The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-01-14
PUSH THE TOWN FORWARD.

WeDEESURt, 1ANOHlt IFS 'SSi'
PUSH THE TOWN FORWARD.
One evening last week while in converse
sion with gentleman who is well-to-do
citizen Of this county, we learned from MIN
that he had made his arrangements to
move his family to the city of Sumter ID or
der that be might give his children the ad-
vantage of good school. We tried to pur-
suade him to change his mind and move tc
Manning, and he told US that he came mere
several times to look for suitable dWelhng
house, and failed to find one that could be
rented. He said he preferred coming TO
Manning as it would suit his business bet
ter than Sumter but being unable to pro-
cure 8 house in Manning he was forced TO
select Sumter.
This is one Of the instances wherein the
prosperity Of our town Is checked. and who
is to blame for it? We have been dong
our utmost to convince the property owners
of Manning that it is to their interest as
well as to the interest of the town TO have
their empty building lots built up. If sew
eral neat cottages are built and the owners
will rent them at reasonable price, they
would be occupied as soon as finished, but
when man is looking out for place to To-
cate, and cannot find house that he can
rent, there is nothing left for him to do but
to seek elsewhere.
As has often been said through these col
urnns Manning is as fine town as one
could wish to live in. It has the advantage
Of good society. schools, churches. first
class trade centre, and everything to make
good live town if the citizens themselves
would 90 to work and build itup It is al
piece of nousensical e1traragance to keep
q two hundred dollar lot to pasture fifteen
dollar COW, or a two dollar hog, when on
that lot could be placed neat dwelling
which would be an ornament to the town as
well as profitable investment to the owner.
We mention these things because we feel
interested in the welfare of the town, and
when we hear man that would make
good citizen say that he preferred moving
to Manning but could rot find house to
rent we feel that our property owners are
asleep to their own interest as well as the
interest of the town.
In number Of towns in this State. joint
stock companies were organized under the
name Of land improvement companies.
These organizations would buy up lands,
open up streets, and sell lots at reasonable
psice. The result has always been that the
companies mads money for the stockholders
at the same time induced people to move
into their towns and build up the property.
Such towns have increased in population,
and the property increased IN value. All
branches Of business were benefited and
the citizens competed with each other IN ad-
vancing the welfare Of their towns.
There is no necessity for Manning to
keep in the rear Of progress because woat
has bean done in other towns can be &C
comphshed here, if the citizens themselves
viii wake up and show q determination to
push forward. A building and land i'm
provement company can be organized here,
property can be bought and divided up In
to building lots, houses can be built either
3or sale, or for rent, and our population can
be increased. There is class Of people
when approached on this subject Will say
'1t won't do" or lit won't pay" The same
was said about the bank before its organlza-
ton, and but little encouragement was CIV
en- 70 the movers in that project, bat the
men that took hold Of that project were not
to be discouraged by those afraid to invest.
They went to work, and their last report
made as fine financial showing as any other
bank in the State. The very people that
were afraid to invest in the bank now say
they do not see how Manning ever got along
without bank. Il will be the same way If
building and land improvement company
is started. Some people will say ut wont
pay" but after determined business men
take hold of its management and make
success Of it, they Will wonder how Man
ming ever got along without such an institu-
ton.
LET US then be up and doing" Organ
ize institutions that will place our beautiful
and healthy town in the line OF progress
with other towns. It can be done if we will
make the proper effort by showing deter
mination to make Improvements. The
commencement is always the most difficult.
but once the ball Of progress is set IN mo-
tion its revolutions become so rapid and
gather so much force that obstacles OF
trivial nature are crushed out Of existence.
We need another railroad to open up
trade with our county seat, and we ought to
have Il, but as long as we sit down Mlcaw-
ber-like waiting for something to turn up
we are destined to kee,, waiting. We must
exhibit disposition to help ourselves and
do it in such way as to attract the outside
world and then capital from abroad Will
recognize our energies by extending to us
3 helping hand. Then our needed railroad
will come, along with factories and other
business industries and Manning will be an
example for some other town to initiate.