The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-03-27
q

EaiCO POio', S'o0 w A1o . y
a few comments ADD g presentuent.
Who is responsible for the disgrace
full co0dition Of our highways. so call.
ed ? Whose duty is it to see that the
road hands are properly called ous ADD
made to fill up the holes aod simply
keep 10 fe.tle tie roads that the chain
gang has raised, graded and drained
for us
In the multitude of acts of that gen
eral assembly that ne'er breaks up"
for forty days aud nights, aud the
statutes ',hst have 10 end, is there
aay statute nov of force and virtue
regarding our road work, or has Sum-
ter ooenty been excepted from it's
operation 2 II any statute appiies is
there say Official or ofioials whose duty
it is to enforce sach Law and who is or
gre drawing pay for the performance :?
If this duty is beiog neglected is sbere
cot come higher power to which the
negligent official or officials is or are
aueoable ? If this delinquency comes
within the purvlev of the grand jury's
prsrogs,ives. surely that honorable
body doa't need to inquire into or to
have the condition of the roads special
| ly reported. unless they are all asleep
while going 60 she Court House or
depots, and if 80 be they esn sleep
While travelling over oar present roads
we'll, shey'll oever wake aDy more,
aud We might as we'll draw 90 the
treasury snd eDploy 40 undertakes 20
uodersake thee aud have grand
fuueral Of ehe graDd jury Thea there
is sbe Couosy Board Of Commissioners
aud supervisor. and if shis weather,
sbd toe roads. continue to get worse
mucb logger, they'll nos be able to
gstber around the green table, in the
probate omae to pass any more ac-
eouots until sbey are ready to pass 10
their ovo cheeks.
The topography ADD alIuoiuu of our
county is such that there ls nos one
excuse For our Dot having as doe
high ways as apy 10 the world, aad
surely tie cheapest The proper con
ssitueuss already exist in the soil. sand,
clay aud grsvel, and the proportions
sufficiently prozimate TO build roads
almost anywhere without any tools,
implements or appiiaaces other than
pick and shovel, With an axe or two.
The grand jury, ue know, can but
present their report TO the court aud
receive instructions therefrom
NV, therefore, We do sres pectfulIy
make this our preseotmens to the Hon
orable the Graudjury of Sumter county
as follows. VIZ:
Imprinis We arrogate to ourselves
the title of Game Cock +" Whereas.
10 the matter af our roads we do prove
ourselves verItable barn yard, dung
bill breed. to wit
1st That the suhjec. populace have
Tot been summoned, warned or ordered
to do aoy road work for the past three
years
p That the roads are in most
execrable coodition. and even where
they have been raised, graded anS
dra,ued by the chain gang aod road
machine. only shora time since they
are already eaten 10 holes aud cut toto
russ BY the murderously destructive
hatchet edge tires used for bauling
That these holes are growing longer,
larger and deeper sith every vet spell.
aDd that 90 move whatever is being
made by any one,so ever 20 keep these
or aDy other portion Of roads ln sny
sort of repair.
Instead. Sd. That the farm plous
ars using the highways as "surn ro0s"
where the rows are st right or osher
augles to the road. aud that vhers they
ran parallel they, iu aany pisces.
infringe upoo the right Of vay pernitsed
sud eDjoined BY asasute. That vhere
shese plovs surn in the roads 'hey ere
earelessly. negligeDsly asd vish malice
sforeshoaghs permitted TO goage into
the side track, and 70 shrov slods of
earth apon the Same to she great dosri-
Rens thereto and to the ooafort,
pstieuce, ferveOs piesy, and GodliueoO
Of drivers. pedestrians. predessrisiion-
isto and pedalisss (and especially the
last, vho are rapidly sinking ia'o .
chronic ssste of baekslidipg) Also
thas these same pIows, also disc aud
other harrovs aod farm Implements are
often dragged along she highways,
addiog to the injury of same and bar.
rowing the feelings Of above aeasiened
sssvelers
4sb. We present the telephone poles
as also. 10 many places. srangressiDg
apon the right Of road. visbeas osu'e,
exou,o or Justification Moreover, se
respectfully present to your hoaoraOle
body tha. the presens condition OF our
county roads are crying disgrace,