The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-01
Spring Hill Opposed to the New
County.

SM,rHyILLE, July %, 1894.
Mr. Editor We are decidedly not iu favor
of the proposed new county. 10 saying TINS
do not voice the sentiments Of myself, but OF
all the people of this section. The tact IS, not
one voice has been heard favorable to Its
establishment. We propose to "kick against
it to the bitter end.
If some new proposition can be made
wherein Bshopville and its adjacent territories
do not receive all the benefit, then we would,
not he so bitterly opposed to it. There 's
decided unfairness about the thing as it now
Glands. It is a county intended for the
welfare of Bishopville, not for the pubic
welfare There are not sufflcleat inducements
ir the way of roads, markets, distance, ETC.,
to make us desire Bishopville as county
seat. Our people would much prefer gong
over the same old road to the same old place,
to going to new court house, with less ad-
yantapes and an increased taxation. None
of us desire to be detached from the time
honored and historical County of Sunter, a
county dear to the hearts Of every one OF her
citizens.
From those who are in position to know,
we learn that Darlington can spare none OF
her territory, as she has already Suffered from
her contribution to Florence few years ago.
This being the case, the proposed county seat
will be almost on the county line, making a
distance of some twenty miles or more for
those oo the western boundary to travel 70
reach it.
Ask D. E. Durant and others if they would
be willing for the new court house to be
placed elsewhere than at Bishopvile if the
people desire it.
In case it should be found, as alleged, that
no territory can be obtained from Darlington,
thus placing Bishopville 80 close to one side
of the new county, is it natural to suppose
that the people of this and other sections
would advocate it? Would the people Of
Bishopville want it theu? If the projectors Of
the new county are working for the public
good, let them answer these questions frankly
so as to prove their unseihshness, for II no
territory can be procured from Darlington
the new court house should be placed as
yearly central as possible. This would be
several miles from Bishopville. AS matter
of course the new county should not be
established for the convenience of Bishopville
alone, but for the general public.
If the new county be obtained, let llue be
drawn from North to South and from East to
West through the centre, then place the court
house as near as practicable TO the intersection
of these lines, aud by thus doing the public
convenience will be served best.
This and adjacent territories are the richest
to be found in Sumter Couuty, and we do not
propose to bear the brunt Of toe expense OF
a new county for the benefit of such place
as Bishopville, as we will certainly have to
do if much of it is to consist Of sterile land
such as that contributed by Chesterfield
County.
One man expresses it, very emphatically
but with truth, that Sumter, Kershaw,
Darlington and Chesterfield counties will be
s.in the d-l of shape" if Bishopville secures
her territory.
l am under obligations to Col. Il. E. l..
PEBBLES for the following:
AT mass meeting 0fthe citizens OF Spring
Hill Township assembled at Smithville to con-
slider the matter of the proposed new county
to embrace portions of Sumter, Kershaw,
Chesterfield and Darlington counties, the
following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted;
Whereas, in our view there is no necessity
at this time for new county therefore, be it
Resolved, that we hereby enter our protest
against the movement, both on account of the
fnauca, depression of the country and the
inevitable increase of taxation that would
necessarily ensue upon both the old aud new
counties.
E. P. SHEDD. Chairman.
He. L. PEBBLES, Sec'y.