The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-04-02
A Clear, Broad Minded Statement Which
Should be Given Close Attention by the
Authorities.
Editor The Manning Times:

EOllOr ! ne 21auuIAs 4ILiiCN'
In YOUR last issue of THE TINES. you
invite me to express my views IN re-
gard to the proposal to annex Fulton
and Calvary townships to Sumter coun-
ty. If there is any disposition to do
this by the people of this section, l am
not aware OF it. as l have been among
them and conve,sed with many citizens
of the community since my return from
Columbia. and the subject has not in
any way been referred to by those |
have come in contact with. If the idea
had taken hold seriously in the minds
of the people, take it for granted l
would have heard it discussed or at
least alluded to. For this reason. |
have given the matter no thought
whatever. and it would not only be
premature, but under these circum-
stances. unwise in ne to agitate ques-
tion I have no reason to think is serious
ly considered by the people OF these
townships. I will say however that in
my judgement, should the people ever
bring the proposition to earnest consld-
Grafton, they Should be careful on what
grounds and for what reasons they
adopt such step.
Mere sentiment CT personal expedl-
ency in a movement OF such lmpor-
tance as this, should be entirely ignor-
ed, and only a necessity arising from
complications beyond their control,
and which they are unable to remove,
would Justify such action. The reasons
assigned in correspondence l noticed
some weeks ago in the papers for any
proposed change, were first: that the
railroad facility for going to and from
the county seat was so defective as to
make that kind of transit useless to
those living around here, and IN the
second place, that the highways have
been so neglected by those in authorl-
ty over the chaingang as to make travel
by dirt road both irksome and difficult.
This is undoubtedly so, but I now
have fled in the office Of the Railroad
Commissioners petition for a better
schedule which, if acted favorably upon.
would give US what is wanted on that
line. 1t will take some weeks perhaps
70 hear from it, but I have hopes that
something will be effected to relieve
the situation. AS matter of course,
the case OF railroad communication with
Sumter, turns the tide of trade and
travel to that city, much of which
would be directed to Manning if bet
ter opportunity OF going there was al
lowed US. This fact and consequently
the bringing in touch the people OF this
vicinity AMI Sumter, is no doubt what
has instigated some to advocate a
change, but should relief be given by
the Railroad Commissioners, there
would be no justification on this ground.
I do not pretend to know what the peo-
pie desire as to a change, but | am con-
hdent that if the Railroad would give
the citizens of this region such accom-
modation as they wish and have a right
to demand, much of the disquletlng
feeling (if any exists would disappear.
In addition to the imperfect means OF
railroad transit to Manning, l will take
occasion to say here, that another hard
ship the people of the Western portion
of the county have been subjected to-:
and which no doubt they chafe under.
is the very little benefit they have ex-
perienced from the work of the chain
gang of the county. I do not attribute
this blame to any one individual and
the Supervisor does what he thinks his
duty. in all probability, but there should
be requirement that the chaingang
shall work in each township of the
county as many days as the mileage OF
the public roads in the township would
entitle them to. If the supervisor was
required to visit each township and
perfect the impossible points CT the
highways leaving the rest of the road
to be attended to by those liable to
road duty, it would satisfy all sections
and disseminate the work more equita-
bly,. The better portion of the roads