Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-02
THE CATAWBA BRIDGE.

The probability is that the Catawba
bridge matter is to come before the board
of county commissioners again this time
altogether on the question of location,
about which great many people OF Fort
Mill township are considerably dissat-
isfied.
A review of the whole case will facili-
tate proper understanding of the merits
of the present dispute. The people of
Fort Mill township were all along practi-
cally unit as to the necessity for bridge
over the river; but, at the same time,
there was considerable division as to the
best place for its location. After great
deal of discussion, Mr.. j. NJ. Spratt, rep
resenting citizens of Fort Mill township,
appeared before the board of commits
sioners and presented the following petit
ton, with 70 signers:
"The undersigned citizens of York
county, do hereby respectfully petition
you to appropriate the sum of $1,000 for
the purpose of building bridge across
the Catawba river, at, or near, Harris's
Ferry"
Mr.. Spratt explained that he did not de-
sire action upon the petition at once; but
would be glad to have the board fix a day
OH which delegation from Fort Mill
might come before the board and proper
ly present the matter. Upon motion of
Commissioner Wilkerson, the board
granted Mr.. Spratt's request, and ap-
pointed March as day upon which the
matter might be considered.
ha1G
appeared before the board, in behalf Of
the bridge, Rev. DR.. Thornwell, Messrs.
T. F. Mellow, w. J. Waters, J. w. Ard
rey, John M. Spratt, Fred Minis, D. E.
Finley and C. T. Crook. The arguments
of all of these gentlemen, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Crook, were principally
as to the necessity of the bridge. The
matter of location, they said, was one of
secondary importance. Mr.. Crook did
not get to the meeting until after the 9TH
ers had concluded what they had to say.
When call ed upon, he said the bridge was
needed and that it should be located at
Neely's ferry. Then he explained that
he represented people who desired this
location, and proceeded to give the rea-
sons for their desire. He was interrupted
with the suggestion that the discussion
that day was only on the question as to
whether or not the bridge should be
built, and that the matter OF location was
not being considered. Upon this he ex-
pressed himself again in favor of the
bridge, and had nothing further to say.
No action was taken on March 8, except
to postpone further consideration until
April 5. On the last named date the
matter was taken up again. The only
Fort Mill man present, besides Messrs.
Culp and Minis, who wore there in an
official capacity, was Mr.. b. d. Springs.
He spoke in favor of the bridge, follow
ing the lines already laid down by those
who had gone before, and said nothing
whatever about location. The matter was
discussed at length by members of the
board, and in The ENQUIRER of April II,
we find the following:
"Mr Brice moved that the petition with
reference to the bridge he granted, and
Mr.. Minis seconded the motion.
"Mr. Ashe asked that the petition he
read but Mr.. Brice explained that it was
not at hand just then, he having left it at
home."
The general understanding, however,
being that the main point WAS the appro-
priation Of $4,000 to build bridge across
Catawba river tor the benefit of people of
Fort Mill township, and that this was
the purport of the petition, the
vote was taken under the circumstance
cited, and carried.
A committee, consisting of Messrs.
7. G. Culp, A. H. White, w. w. Miller
and Fred Minis, was appointed to carry
into effect the action of the board, and
under the authority by which it was ap-
pointed, this committee, of course, had
no discretion in the location Of the bridge
except to place it at Harris's Ferry, in