TOWNS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. GG3 



COAST REGION. 



On the Coast Region of South Carolina there are 1 ,111 stores. Of these, 

 four hundred and fifty keep general merchandise and groceries ; one hun- 

 dred and sixty-four, dry goods ; eighty-five, hardware, and three hundred 

 and ninety-seven are classed as miscellaneous. Notwithstanding the 

 I)reponderance of the colored race, only twenty -two stores of this whole 

 number are conducted by them. There are seventy-three stores or 

 saloons where liquors are sold. In 



BEAUFORT COUNTY 



there are 94 stores, to wit: Beaufort, forty-three; Port Royal, seven; 

 BlufFton, three; Hardeeville, four; Yemassee, four; Sheldon, eight; 

 St. Helena Island, seven ; Ladies' Island, one; Pocotaligo, one ; Coosaw, 

 two ; Grahamville, eight ; Ferebeeville, two ; Chisolm's Landing, two ; 

 Combahee, two ; and doubtless some others which have escaped enu- 

 meration. Nine are kept by colored j^ersons, and the aggregate wealth 

 of the storekeepers is estimated at §588,000. The lines of trade are 

 represented as follows : sixty-nine groceries and general merchandise, 

 twelve dry goods, five hardware, and three miscellaneous. There are 

 eight stores or saloons selling liquors. 



PORT ROYAL, 



the terminus of the Port Royal and Augusta railroad, is a striking in- 

 stance of great natural advantages long known and neglected. It is the 

 nearest point on the Atlantic ocean to the great centres of travel and pro- 

 duction in the Northwest. It has the deepest entrance, and the deepest, 

 safest and most commodious roadstead from Portland to Pensacola. It 

 is the nearest port on the Atlantic coast to the West Indies and South 

 America. Surrounded on all sides by large bodies of salt water, it is 

 troubled by none of the malarial influences usually affecting fresh water 

 estuaries. Dr. Spear, Surgeon U. S. N., gives the average annual death 

 rate of the U. S. naval forces in Port Royal waters as 5.6 per 1,000 men. 

 The range lights erected on Hilton and Paris Islands enable vessels with- 

 out a pilot to come in during blowing weather, with perfect safety by 

 day or night. Capt. .Jas. E. Jouett, U. S. N., writes that he has passed in 

 and out several times at night, and never with less than twenty-nine feet 

 of water. There are two distinct channels, so situated that sailing vessels 

 may enter with the wind in any direction, and, passing up Broad and 



