The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-16
IDE TIRES WOULD.
PAY.
MR.. RICHARDI. MANNING
SUGGESTS THAT THE
PRESS OF THE
STATE URGE THIS
MOST IMPOR-
TANT REFORM.

TANT REFORM.
To the Editor Of The News and
IEourier: I read your editorials on
Broad Tires," and the letter of 81
with interest. The matter
ss one Of greater Importance than it
appears at 6rst sight, aud its impor-
lance cannot be too often or too
strongly brought to the attention OF
our people
hope that you will continue to
urge the general adoption OF wide
tires, instead of narrow ones, by the
people q: our State, and the press Of
] the State will take up and urge the
matter from time to time until they
shall be brought into general use.
believe that every statement made
5nsyour editorial is strictly fact,
and that the only case in which the
barrow tires have the advantage over
The wide ones is enc that happens so
seldom that it should not count
am confident that wherever the
experiment is made Of using the
vide tires no one will be willing to
go back is the narrow, nor could one
be, induced to do SO after as would
undonbtedly be the case seeing the
/ sadvaniagesof using. the wide-the
Increased loads which can be hauled
with less strain on teams and the
manifest Improvement to roads
NY own experience in hauling
over sandy roads, with ruts deep from
the nse of narrow tires, and also over
reads in muddy and clay soils, is
that pair Of mules viii pull at least
500 pounds more in wagon with f
inch tire, and with less exertion,
than n wagon with l I-2-inch OF q
i1ch tire.
Not only is this matter important
is those who use the public roads of
The country and who have to haul
their produce and commodities from
place TO place, but tits important also
80 The taxpayer whether ne uses the
Toads or not.
Gre Of the items of beavy ex-
pense In most counties is Roads and
Bridges, . and in these days of high
assessments and heavy levies it be-
comes matter of public duty to aid
( IN every way to reduce the items of
sconnsy expenses, provided it can be
doue without deteriment to the eff
cheney aud thoroughDess of the diff.
ferens departments.
believe that the saving to each
county in the matter of road work
would be material amount if the
use Of the wide tire was generally
adopted.
Without having fully digested any
partMnlar plan with all the details
snecesssry to make it successful and
10 avoid impositions, would offer to
the Legislature the suggestion which
occurs to me from reading "J. A.
M .'s'' letter: Pass-an Act authoriz-
ing the counties, upon presentation
sof certificate from the board of
toWrship commissioners, showing
! that the holder of the certificate owns
and uaes wagons and carts with tires
mot less than 4 inches wide only, to
refund to each and every citizen own
ing and using wagons and carts with
such tires only his commusation or
road sax, Or be relieved of road
dEty.
The cost of broad tires is some
what greater than that of narrow
ones, bat the increased width of
the felIoes adds to their strength
and durability and this of Itself
makes it to the advantage of tue pur-
chaser 60 get wide tires, and if by u.s.
ing broadstires he gets back his road
tax he really nothing out of pocket
by trying them. but their use will re
duce road expenses to the county,
and, besides we will have smooth.
firm roads which will add to the pleas
ure and profit of those using them,
aud which would be credit to the
State Richard | Manning
Wedge6eld. Jane 5. 1895.
ANOTHER VETE.