The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-13
BIsaoPvILLE PROMISES
Interesting Facts Bearing on the
Trouble Over the County Seat
Of Lee.

Bishopville, April ll.-There ssve been
no oew developments e,f interest in the county
sea, situstion and no r5ove bss beeo nAde by
the Bishop7ilIe people or the Lee County
Commissioners to corlnseract or defeat the
eEort 70 get up a s,rooy petition TO Governor
Ellerbe to order an election to select new
site for The county seat. The parties who
are circulating the petition are in earnest and
sney are said to be meeting with great deal
of encouragement. A majority OF the pro.
perty owoers and taxpayers Of Lee Comfy
are decidedly in faver of holding Bisbopville
to the promise 10 furnish all necessary public
bulldogs to the county free of all cost, 10 The
event of the selection Of Bishopville as the
county seat. Receo, Developments showing
that Bishopville caonot legally issue Sufficient
bonds 10 rsise $4,000 the sum rtqaired 10
build the Cour. Houee and jail, will Dot
be aecerted as valid ex cuse for borrowing the
money on the credi, G: he ertire county, and
the people who voted for B:shop7il!e 10 be
made the coaoty seat OF the condi,ios ,hat all
public bulldogs would be paid for hy that
placs now demand that the prom ses he made
good or that some ofter place be given aH
opportunity to maze lid for the ceurty seat
In view Of the discussion ,ha; is ia progress
concerning the couoty l.eat complications the
following circular which was issocd prioe to
the nav county electio,i last suc,mer will be
foncd quite interesting for il shows exactly
the promise made b, Bishopville:
To the Citizens of the proposed new County
OF Lee:
10 pursuance of Instructions given us by
The Execniiye COMMITTEES we beg leave to cub
ri.,tor your consideration tae tollo owing CIR.
cular letter.
Au earnest effort is being msde to form
ssLee" Cooosy, and this question con'roots
us: "Wlll il be best tor us asd our posverity
hat il be estab'isned?" 1t is all important
that we decide wisely, for so believe that
failure pow means failure forever. Before
another opportunity ia afforded Us the terri
tory will have been taken and in all proba-
bil,y we will fod ourselves, cut of with a
less desirable section.
.Le." County, ss surveyed, will be as
good if not the best Agricultural Coanty in
the State If the County seat is located near
the centre. not citizen Will live more thao
II miles from this Courr House, therefore 1t
will hs convenient to all The expense of
providing Public Boildiog9 iced not ee great
ss Biebopville has obligated TO erect the
same, crowded ,be County ecat is located
there We have carefully investigated, aud
find that the town Of Bishopyile, strictly in
accordance with law, voted TO build the
Court House and Jail, the only condition
oeing ,ha, the County Seat te located within
the limits of said Town. The following
being the sfidavi,s of the managers copd0c:.
ing the election:
STATE of South Carolina,
Snmter County
Personally came before me, Jas q. Scar
borough, Magistrate, ". f Shav, W Il.
Dixon, and j. O. Doraut, Managers Of Elec-
tion. held io aod by the Town Of Bishopville,
s c., on June 26tb, 1897, to decide whether
or not the said Town shall be bonded for a.
spfi .ient smount TO build all pecessasy pub
lie buildings. Provided the County Seat OF
the proposed New County of Lee be establish
ed at BisbopviIie, s. c., who being duly
sworn Say the above mentioned election wsa
uuanimously carried in favor OF bonding said
Towo of Bishopville, s. G, to build all
necessary Public Buildings for said County.
W R.SBAW,
W. ii. DIXON,
J.. O. DuRANT,
Managers
Sxoeu to and subscribed before me ,bia
9Th day of July, A. D, 1897.
JAS. II SCARBOROUGH,
Magistrate.
Any l.w,er will tel. yon 'bs, once The
frteholdsrs OF an incorporate tow or city
7otes 6oancial oblilaion On themselves.
tha, every dollar r'sswor,h Of real estate within
g.