The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-15
A Reply to "Citizen."

Mr.. EDITOR: In reply to your invi-
tation of views as to the propriety of
changing that part of the road leading
from Anderson G. H. to Townyille, be.
ginning at T. J. McClure's and run to
some point between D. S. Whites and
N. o. Farmers, in Fork Township, I de-
sire to say few words.
"Citizen's" suggestion was to dispense
with Earle's Bridge and build new one
at or near the mouth of Deep Creek.
The change in the road indicated by
"Citizen" was TO turn off to the left at
T. J. McClure's, go half mile and take
down the ridge through the green pond
plantation by John Martins to the river,
and from the river to some point between
d. S. Whites and N. O. farmers. The
change, no doubt, would benefit some few
citizens of Fork Township who live in
on the river near the point indicated for
building the new bridge, while on the
other hand it would very materially in
convenience the people of Pendleton
Township going to and from the Fork,
and also the people of the Fork going to
and from Pendleton. If the change was
to be made as indicated by "Citizen,"
there would be no place Of crossing the
river from the mouth of Deep Creek. to
Maxwell's Bridge, except Shallow and
Bruce's Fords, which are very inconve-
nient and dangerous, and cannot Se
crossed at all if the river is a little up.
Besides, a number of citizens of Pendle-
ton Township depend on getting their
milling done in the Fork.
"Citizen" seems to think that the Deep
Greek hills are the wonderful barriers in
the way. I admit they are bad hills, but
if that is all, they can be Stunned with
little expense by turning the road to the
left at the Browns Ferry sign-board, be.
tween old Deep Creek spring and VIM.
Bolt's,house, and keep the grade down
the branch and come out at Robert Mar
tins house, and when you cross Deep
Creek bridge, take the right hand, keep
the grade around the hill and come out
at the Pelzer sign-board, midway between
Deep Creek and Earle's Bridge. Now,
by doing this you would get rid of all
the hills of any consequence on the
creek. There are no hills of much con-
sequence on the east side of the river.
Therefore by making the changes that l
have suggested in the road on each side
of the creek, you would remove the bar
riers indicated by "Citizen." AS for the
distance being shortened by the new
route, that is a question of guess work, l
presume, and I think it is mistake in
"Ci,izen." 1t would be going too low
down the river to shorten the route l
think. Besides, if the new route was
adopted, there would be an unavoidable
hill on each side Of the river, which l
think would be as bad as the hills on the
creek. So by making the changes in the
road suggested by me, turning off to the
left at the Browns Ferry sign.board, be-
tween Deep Creek spring and VIM.
Bolts, and come out into the road again
at Robert Martins, and turn to the right
after crossing Deep Greek Bridge, and
come out again into the road at the Pei
zer sigu.board, midway between Earle's
Bridge and Deep Creek, you would have
as good road as you possibly could get
on the new route suggested by "Citizen," ,"
and as short route also. 1t would, no
doubt, lessen the expenses of the Coun-
ty several thousand dollars by making
such repairs on the old bridge as is neces-
sary and let it stand, as the east half is
said to be safe and sound. The bridge is
now located at a nice place above the
high water mark, except in a few cases,
and then it never hurts anything, for it
does not stay at that extreme height
long. As for the stone work under the
bridge, l do not suppose there is any
better work in the country, which is an
important item.
I think that the changes in the road
by the present bridge which I have sng-
gested would be of material interest to
both the people of Anderson G. b. and
the Fork and the public in general, as it
would dispense with the Deep Greek hills.
By investigating the two changes on each
side of the creek that l Fave indicated, it
will show that such changes will dispense
with the noted Deep Greek hills almost
entirely. agree with "Citizen," that
there should be a permanent bridge
across Seneca River, for the convenience
of the people of the Fork and Anderson,
and il justice to both they must have
one. But I think the public will agree
with me in saying that the bridge is now
standing in the right place for the conye'
nience of all sections of the County, and
especially the sections lying Immediately
around the bridge. The present road
with the changes l have indicated, is as
good road as can be had between An
derson G. Fl. and Townville at any rea.
sonable expense. 1t is in the right place
for the people of the Fork going to Pen.
dleton, and from the bridge to Pendleton
by Maxwell's Bridge is sixteen miles,
and it is in the right place for the people
of Pendleton Township in going to the
Fork.
Perhaps it would be we'll enough to
build an iron bridge on the present stone
work of the old bridge, as it could be
built at considerable less expense there
with the stone work than the new place
suggested by "Citizen," and l think ii
would meet the approval Of the public
generally.
do not offer myself as dictator fol
our County Commissioners, nor the pub
lie either. but I hone they will carefully