Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/202

I'.'} SOUTH CAROLINA continuously, at a depth ranging from 6 in. to 12 ft., and exist in such quantities that from 600 to 1 ,000 tons underlie each acre. In fact, it seems there are no rocks in this section which are not phosphates. In 1870 it was officially estimated that $2,500,000 capital was invested in the business of converting the phosphates into forms available to agriculturists. The production of crude phosphates from 1867 to 1872 was valued at about $1,700,000. Among the natural curiosities, the most prominent is Table mountain, 20 m. from Greenville, 4,000 ft. above the sea, which looms up perpendicu- larly on one of its faces 1,100 ft. above the surrounding country. " Caesar's Head," a rock projection resembling a human skull, near Table mountain, is a place of summer resort. Glenn's Spring, the waters of which are im- pregnated with magnesia and sulphur, is a watering place of some note in Spartanburg. The falls of the Saluda among the mountains have a descent of from 300 to 400 ft., and the region presents much grand and picturesque scenery. Aiken has since the war become a place of resort for consumptives and other invalids, on account of its comparatively dry and equable climate. The mean temperature of Charleston (lat. 32 45', Ion. 79 57') is: spring, 65-8; summer, 80'6; autumn, 68*1; winter, 51'7; year, 66-6. The average rain- fall is: spring, 8*60 inches; summer, 18'68; autumn, 11-61 ; winter, 9-40 ; year, 48'29. Pre- vailing wind, S. W. The following tables ex- hibit the result of observations taken at Aiken, Aiken co., 120 m. N. W. of Charleston, in lat. 33 80', Ion. 81 40', and Gowdeysville, Union co., during the year 1870 : MEAN TEMPERATURE. PLACES. Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Year. Aiken... Gowdeysville.. 62-6 79-1 7-7 68-70 63-5 46-4 44-3 62-5 RAINFALL IN INCHES. Atkon 11-97 I 18-69 7'84 7'16 40-86 Gowdeysvtlle.. 15-05 10-67 7'56 14'00 47'27 The maximum temperature at Aiken was 96 in July ; minimum, 10 in December and 15 in February; maximum at Gowdeysville, 94 in July and August ; minimum, 7 "in Decem- ber and 16 in February. Yellow fever occa- sionally occurs as an epidemic at Charleston. -South Carolina has very little waste land, and produces cotton, rice, tobacco, maize, oats, rye, barley, sweet and Irish potatoes, peas, D6OU, &c. The soil comprises six varieties: 1, tide swamp, appropriated to the culture of rice ; 2, inland swamp, to rice, cotton, corn, peas, &c. ; 3, salt marsh, to long cotton ; 4, oak and pine, to long cotton, corn, pota- toes, &c. ; 5, oak and hickory, to short cotton, corn, <fec. ; 0, pine barren, to fruits, vegetables, <fcr. The pine lands, embracing about 6,000,- 000 acres, are perhaps the most neglected sec- tion of the state. The swamps, covering 2,000 sq. m. (1,280,000 acres), of inexhaustible fer- tility, are capable of drainage. The soil of much the larger portion of the state is clay, which, except in the immediate vicinity of the ocean, is almost the universal substratum. In the N. part of the state, particularly that por- tion bordering on the Blue Ridge, corn, wheat, oats, and barley flourish, while cotton is liable to suffer from early frosts. This region is also well adapted to the production of apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, and other small fruits. The central and lower portions of the state are better fitted to the culture of cotton, corn, and rice. Strawberries are abundant. The English walnut and Spanish mavson chest- nut bear good crops, beginning to produce six or seven years after planting. On the sea isl- ands grow the live oak and palmetto. In 1870 the state contained in farms 3,010,539 acres of improved land, 6,443,851 of woodland, and 2,650,890 of other unimproved land. The total number of farms was 51,889 ; average size, 233 acres. There were 10,286 contain- ing from 3 to 10 acres, 9,146 from 10 to 20, 16,415 from 20 to 50, 8,148 from 50 to 100, 7,112 from 100 to 500, 465 from 500 to 1,000, and 418 of 1,000 and over. The cash value of farms was $44,808,763 ; of farming implements and machinery, $2,282,946 ; total amount of wages paid during the year, including value of board, $7,404,297 ; total (estimated) value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $41,909,402 ; orchard products, $47,960 ; produce of market gardens, $127,459; forest products, $167,253; home manufactures, $312,191 ; animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $2,507,149 ; value of live stock, $12,443,510. There were 44,105 horses, 41,327 mules and asses, 98,693 milch cows, 17,685 working oxen, 132,925 other cattle, 124,594 sheep, and 395,999 swine. The pro- ductions were 317,700 bushels of spring and 465,910 of winter wheat, 36,165 of rye, 7,614,- 207 of Indian corn, 613,593 of oats, 4,752 of barley, 460,378 of peas and beans, 83,252 of Irish and 1,342,165 of sweet potatoes, 5,830 of clover seed, 10,665 tons of hay, 224,500 bales of cotton, 32,304,825 Ibs. of rice, 84,805 of tobacco, 1,461,980 of butter, 194,253 of honey, 11,404 of wax, 1,055 hogsheads of cai sugar, 13,179 gallons of wine, 241,815 of mil sold, 436,882 of cane and 183,585 of sorghui molasses. The production of cotton in 181 -'4 amounted to 438,194 bales of 468 Ibs. each, including 8,759 bales of sea island. The total number of manufacturing establishments in 1870 was 1,584, having 210 steam engines of 4,537 horse power, and 700 water wheels of 10,395 horse power, and employing 8,141 hands, of whom 7,099 were males above 16, 578 females above 15, and 464 youth. The capital invested amounted to $5,400,41 8 ; wages paid during the year, $1,543,715 ; value of ma- terials used, $5,855,736 ; of products, $9,858,- 981. The leading industries were as follows: