TOAVNS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 703 



Cheraw, at the junction of the Cheraw and Darlington Railroad with 

 the railroad to Salisbury, North Carolina, is one mile from the head of 

 navigation on the Great Pee Dae river. Thare is a population of 1,000 

 within the corporate limits, and about the same number on the outskirts 

 of the town. In 1825 the population was 1,200, and 20,000 bales of cot- 

 ton were shipped by steamboat on the Pee Dee river from this point ; in 

 1840 the population was 400; in 1800 it was 9G0. It is regularly laid off. 

 The streets are one hundred feet wide and have an aggregate length of 

 fifteen miles, three lines of handsome full grown shade trees, one on each 

 side, and one in the middle, render them delightful drives and Avalks. 

 A handsome two-story town hall has the upper story occupied as a Ma- 

 sonic lodge, the lower story is supplied with seats and scenery, and is 

 used for public entertainments (charges, including license and lights, 

 five to ten dollars). There is a skating rink, and the river, several 

 streams and two beautiful lakes near by afford good fishing. There is a 

 race-course near the town. There is a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, 

 Episcopal, and Catholic church for the whites. The cemetery of St. 

 David's church has been used for more than one hundred years, and a 

 number of British soldiers were buried there during the Revolution. 

 There are also several churches for the colored population. Stores rent 

 for one hundred dollars to four hundred dollars per annum, and dwelling 

 houses about the same. The real estate is estimated at $500,000, and the 

 personal property at $250,000. Taxes are restricted by the town charter 

 to one-half of one per cent., and it has been found necessary to call 

 for only half of this amount. Personal property is not taxed, except 

 the bar-rooms. There is no town debt. The Chester and Cheraw rail- 

 road is completed to Lancaster, and partially graded between that 

 point and Cheraw. A gap of eighteen miles from Cheraw to Hamlet, 

 North Carolina, remains to be built to complete what is considered the 

 shortest line from Augusta, Georgia, to Richmond, Virginia. There is 

 steamboat communication with Charleston, via Georgetown, by the Pee 

 Dee river. Besides considerable shipments of lumber, naval stores, 

 leather, hides, &c., about 10,000 bales of cotton are shipped annually. 

 There is a tannery, a tin-ware, a wagon, and a fertilizer manufactory in 

 the town, besides two steam grist mills, and gins, and one steam saw 

 mill. Abundant water powers in the neighborhood are little utilized. 

 Cheraw is one of the oldest settlements in the State, and has been long 

 noted for the wealth and culture of its citizens. 



