The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-21
GOOD ROADS
Aud tho Way to Build Them-The Failure
Of Kempsons Bridge.

Much has boon said for and against
tho building OF tho bridge at Kemp
sons, and tho County Board has been
sorely criticized by those who do not
understand or appreciate tho motives
that influenced tho individual member
in casting his ballot That each Com.
missioner voted as his conscience die.
tated or his ideas OF right and Justice
prompted there can not DO tho shadow
OF doubt. | cannot believe a single
member voted either way for solfish
ends or TO favor friends who were for
or against the bridge. There IL too
much to DO said on both sides. While
much OF tho pressure brought TO boar
by outsiders for and against tho bridge
were by those who arc Influenced one
way or tho other, the acts OF tho Com
missioncrs have been tho best for the
county, tho beat for tho whole people
as they In their official capacity saw it.
Those who were unfavorably inclined
looked Mt the cost, tho increase OF tax
alton, tho cxtra burden upon the alrca-
dy impoverished taxpayer, whilo the
tendency to build bridges wherever a
certain section desired it at the expense
to the whole county would have no end
and this bridge would but DO an OPEN
ing wedge. Tho Chappells bridge
could not be used as an argument, for
Chappclls was growing town, a cen-
trc OF trade and cotton market. Tho
nearest railroad station for q largo
section OF sister county would bring
largo amounts OF money in tho county
that otherwise would DO directed to &
different place outside Of tho county.
Large Investments and buildings were
In course Of construction, adding there.
by to our tax books thousands and
thousands Of dollars.
Those who advocated the building of
the bridge at Kempson's pointed to
Chappells TO show what 1t had done
for Newberry County and the town Of
Chappells, and that the bridge at
kempson's would do tho same for New
berry and Prosperity as towns in tho
way OF trade, and tho county In the
way OF taxes.
But here was tho difficulty that con.
fronted those Of tho Board that voted
"nay':
The county is already far In arrears
in the way OF tax funds. 1t 10 badly be.
hind. Tho last years levy did not last
much beyond tho first OF March and
tho Board was forced to the necessitv
OF using tho funds appropriated and
collected for tho repairs Of the court
house years before. This 81, 500 would
have to bo replaced with an additional
$1,000 for tho bridge and with our rep
ular county and State tax would run
tho levy up to flve mills. 1t will almost
DO 30 as 1t Is V tho county pays up its
incidental back indebtedness and run
the county on cash basis or q compar-
alive cash basis. So that portion OF tho
Board that voted may" did 80 in the
lace OF the above facts. And, further.
more, some feel that this 81 900 appro.
priation would not be tho end--that tho
county would have to guarantee tho
private subscriptions. There is no
law to force these payments, and while
every one may have been made In good
faith and evident intention of It's ,pay.
ment, still many contingencies might
arise that would cause non.payment
and the county would have to pay the
forfeiture.
The same conditions that existed at
Chappells might confront the Board
here. A large amount of private sub
soription was pledged by Edgefeld and
Newberry, but when the bridge was
completed for some cause or other the
county OF Edgefield assumed the pri-
vate debt OF her citizens. Then when
this became known in Newberry those