills, all of which will be more available when the railway from Sumter to Augusta is completed. In the southern part of the County*, along “Three Runs” Creek, are also several very* valuable mill sites, which may now he bought for very reasonable prices. Aiken County is as well supplied with streams as any other interior county in the South, and the confor mation of the land renders the water power sites peculiarly easy of devel opment. And the streams mentioned are never frozen in winter and dry in summer. All throughout the year the supplies of water exceed any pos sible demand. Besides, these streams being rapid and bold, springing from an easily drained soil and country, form no stagnant pools or swamps, and do not injure the good health of their neighborhoods. Shaw’s Creek, a hold stream of 600- horse power, and one that is fed by numerous springs, and is practically exempt from overflows. From the hilly character of the country, and consequent good drainage, the health ot this section is unexceptionable,— absolutely free from all suspicion of malaria. About eight miles from the Town, lying on both sides of this railway, is a large tract of about 5,000 acres, owned by this Company; of this tract about 1,000 acres are in virgin pine timber. Here is now being laid off the village of Lakeview, so called from having a large and most beauti ful expanse of water lying in front and several miles beyond. At this place building lots may he bought, and it in time will certainly become a most attractive town. It has the advantage of water scenery, com bined with the best of health; and hav ing the best of railway facilities, must develop into an important re sort. As we have stated, the object of this Company is to encourage the ad vent of good settlers, and these will And every facility extended to them to obtain good homes in healthy* situ ations, at reasonable prices. The Bath Paper Mills. Prominent among the manufactu ring industries of the County Is the Bath Paper Mill, situated on Horse Creek, at Bath, a station on the South Carolina Railway and the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Division of the Richmond & Danville system, seven miles from Augusta. This is the lar- i gest and most substantially equipped J paper plant south of Richmond and 1 Louisville; its capital stock is $90,000, divided into 900 shares of $100 each. Its business is being successfully’ managed by* the following officers: President H. T. Hill is a paper maker j of a life’s experience, and lias charge of the works; he constructed the mills of the Contorcook Valley Paper ! Co. at Hunikee, N. H., and for a long time efficiently filled the position of ; superintendent for the P. C. Cheney Co. at Manchester and Goffstow, N. j H.; lie is ably seconded by his son^ E. S. Hill, who is also Secretary of the concern: W. V. Gilman, Treas- ' urerof the Companv, is a young man, | but having spent twelve years in the I paper business at the mills of the ! Contorcook Valley Paper Co. and the Nashua Card and Glazed Paper Co., the largest makers of card board, glazed, plated, enamelled and em bossed papers in the country. In the latter firm he resigned the position of treasurer in order to embark in this enterprise. The output is manilla aud news. A sample of the latter is now being used by The Aiken Re corder. Valuable deposits of kaolin have been found upon the 2,400 acres of land belonging to the Company; on which are also several hundred acres of some of the finest yellow pine timber. The Graniteville ManuYacturinfC Co. Among the most important wheels turned by the waters of Horse Creek, are those of the Graniteville Manu facturing Co., at Graniteville and Vaucluse, both about miles from Aiken. The Factory at Graniteville was established in 1847, with Mr. Wm. Gregg as president, and was one of the few mills in the South that succeeded prior to the war. Immedi ately after the war new machinery was necessary, and on this account debts were incurred, which at the time of Mr. Gregg’s death in 1867 ag gregated $50,000. The true beginning of profitable cotton^spinning at the South dates from about this period, when Mr. H. H. Hickman became president. The capital of the Com pany was then increased to $716,000. During the period of twenty years since, the results have been astonish ing. Over $1,200,000 have been paid out to the stockholders as dividends; $116,000 of the stock has been bought in by the Company and cancelled, re ducing the capital to $600,000; and the mill at Vaucluse has been built out of the profits, at a