Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-02-08
For the Advertiser.
A Nuisance.

For the Advertiser.
A Nuisance.
Mr.. EDIToR,-At Shaw & Meriwether's
Mill, on Big Stephens Creek, exists a
nuisance which should be abated. I
mean the public private flat which leavies
toll there, where public bridge was
when we had honest Commissioners of
Roads, and paid only about one-fourth
Of even present taxes. When our taxes
were low, but honestly collected and
honestly disbursed, we had good bridges
over Big Stephens Creek at Shaw's Mill,
McKie's Ford, CARROTS Ford, Tompkins'
Mill, and Parks Mill. Each of these
five Bridges formerly cost from one to
four thousand dollars, but nnder the
Radical regime, from the mouth of the
Creek to the Rogue Shoals Mill, a dis
tance : about thirty miles, not single
bridg. exists over this angry stream, by
far the most dangerous water course In
all Edgefeld, ant only two flats have
been provided as substitute for all these
bridgesto accommodate the people who
reside between the Creek and Savannah
River.
One of these flats is at Parks Mill, the
other at Shaw's Mill, and they are .bout
twenty-five miles apart. Both flats were
built at the public expense, if am cor
rectly informed, and the Ferryman OF
each, it is believed, is also paid out OF
the public purse, yet the one at Parks
Mill is free, while the other exacts an
exorbitant toll.
Why this difference? In 1866 many
disastrous freshets occurred in Big Steph-
ems Creek. One of these washed away
thebridge at Shaw's Mill, and also several
bridges next above it, if I am correct in
memory The Commissioners of Roads
were then scant of funds, and preferred
not to tax the impoverished people to re-
build costly bridges until the country
could somewhat recuperate. Yet the in
habitants between the Creek and r yer,
and many persons on the East side oi
the Creek, who had their grinding done
at Shaw's Mill, were ofte l obliged to
GROSS and recross the mad stream, and
some means of transit had 10 be provided
for their accommodation.
So imperious was the necessity for o
safe and constant transit, especially tc
meet the wants of those who owned land
on both sides Of the Creek, that the Com.
missioners determined to establish 8
Ferry. AS Shaw's mill was at the cross
ing 1st used, that was the point select
ed for the Ferry. But no good landings
for flat could be had except on either
side of the mill pond, and these landings
could not be approached except by 8
road running for some distance through
a large cultivated field Of fertile soil
on the East side of the Creek, owned
by Mr.. David NJ. Glover, Sr., since
deceased, and on the West side through
a similar field, then belonging to Mr.
Shanklin.
The Commissioners could not agree
with the persons owning the land (par,
ticular Mr.. Glover,) as to the amount Of
damages which should be paid. Some
i'll feeling sprang up, and Mr.. Glover re-
fused to allow the crossing public access
to the fiat through his field. The Com
missioners could not compel him to ap-
propriate the land to the public use want,
ed without special Act of the Lcgisla-
ture authorizing assessment of damages
and transfer Of title. This proceeding
as well as the building of gates, and
working on the landings, added to the
construction of aflat, paying ferryman,
etc., the Commissioners feared might be
too expensive in the then exhausted con-
dition of the country, and they hesitated
about applying to the Legislature. In
truth, they took some time in consulting
lawyers, and maturing their plan of ac-
ton. So much so that the neighboring
public, who were most interested, be-
came impatient, and to spur up the Com
missioners expressed Willingness tc
have Toll Ferry established, rather
than have no Ferry.
But it was urged if private enterprise
should establish Ferry, without Char
ter authorising the collection of toll, any
one crossing m Sht with impunity re.
fuse to pay toll. Then too there was the
difficulty with Mr.. Glover about the right
of way, and Charter of some sort had
to be obtained. The Commissioners, O;
ut least some Of them, rs I well know.
were advised by Counsel that grave
doubts existed, under all the circum-
stances, as 10 whether Charter could be
procured for a private Toll Ferry, unless
Messrs. Glover and Shanklin could agree
upon terms, and that if they could agree
it still admitted of doubt. Moreover, the
Commissioners objected to the establish
ment of a private Ferry because they
expected shortly to be able either to re-
build the bridge, or at all events to keep
up permanent public ferry, hoping that
Mr.. G. would abate his damages but he
would not reduce them one iot, and as
the interested pu 'lic urged it, applica-
tion was made by the Commissioners to
the Legislature fora charter to them OF
Toll Ferry.
When the matter came up for consid-
Grafton before the Committee on Roads
and Bridges in each House, it was so
anamolous-so unheard of q proceeding,
to grant Charter for toll ferry to
Commissioners Of roads, that more than
ono member of the then Edgefeld Dele