Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-09-11
For the Advertiser.
To MIR. III. StF0m, CHaHMdH OouIt5
Commissioners.

i
Mn Ep1ToR.--Allow me again to say
q few words to Mr. n. strom, Chairman
County commissioners, through the
4d,e,tiser. lam sorry that 7 am COM
nelled by necessity to notice his conduct
| in public print. But it is duty that 1
| owe myself, and the public in general,
especially of Edgefeld County.
| Now for my complaint. I don't Ike
the manner of letting out Bridges. You
! advertise that on certain day you will
| receive and accept the. lowest bid. 1t is
| not right. 1t does not give a fair nceto
those who wonld like to build them. Be-
! sides itgivesa too wide range for rascality.
T don't believe that there is any good at
tacbed to it. There is secrecy attached
to the plan that should be openly and
defiantly looked into by the taxpayer,
and positive refusal to pay any such tax.
The Bridge you let toutnear Mrs. kemP's,
ON Cuffy Town Creek, for sixteen hum
dred dollars, has since been reles for
eight hundred and fifty dollars. The
first party makes seven hundred and
fifty dollars clear profit.
I suppose, however, that litter profit
and the new Gin House he built out OF
the Bridg, on Stevens Creek, fully com
pensates him for not getting pay ON said
Bridge. This case is only one OF many
that convinces me of the impropriety OF
letting out Bridges under the present
system.
There is another feature in it dislike
very much. 1t is species of gambling
indirectly For instance, there. may be
several bids made on certain Bridge,
and just before the time expires, one OF
the bidders may call on you to know
how his chance is, and if he finds out
that his chance is not good, he then puts
in another bid. 1 would like the plan
much better if you would advertise that
on certain day (givingthe specifications
of course) the contract for building the
Bridge would be let out at the foot OF the
said Bridge to the lowest bidder. That
would give satisfaction to all parties. 1t
would look like old times again. But
the old time rule and law has grown
obsolete, and obnoxious to the present
mixed generation. The new regime is
not satisfied unless they can fill their
pockets with plunder, and that too from
the pockets of thepoor and impoverished
taxpayer. You many argue that you
are going according to law in this mat
ter. If so, I contend that tits mean
law. hope the next Legislature will
change the law especially on this point,
and give the public fair chance.
My next complaint is on the road
question. There is an unfair dealing in
this case also. While you are very strict
in some sections you are very lcnient in
others. The Townships near by you,
are looked after, while the others go neg
lected: I know of several Townships
that are scarcely noticed by you at all.
One'in particular viz: "Cooper's =" 1 am
bold to assert that in that Township,
there has not been q general repair of
public roads since the war. And now
the good people of that Township are
complaining and murmuring at your
derelictions. And well may they COM
plain, they have good cause. If the ter
ritory of Edgefeld. County is toe. large
for you, and you cannot attend to it as
you should, then why not employ others
to help you? You get good pay for your
sorvices,-yca, for poor service rs it now
runs. say good pay. Yes. enough to
take all your time, your mind and your
talent, in this great and important work.
Work for the public faithfully or quit
the field, and tell the people that the
task is too laborious for your anind and
constitution. That would seem manly,
and highly complimentary. But / be-
lieve you can carry out the law in full,
if You will but half way try. I will
wait short while to see what course
you will pursue. - =
Iwould like very much if you will
have the law on Bridges and Public
Highways published in. the Edgctield
l4dcert,scr. know that the Editor will
take pleasure in doing it, if you will but
ask him. Your overseers will thank
you, and so will the bridge builders. 1t
is highly necessary for the public mind
10 be posted on these subjects.
Before I close, will say to you that
if have made any mistakes or misrep-
resented any points, I am ready to apollo
gize, or stand corrected. Ills for your
good, and the good Of the public that l
write to. you this. communication. Lest
-Iiweary your. patience ] must close at
least for the present. Perhaps may
say more on the subject hereafter.
Your obedient but unwilling
- TAXPA YER.