The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-09
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

Pursuant to adjournment Council
met at 6 O'Clock Wednesday with all
members present.
Minutes of 28th read and approved.
Mr.. W. A. Bowman renewed his ap-
plication for the privilege of running
railroad track across Harvin street
and submitted a map showing exact
location and direction OF the proposed
track.
On Alderman Chambers motion all
speeches were limited to five minutes.
DR.. Walter Cheyne renewed the pro-
test of citizens against granting Mr..
Bowman's s request.
Dr.. A. j. China said that track
at that point would damage residential
property, being detrimental to per-
sonal comfort and making residences
less desirable The street was donated
for public purposes and should not be
blocked for private enterprises. He
was favorable to the new company, and
everything that will build up the trade
and prosperity of Sumter. Has a high
er opinion Of Mr.. Bowman's Judgment
and ability than to believe that failure
to secure the privilege he is seeking
will prevent the establishment OF this
business as other sites may be found
that are suitable.
Mr.. Bowman said the track was es-
sential. If they couldn't get it, then
they would be under necessity of hav-
ing an Office up town and warehouse
elsewhere making personal supervision
of the business difficult Or impossi
BILE. He does not see how anybody
would be damaged by the track. 1t
would not do to open banking house
in the country. Everybody agrees that
residences will have to give way to
business houses in that section. Then
), why block the first movement to get a
business established there? +.
Messrs. Schwerin and Chandler
moved that the petition be refused.
Speeches in opposition to the petition
were made by Aldermen Chandler,
Schwerin, Finn, Dick, G. F. Epper-
son and Boyle.
Mr.. Chandler does not think COM
mercial enterprises should be encour-
ragged at private expense. The streets
should not be used for laying railroad
tracks except on dire necessity which
does not exist in the present case, as
another location may be secured. 1t
is serious thing to block travel with
railroad tracks.
| Nj. Schwerin had given the mater
much thought and could find no rea-
son to subject property owners to such
inconvenience. He doesn't mean to dis
courage the enterprise, as be has some
stock in it himself, but desirable sites
may be had where smaller number of
citizens will be affected.
Mr.. Finn, looking at the matter from
an unselfsh standpoint, sees no neces-
sity to grant the petition: And thinks
an enterprise of this character can do
little good, except to advertise the ty.
Alderman Dick had made up his
mind to vote against the petition.
But new considerations had arisen
which put him in dilemma, growing
out of possible change of location to
| DR.. Chyne's property, which would
be quite as Objectionable as the pro-
posed location. His purposes was to
| protect the homes of citizens from
engine smoke, and obnoxious odors.
But after all, the question narrows
| down to crossing popular thorough
fare and be could not favor it.
MI. G. F. Epperson likes to encou-
rage business and dislikes to vote
against the petition, but cannot favor
| anything that will decrease values and
| be injurious to so large an amount of
property as this proposed track.
Mr. Boyle found the question hard
to decide, and disliked to talk-as he
has personal interest in the new COM
pany after Mr.. Bowman's proposal to
protect the crossing with gates and
fagman the danger seemed small. He
would have to vote against the petition
however-though eventually those
residences will give way to bushes
| houses.
| Mayor Stuckey vacated the chair and
said: The first great thought that
came to him was that, we have
growing city. The sound of the saw
and hammer is heard on all sides. We
have railroad facilities: our trade will
grow-must grow. Our growth must
be on Main street towards the rail
roads, as in all other cities. The effect
of establishing this banking and COM
mercial house will be to start the
movement, and in less time than we
think the gap between Mr.. Bow
mans houses and the business houses
higher up will be filed with new and
valuable business establishments. Resi-
dences will give way-property will be
enhanced in value. We ought to en-
courage that movement by granting
this petition. 1t will be step in the
right direction, the benefits will out
weigh the disadvantages, which are
| much less than people think. He
doesn't want to do anything but good
for the community and thinks we
should invite Mr.. Bowman's company
to come in, and give them the track.
People could use Graham street and
avoid the crossing.
Mr.. Hurst had thought over the
matter seriously, and an enterprise
like this should not be choked off.
With rigid restrictions the crossing
| would be safe and the inconvenience
small. There could be no objection
to such a warehouse as would be es-
tablished from a standpoint of cleanli-