The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-06-19
Presentment of Grand Jury---June Term.
To His Honor, O. W. Buchanan, Pre-,

siding Judge:
The grand jury having passed upon
all bills of Indictment handed to them
by the Solicitor and having duly con-
sidered and returned them to the
court, we beg to submit the following
presentment:
At the last term of court some men
tion was made as to the condition of
the public highways and the causes
which led to such condition. We wish
again to call attention to this matter
and respectfully suggest to our legis-
lators and taxpayers what seems to US
a remedy for the present system and
its resultant condition.
It is notorious fact that our roads
are in miserable condition; low
places in wet weather rapidly becom-
ing impossible, hills are washed into
gullies, sand-beds are deepened,
bridges become wrecked and danger
Gus. This condition of affairs must
continue until the overseers can call
out the hands to work their respective
sections. When hands are called out
they cannot be compelled to work more
than six days in the year and the
quality Of the work is practically such
as the individual hand pleases to rem
der. The reason for this is because
neither overseer nor hands get any pay
for work so rendered-most of them
are farm hands and the time spent on
the road is deducted by their employ
ers from their already scanty wages.
The employers of these hands are very
often ill-prepared to spare them from
their farms. All parties, therefore,
being desirous to get through with
this public duty as soon as possible,
hurry over their respective sections,
throw a few shovelfulls of dirt into
the mud holes and gullies, relay the
planks on the rickety bridges. cut a
few weeds and bushes by the way and
leave the road in about as bad or worse
condition than before. Now it seems
to US that since all are agreed that
goods roads are vast saving to the
travelling public and especially to the
farmers who have hauling to do, that
in place Of the present system or want
of system, rather, that it would be
we'll to urge our legislators to have
something like the following done for
Sumter county at least: Repeal the
present road law. Let the roads be laid
out into sections something like they
now are: let these sections out to the
lowest bidder for a year or more to be
kept in repair. The party so contract
ing giving bond for the faithful dis
charge of his duties. His work being
subject to the approval Of the proper
officials. Under this system or some
thing like it the roads could be rapid
ly improved and kept permanently in
good condition. To meet the expenses
of this there could be laid for awhile a
small additional levy and per capita
tax. Such a system as this would tend
to equalize this burden to the relief Of
the farmers and laborers who now bear
it to the permanent benefit of all.
At the last term of court charges
were made to the grand jury that
there were irregularities in the con-
duct of the dispensary in this city. A
committee was appointed which in
vestigated and found these charges
true. The attention of the proper au-
thorities was called to the matter.
Again this term the same charges are
made and the same committee being
appointed find no evidence of any at
tempt being made to correct this vio-
lation Of law.
The charges were that the, request
books and the cash boks did not tally
The committee finds that on May lst,
1901, the request books show a total
sale of 4.S5 dollars-the cash book for
the same date show total sale of
l5O.3 35 dollars. The following oath is
required of dispensers and is filed out
by the dispenser at this place for the
month of May from which the above
figures are taken. 81, E. T. Wind
ham, being duly sworn state on oath
that the request for liquors herewith
returned are all that were received
and filled at my place of business un-
der my permit for the month of May,
1901; that I have carefully preserved
the same and that they were filled up,
signed and attested at the date shown
thereon as provided by law; that said
requests were filled by delivering the
quantity and kind OF liquors required
and that no liquors have been sold OF
dispensed under my permit during the
said month except as shown by the re-