cost of $362,000. The one Company* now owns and op erates the two mills. That at Gran- iteyille has 624 looms and 24,000 spin dles, and consumes 30 bales of cotton daily; while that at Vaucluse has 350 looms and 10,000 spindles, and con sumes 14 bales daily. The quality of . goods turned out by these mills is equal to the best anywhere, and de servedly has a high reputation. The Company owns 10,000 acres of land, and has 350 operatives’ houses. The Langley Manufacturing: Co. Lower down Horse Creek, directly alongside of the South Carolina Rail way, the Langley Manufacturing Co. has its fine mill. This mill was built in 1870 by a Company organized by Messrs. Evans and Cogswell, of Char leston, which failed; whereupon the property passed under the control of another Company, organized by Mr. W. C. Langley of New York. Since this re-organization the mill has been doing a good business, and is now one of the most profitable in the State. The capital of the Company is $400,- 090. Mr. W. C. Sibley of Augusta Is president and treasurer, Mr. John W. Chafee secretary, and Mr. H. W. Jordan superintendent. The water power is supplied from a large artifi cial pond, and turns two 42-inch Her cules wheels, which give 350-horse '.power. The mill contains 360 looms and 12,672 spindles, pnd turns out cot ton cloth that has an enviable nation al reputation. The village of Lang ley, settled by the Company, is a pic turesque place, witji a large number of unusually goo£ houses for opera tives, all very neat and attractive. In all of these'mills only white opera tives are employed, and they are al most exclusivity jrnm_tho aurround- Kaolin Clay. The County of Aiken is very rich in deposits of the finest quality of clay, used for the manufacture of fine crockery, in addition to having large deposits of clay of a commoner kind, suitable for common pottery. The kaolin is widely distributed and de posited in large and thick beds; and alongside is feldspar in abundance, which can be ground on the spot. When the extent of these valuable deposits are more generally known at the North and in Europe, there is no doubt that the mines will be more developed, and Aiken County become one of the most important centres in the count ry for the production of fine clay. This clay has been known and mined for the past forty years, but until recently only the deposit near Bath, about 13 miles from Aiken, has been worked regularly, by the firm of R. McNamee & Co., of New York, who have found the industry a profli- able one. But now there are several new Companies at work digging kao lin and shipping it to market, among which are the Aiken Mining and Porcelain Manufacturing Co., the Craig Kaolin Co., and the Franklin Kaolin Co., all of which own or lease mines more or less developed. The Aiken Mining and Porcelain Manu facturing Co., of which Mr. P. A. Emanuel is president, is about ma king arrangements with some capi talists for the establishment of a crockery factory at the mines, which are situated about 3)£ miles from the Town. But at present the clay is dug and washed and shipped to the facto ries at the North. There is but little doubt that this kaolin mining will soon become one of the most important and profitable industries of the County. The foregoing enterprises will serve to demonstrate to manufacturers, the advantages offered by the natural re sources of this County. There is an abundance of good water power, easi ly available, yet to be utilized, af fording unusual opportunities for the establishment of cotton and furniture factories, lumber mills, cotton seed oil mills, potteries, &c. How to Reach Aiken. From the Eastern States, via New York and Washington, and thence either b3* Lynchburg, Va., Charlotte, N. C\, Columbia, S. C., to Granite ville, thence to Aiken, witboutchange of cars from Washington; or from Washington to Richmond, Va., Wil mington, N. C., over the Atlantic Coast Line, either through Charles ton, or Columbia and Graniteville. From the North-Western States— from Chicago or St. Louis, via either Cincinnati, O., or Louisville, Ky. t through either Knoxville, Tenn., Asheville, N. C., Columbia, 8. O., and Graniteville; or through Chatta nooga, Tenn., Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. The fare on limited ticket from New York is $23, and schedule time twenty-eight hours and twenty min utes. From Chicago the fare is $26.90. As we have stated, through Poll- man cars are run over all the lines, without change, from Washington direct to Aiken. _ [ J i ■Y ' -C ij*; , »•- .. - At r wr',-'.' _