The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-14
Salem s Little Surprise.
The First Application for q
New County Election.

COLUMBIA, Oct. 6 The next thing
to stir up. the people of the State will
be the elections on the new county
propositions 1t was thought, when
the Constitutions Convention got
through with the restrictions as to
the formation of new counties, that
it would be very long time before
any of the projects could materialize,
in view of the stringent regulations
Greenwood, 1t is generally supposed,
would be the first town to claim the
rights of being court house town,
but such has not been the case. for
Salem County has been the fist to
apply for an election Greenwood
has not yet been officially heard
from, but the papers, it is said, aie
now being prepared lionea Path
also wants to get in on the first
round, and Summerville has shown a
decided intention of becoming
county seat Salem County is pro
posed to be made up of portions of
Sumter, Kershsw and Darligton, and
Mr. Parrot, of Bishopville, who
came over to day to see about the
calling of the election, says that the
vote in the new territory will be
practically unanimous for the new
county, but that of course remains to
be seen 1t must be said that the
projectors for Salem County have
gone about their work in syste
matte and business like way. and it
would appear that they nave been
counting their votes and their
ground very well. Mr. Parrott
brought over with him this morning
the petitions and papers on which he
wanted Governor Evans to call the
election required under the Act, be-
fore the new county could possibly
be established by the General AS
sembIy. He had the original as well
as copies of the petitions that were
circulated in the territory of the
three counties from which 1t is pro-
posed to make up the new county
Attached to the petitions were aft
dav,ts from two Of the three super
visors that more than third Of the
voters in the territory were on the
petitions. Mr. W s. James super
visor for Sumter, made the affidavit
for Sumter's petition L L Cope
land, acting supervisor, for the terri
tory involved, made the statement as
to the Kershaw petition. The state
ment for Darlington County was not
attached, and Mr. Parrctt says that
the certificate was rot obtained be-
cause he did Lot have time to 60 to
Darlington, but the petition shows
425 names, and this, he says, is
every white voter in the territory
with the exception Of l3. and he
says there will not be the slightest
trouble about getting the affidavit
from the supervisor of Darlington
County as there is no doubt that one
third of the voters have pettioned
for the election. and Mr.. Parrot says
they are anxious for the new county.
Mr.. Parrot, and the special commit
tee charged with pushing the new
county of Salem, have attached
summary at the end of the papers,
giving condensed statement of the
claims of the new county scheme, in
a legal sense.
Attached to the statement is the
following as to the population Of the
territory proposed to be put in the
new county From Darlington 5,603,
Kershaw 2,299, Sumter 10 400, total
1892.
The property statement as com
piled and as shown by the auditors
statements attached 20 the papere is:
From Darlington s5l4,643, Sumter
$l,093. .305, Kershaw S259, ,l62, total
81, l,S67,l10-
The papers were filed with Gov.
ernor Evans during the morning, aud