Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-28
Wednesday, November 28, 1900.


freshet. It was certainly rock bottom.
Mr.. Wylie, however, explained that the
rock was seamy, and that 1t was neces-
sary to take out everything down to a
solid bed. Lots of work had been done
and there was still lots to do, The
dam Is to run diagonally across the
river. It is to be q feet wide at the
and feet wide at the top,
rising II feet above mean low water.
Under this arrangement It will be pos
sible to develop $500 horse power.
ly, present plans contemplate the rats-
ing Of the dam ten feet higher and In
creasing the power capacity to 10000
horse. The II foot dam will raise the
river about 5 feet at Wright's ferry, and
back water on up distance of three
miles. It Is calculated that the back
water will extend five miles in all, and
1t is quite probable that at places 1t
will be a mile across. The company
will put steam launch on the lake
thus created, and 1t is quite probable
that lne vicinity will some day become
great pleasure resort. But Mr.. Wy
lie did not seem to De 80 much inter-
ested in the dam and the lake as he did
In the taking up Of some white oak
trees. He Is great crank about trees.
Most people, he says, are disposed to
set quick growing trees. Trees that
are quick to grow are quick to die, and,
therefore, he prefers trees of glow
growth like the white oak. He was
having the trees dug up carefully from
the roots for removal to Rock Hill, and
ne stood over the workmen to see to it
that they did not bend the trunks.
That" he said, rs why 80 many trees
are killed in transplanting. They bend
the trunks and Dreak the connection
with the roots below. Mr.. Wylie treat
ed US with great cordiality during our
stay and extended pleasant invitation
to return whenever we should have the
opportunity.
From the works Of the power COM
pany it is only a quarter Of mile
back to the point where a new cut road
leads off toward the bridge, and from
this point to the bridge Is only about
half mile further. There has been
considerable road work on both sides
Of the bridge. The entertainments have
been raised with view to putting,
them above possible high water. The
approaches to the bridge seem to be
strong and substantial, and the bridge
itself Is neat structure. It appears
to be light rather than massive; but Is
easily strong enough to sustain any
load that Is likely, to be hauled to 1t
over the rough hills on either side. On
the top Of the west end Is plate bear
ing this inscription: 1900. Erected by
York county. T. G. Culp, supervisor;
e. A. Crawford, w. 8. Wilkerson, COM
missioners. Geo. II. Crafts, construct
or" The iron work OF the bridge has
been painted red; but there Is no paint
on the approaches. The lower point Of
Carothers's island extends to within
hundred yards Of the bridge on the left,
and on the right Is long, unbroken
stretch or river. On q bluff down the
river, a mile or two away, is to be had
a glimpse Of pretty summer cottage
erected sometime ago by Messrs. Rod
dey and Whitner. The road to and
from the bridge already shows signs Of
considerable travel, and the approach
ing rough winter weather shows the
necessity for lot Of expensive perma-
nent work.
There were few changes to be noted
In Fort Mill. Capt. 8. e. White was
found at his summer headquarters on
the bank veranda overlooking Confed-
crate Park; DR.. J. H. Thornwell and
Mr.. ]. M. Spratr were also there. The
exchange a few remarks with Captain
J. w. Ardrey. Prof. Starr Mason greet
ed US cordially, and we found DR.. D. g.
Thompson establishing himself in
good practice. Mr.. Frank Pegram, the
proprietor Of the Palmetto hotel, gave
US good dinner. Supervisor Oulp
took the writer out Of town to see the
macadam road that the changing built
toward Lancaster recently. There are
about 700 yards Of this road, and the
nacadam is full IL inches thick. The
supervisor says it is the best road yet
Quilt. in the county, and 1t ought to be
for there is no other road that has to
carry such a heavy travel. The inspec-
ton was to have taken place at
o'clock; but 1t seems that most of the
members Of the company work In the
factories. They could not get out un-
til late. It was 4 o'clock before the
company marched out to the drill
grounds and as Captain Lewis did his
work there, as everywhere, thorough
ly, 1t was after o'clock before we were
ready to start on the return trip.
Dark overlook US before we got to the
river; but as Lee assured us that he
could not be lost on road that he had
once been over, we felt no especial ap-
prehension. Shortly after dark we re-
newed the ghost talk Of the morning
for the benefit Of the Negro, and before
we had gone mile we discovered that
we were lost. Inquiry at house help
ed us to India Hook church and after we
had gotten out into the main Thorne's
ferry road, we left it. to the driver
again. Some half hour or more later
we splashed suddenly into creek
which both. of us knew we had not
crossed during the morning, and we
were not long in realizing that we were
lost sure enough. We accused the drtv-
er Of being afraid Of the grave yard,
and as he did not deny the charge, It
was fair to assume that this was the
trouble. But that did not help the SIT
uation. We could only guess at the dis
tance we had travelled out Of the way,
and not one Of US had the least idea as
to which way we were going. It was
getting late and most of the farm
was nothing to be seen but few stars
overhead, the shadows on the side Of
the road, and a dim outline Of the
horses. Captain Lewis resigned himself
to night in the woods, and the writer
agreed that this was about the extent
of the predicament. If the trouble was
because Of scared Negro, 1t was our
fault and we could say nothing.
AS there was nothing else to do, we
decided to keep straight ahead and
trust to luck. After going & mile or
more, we came upon q farm house in
which the lights were still shining, and
after several plaintive hellos, succeed
ed in attracting the attention Of the
man who lived there. He came out
with a lantern. and as he came up rec
ognized the writer. It was Mr.. 8. 8,
Faris. We told him our story and he
Informed us that we were on the road
to Rock Hill. Then he advised us that
our best way was to try and strike the
Rock Hill and Yorkville road just east
Of Mr.. Peter Garrison's. He gave mi
nute directionsa as to how to proceed; but
by the time he got through he evidently
realized the hopelessness Of our case.
Anyhow he wound up with: II know
what I can do" and he climbed up In
the vacant seat of the surry and took
charge. We realized the great incon-
venience to which we were putting our
kind hearted friend; but we did not