“ Good transportation facilities, by rail and water, form a feature of its equipment as a commercial centre. The Clyde Line connects Charleston with New York, Boston, and Jacksonville, and freight-steamers go to important foreign and domestic ports; the Atlantic Coast Line, Southern, and Plant System railways afford railroad communication.
In the early years of the Nineteenth Century Charleston was the chief cotton port in the United States, and down to 1860 it held third place among the cotton-receiving ports. ”

“ The import trade has been slowly advancing and there is an important wholesale and jobbing trade with cities of the interior. Large quantities of fruit and early vegetables are shipped to Northern cities. Charleston, though known rather as a commercial centre, is the seat of considerable industrial interests, the principal of which are the manufacture of fertilizers, and cotton-compressing. ”

“ The government is administered, under the charter of 1836, by a mayor who holds office for four years, and a city council, the members of which are elected one-half by wards, and one-half at large. The executive controls appointments to the board of health and, with the consent of the council, nominates commissioners of the city hospital, board of fire masters, commissioners of the Colonial Common, and park commissioners. All other administrative officials are elected by the municipal council. ”