Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-07

ton question was re-opened. Mr.. Crool
and Mr.. Audrey submitted further argu
ments. Finally, Mr.. Crook produced
paper guaranteeing the building OF tn
roadway to both sides of the Neely'
ferry location, free of cost to the county
provided the bridge should be built
that place. This effectually settled TIT
Question of cost. Then he went on to say
that he had secured rights of way from
the eastern approach, over new route
that would not be submerged in the CASE
of hig h water. Mr.. Ardrey spoke agaiI
in behalf Of the Harris's ferry location
and said that the new route that Mr.
Crook proposed from Neely's ferry was
an old road that had been abandoned or
account of its impracticability, etc.
In concluding his remarks, Mr.. Crook
said that he had given the board all the
facts i'm the case and would rest on that
If the board should now select Harrls's
ferry, all right. If it should select
Neely's ferry, all right; and if it should
select Dinkins's ferry, all right. Neither
himself nor the people he represented
would do any grumbling. Mr.. Ardrey
thanked the board for their patient hear
ing and painstaking labor, and also slgnl-
fed his willingness to abide whatever
decision the members, in their wisdom,
should arrive at.
At the conclusion of the arguments OF
the gentlemen, Commissioner Wilkerson
sugg ested that all who were not especially
interested should retire from the room.
Commissioner Brice, who was not pres
ent when the Dinkins's ferry petition was
presented, but who had read 1t In the
meantime, said that he wished the people
over there had settled the location ques-
ton. There was petition from Upper
Fort Mill asking for the bridge at Neely's
ferry, one from Central Fort Mill asking
for location at Harris's ferry, and one
from Lower Fort Mill asking for Dlnklns
or Harris's ferries. He thought that the
people of Fort Mill township should set
tie the location question, and he believed
that if it were left to vote of the people
of that township, they would select Har-
ris's ferry. He was very much impress
ed with the latter petition, and had II
been presented earlier, would not have
taken the position he did.
Commissioner Wilkerson said that he
was for the cheapest place and that was
at Neely's ferry. He was willing to stake
everything he was worth that II there
should be an attempt to build the bridge
at Harris's ferry, it would not cost the
county one cent less than $4,000. There
was no use in talking about trying to
please everybody. 1t could not be done.
He then jumped on Mr.. Ardrey's argu-
ment about the higher water at Neely's
ferry. He had had lots of experience on
the river, he said, and the width of the
river was not the only thing that affected
the height of the water. He had seen
both locations under discussion, and he
was satisfied that the water could not rise
as high at Neely's as at Harris's, because
at Neely's the water was swift, while at
the other place it was sluggish. He went
on to say that the estimate at Harriss
ferry called for $1,000, and he was sure
that it would cost the county not less than
$4,000, while at Neely's ferry the cost
would be at least one-third less.
Editor Hull, of The Herald, was very
fidgety while Mr.. Wilkerson was speak
ing, and finally, unable to contain himself
longer, broke out with:
MAY interrupt you Mr.. Wilkerson ~
Mr.. Wilkerson said that he did not care
to he interrupted. That was why he had
suggested that all who were not especial
ly interested, retire from the room. lie
was suffering from terrible headache
anyway, and was really unable to talk.
Editor Hull, however, persisted, and
said that there was a man in the room
who was prepared to guarantee that the
bridge could he built at Harris's ferry
for $4,000.
Mr.. John Gelzer spoke up and said that
he was the man referred to; that the
bridge could be built for $1,000.
"Does that include the approaches"'
asked Mr.. Wilkerson.
"No," said Mr.. Gelzer, "only the
bridge"
"Just as claimed" retorted Mr.. Wilk-
erson. 1.-THE approaches will cost as
much as the bridge.
Continuing, Mr.. Wilkerson said it had
only been agreed to appropriate $4,000,
and he would fight the giving of another
cent as long as he had breath in his body.
son top of all this" he said, these other
people come up here and agree to build
the road to the bridge without cost to the
county, while at IIarriS's ferry we are
offered nothing but the right Of way. Fol
these reasons I feel that must favor the
other place.
Commissioner White made quite an en-
tended argument in favor OF the Harris's
ferry location. He held that while there
was no flat at Harris'S ferry, neither had
there been one at Neely's since last
March, and this seemed to show that the
reason was because there was not suili.
cient travel to Justify it. He also argued
that Catawba township was entitled to a
big sayso in the location, for the reason
that of the $4,000 it would require to build
the bridge, she would pay $3.50. He
reasoned also that the interest on the
amount that would be paid by Ebenezel
and Fort Mill would pay the ferriage OF
all who crossed the river at any of the
points. He stated also that the question
of building bridge had been investi.
gated by private individuals, and that
they had agreed if they went into the
matter, to put it at Harris's ferry. This
was because there was the promise of the
hest returns OH the investment, and this,
he argued, was the principal considera'
ton which should govern the county.
Commissioner Brice took occasion tC
say that if he had been on the committee
which originally located the bridge, he
would have done as the committee did
The board, however, had endorsed the