The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-07
The Highways Of Zion.

''Jordan is a hard road to travel" it is
said, another road is described as straight
and very narrow; out the road 10 Old Mt.
Zion Church has not only bsen made broad
enough, but much easier to travel than ever
before in jts history. The work of the couo-
ty chain gang has effected this change aud
made wonderful improvement in the road
from ST. Charles to Cooper's Mill aod thence
to Bisaopviile over the old Rsccoon Road
This road from Coope,'s Mill to Grabam's 8
x Roads below Mayesville, known as the
Lafayette road, is one OF our oldest highways
and ,horoughfares, aud has long Deeded jast
such an o7eraauling as Supervisor Dorn,
Capt. Newman aud Lieo,s Moore and
GrOous have accou plished with the convict
gang, who appear 10 oe very healthy, we'll
conten,ed squad, in spite of their steady aad
continuous labor Evidently this is due to
indicioos treatment aud management. The
6-mule road plow is very importaot aod
valuable adjunct ,o she couaty's outfit and
uoder the management of conductor Joe
Moore does efsctual. rapid aod neat work
This road from Mt. Zion to Cooper's Mill is a
succession of hills and stsesuiets. The grade
of ,heee hills has bean reduced and the whole
roadway, where needed, filled: raised ADD
graded 10 q manner never yet accomplished
by any other method, or any other force.
heavy road role. would add substantial
symmetry and artistic 6oish TO the work
Every wiGe-sired wheel which passes over the
newly worked highway furnishes an object
lesson and should furnish coovincing Illus
trations, to the NEST obtuse, of the marvellous
benefits and advantages tha, would accrue
fcon their general use on ell hau!iug vebi-
cles. If the progress in bridge, cansewsy
and road making should continue at the same
rate as at present, year OK :uo more, Sum.
ter vii. be in much close: touch With the
whole county, near aud remote, aud the pro-
disious benefits to be derived thereirom may
be computed oy any who will nave the intel
hgerce Ie take advantage of them.
(Note The writer resided in city, the
pas, year, which was thus blessed and whole
trains of wagons hauled produce over l3
miles OF gravel and she'll roads in tine for
the nosolng market and returned home tor
dinner; therefore there was 10 scarcity Of
country produce of every character. But this
city had splendid system OF sewerage, or
house 6raioage, and the streets we're paved
and there were obstetrics galore aud there
was charm and pleasure and a luxury in
visiting it
A matter of import to the travelling public
is the presence of telephone poles entirely too
far within the right Of road way, in places.
These offer menace to passing vehicles, day
or night, and the authorities should insist on
their removal clear of ,he track. Corpora
,ions exhaust their full legal rights to the use
of highways when they peaceably travel or
hau! over them and we fail to 6nd authority
for giving them the right to place obstruc-
,ions on them. We've heard much complaint
in the matter. Another matter is that it
should seem that the statute of limitations
should De of force in the case of roadwaye, as
Of other real estate, and that when the public
has been 10 peaceable possession for the
statutory limit and when ditch or other
defined boundary, or mark, has beec in exist
eace and established the line of road way for
that period, the road plow should have tie
right os way for the 20 81 b feet, as the ;case
may be, s.on that established line, TO widen
aod improve the road.
And now, that no more cau be Gone for us
By the road plow or The convic; gang, II
behooves the powers that be to cal! out The
consc!ips gaug ago every aole acd defect
repaired IL the balaece Of road aud so We caa
then exhibit as handsome turnpike of II
miles, az any TO be found IN Sabbath days
journey
Nsi. Charles q. Smith, better known az
"Bitl Arp the sage OF Georgia aud South
ern humorist, lec,ured in Bishopville on lest
Thursday night aad came ou down to this
point to take the train for Rock Hill on FRI
day morning BE was entertained by Mr..
Geo n Reid aud family in Bishopville.
tCousin" Bill claims to be corsin oy sdop-
ton, ss our great material ancestor adopted
his mother. We are none iosth to admit the
caser.cousinship IS besides being famed
writer, the hsjor is typical Sousheruer ard
patriot aud possesses personal magnetism
and bonhommie in his sin.etcoursethat charms
as we'll as cntertains aad interests
By the time this reaches print the election
will be over aud the patton gone to the
denoi,ion bow vows, as it has been doing
once every four yeare. Verify we are tough
patton to continue to survive. GUv.
Wee Nee, Nov. 5, 1900
: Wagon and Team Run Into by
Rro,rht Troin