The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
IN ADVOCACY OF LEE COUNTY.
Why They Wish to Set Up Housekeeping
for Themselves.
Bishopville, S. c., Sept. "A, 1901.

61SQOpFllle, =. ", CePo. IL, 1oO1'
Mr.. Editor: AS you have offered the
use of your paper for the expression OF
opinions and facts, concerning the
formation of Lee county, | will thank
you to publish the following:
The people of Sumter county have
kindly honored me by electing me to
represent them in the Legislature, for
which I sincerely thank them. I was
born and raised in old Sumter county,
have lived from % to 25 miles from
the county seat for so years, and
would naturally feel near to the people
of the entire county. have raised a
family of children, and they have
all married and gone from me. have
experienced much and many changes.
and feel it is my duty to speak con-
cerning the formation Of Lee county.
We need it; we want it we ought to
have it. We have borne our portion of
all the debts of old Sumter, in every
way, at great disadvantage to US, by
being so far from the county seat, and
now feel that by forming Lee county
we can obviate that trouble by bring
ing the people nearer to the county
seat.
The public roads that lead into
Sumter are extremely heavy and hard
to travel, while the public roads that
will be in Lee, are fine and of easy
travel throughout its entire borders,
and no doubt with properly organ
lied road government could be in a
very few years made an ornament as
to good roads in this State with little
or no expense to its citizens.
The lands of Lee county are fine,
and in perhaps two or three years after
the formation of Lee county the taxes
can be so materially reduced as to
amount almost to no tax at all, from
the fact that the expense of all new and
small counties are SO much smaller
after the organization of the county.
With proper care by its voters, officers
can be selected who will economic in
the county governments and it can be
more easily done by the people being
brought so much nearer to each other.
Let's refer to the Statutes little,
in 1897 the ordinary taxes for Sumter
county was 8 mills and Spartanburg
3 mills; while that of Saluda new
county two years old is 212 mills. In
1898, Beaufort is 5 mills and Barn
well mills; while that of Banberg a
county in the same locality of State
two years old is 3 mills; again, in
1S99' Sumter 8, and Spartanburg 3
mills, with Saluda 4 years old only
234 mills.
It is no use to quote further to show
that it does not increase taxes to form
new and smaller counties; and if any
body is in doubt, let them 60 to the
statutes and read, and be con-
vinced. We know there is attachment
by many to the old mother county Of
Sumter, and no doubt close and dear
attachment; but remember, my
friends, that man liveth not for him
self alone. Just think what legacy
you will hand down to your generation
vet unborn, by the formation of Lee
county, and you will not hesitate any
longer.
Now, why should the citizens of the
city of Sumter raise opposition to our
forming Lee conuty? We leave them
their pretty city, with the court house
and all of the county Offices. We car
~ with us our part of the Indebted
ness of the county of Sumter. We do
not change any of the public roads
leading into Sumter. We do not
change the residence of anybody. We
only ask to be allowed to set up a gov
eminent for our betterment and for
the betterment of government in gen.
eral. We don't propose to injure the
town trade, banking, law business
or to interfere with them in any Of
the avocations OF life. We do not
intend to do anything that is against
the law in the formation of Lee coun-
ty. But we do feel like you should.
as one of the family, say to us, "go
thy way and good will is our wish to
your success. Z" And we hope in the
near future we will be more closely
connected with you by having the
Seaboard Air Line r. r., building a
branch direct from McBee via Bish-
opville to Sumter. So kind friends
turn out on the day Of election and
vote legitimately for Lee county.
D. E. Durant.