The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-20

WEDNESDAY,, MAY 20, 1903.
Fae Susnser Eoscanson vas toundee
Ia 1850 and the True Soushroa in 1866
gse Wescamon and Southron now has
he combined circulation and influence
81 both Of t6e old papers, and is mani
&feesEy the best sdgersisiag medium u
sanaser.
A hook and ladder truck is needed
IN the Ere department, but a chemical
engine is not an Immediate necessity.
Before THIS Investment is made prop
eety owners would like to know if it
viii nave any eject on insurance rates.
Every improvement that has been
made IN the IRE department, from the
establishment OF the water system
down to the organization of regular
department has been followed by an
increase in insurance rates and we are
shy of other Improvements. Let's go
slow on the expenditure Of city money.
especially as every dollar that is spent
now has to be borrowed from the
banks at per cent.
About three years ago the City
Council then in Office neglected to
make any effort to purchase the cleo
trie light plant. although urged to do
SO by the Daily Item and also by the
Watchman and! Southron, The plant
could have been bought then for sto,-
800 Oh the city's own terms, but the
Council did rot even consider the
mater formally. Yet the city has
paid out In rent for lights since that
time considerably more than the plant
was sold for. Now it has been decided
20 increase the number OF street
lights by i've at an annual rental Of
1915. sum alone almost sufficient to
pay the interest on the total value Of
the electric plant. The folly of not
buying this plant when it was on the
market grows mora. apparent each
year.
Charleston has deep water on the
bar-Ghe deepest of any port south OF
New York-and the News and Courier
IS calling for big ships to use the fine
harbor. The way for Charleston to
get the big ships is to build them
with her own money. Utilize some of
the rusty dollars lying idlein the bank
vaults. Self help is the only secret~of
industrial and commercial sal7ation.
If the Sumter Water Works are now
worth sl10, 900, the valuation fixed by
Its owners, what will it be worth
ten years hence9 We are Informed
chat the system when installed about
ten years ago cost between thirty and
forty thousand dollars and subsequent
expenditures are estimated to have
brought the total cost up to s5o,o GOO.
If japan undertakes to whip Russia
there is more than apt to be important
changes in the map Of the Orient.
The new owners of the Augusta
Chronicle. Messrs. H. H. Cobiniss and
Thos. W.Loyless, of Atlanta, tookchazge
Tuesday and there is apparent marx
ed improvement in the paper already.
The men and a great opportunity in
She newspaper field have met.
Nay all possible success attend the
efforts Of the new owners to build up a
great paper in Augusta.
Gov. Hayward and Miss Lumpkin,
niesher of whom is veteran, were
the star attractions of the Columbia Re
union. The reception they each re-
SStESG N11Cn Si4SJ SSO1>V e1i<io~~A W. ~ -
ovation. The enthusiasm aroused by
Miss Lumpkin is not to be wondered
at for the old soldiers were ever en-
thusiastic admirers Of young and
charming woman, but the reception
given Gov. Eeyward was a remarkable
tribute to his universal popularity in
Senth Carolina.
Our City Council believes in spread
ing out even though it costs money to
do so, and Notwithstanding the fact
that the money SO expended for frills. SO
to speak. for the fire department must
be borrowed.
The war department may eventually
be forced to make public all Of Gen.
Miles Philippin3 report which the
officials attempted to suppress because