The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-21

F. Epperson.
Marion Noise, Esq, was present to
suggest to Council; lst, That thee At
lantic Coast Line Railroad Co. should
| be required to improve their Harvin
street crossing by building it level
with the track with clay or planks,
the present condition of the crossing,
he stated, to be dangerous to vehicles
and to life; End, That the same COM
pany should be required to maintain
an automatic guard at the Manning
avenue crossing as necessary protec-
ton to human life. He also urged
upon Council the Importance of COM
pleting the improvement of Main
street, West Liberty street and Man
ming avenue to the points where the
clay roads built by the county begin.
These he thought most important,
even if bond issue were necessary,
which will not be the case, as the
financial condition of the city is very
good and the banks are willing to
make the loans needed. He suggested
that the trash of the city should be
burnt instead of being piled up in the
dump grounds to be blown about on
the roads:
In reference to the request Of Mr..
". 4. Bowman and associates for the
privilege of laying a railroad track
across Main street, Mr.. Noise said it
ought to be granted There is room
for residences in other parts of the
city, but business houses must locate
near the railroads of necessity. The
progress of the city for the past Eve
years has been greater than for twen-
ty years preceding, and it ought not
to be hindered in any way. He be-
lieves that if the question were SUBJ
mitted to business men they would
vote to allow the track to be built and
cited instances of large cities where
railroads run through the streets to
the center, notably Saratoga and New
York City.
M. W. A. Bowman stated that he
had made an effort TO secure some
other convenient site for his business,
but had not succeeded and now renews
his request for the right to lay rail
road track across Harvin street. If he
cannot get this privilege his business
enterprise must be abandoned. He
said the Sumter Telephone Mfg. Co.,
is now building saw mills on their lot
and will reserve space for the track if
Council permits to cross the street.
In answer to questions Mr.. Bowman
said that he is willing to submit to all
restrictions heretofore suggested by
Council, and that no cotton platform
will be maintained, though they may
erect bick warehouses for storage of
cotton.
At later stage of the meeting the
matter was taken up. Messrs. Chand-
ler and Dick moved that the petition
be granted.
Mr.. Boyle asked to be excused from
voting on the ground of personal in
terest.
Messrs. Chandler and Schwerin in
sisted that every member of Council
should vote.
Mr. Boyle was excused.
The vote was Yeas-Chandler Dick,
Hurst, Stuckey.
Nays--Finn and Schwerin.
Mr.. W. H. Epperson refrained from
voting.
On motion of Mr.. Hurst the Clerk
was directed to prepare an ordinance
granting the petition, embodying ali
restrictions and regulations heretofore
agreed upon. Mr.. Bowman assented
to this proposition.
Tie annual tax ordinance and the
license ordinance for 1904 we're read
adopted and ordered published, under
a resolution dispensing with the rule
which REQUIRES two readings.
Mr.. Boyle reported that as chairman
of the committee of public works he
had ordered shipment of rock suspend
ed until council should definitely de-
termine how far the macadam work on
Main street shall be carried.
On motion of Messrs. Dick and Finn
it was ordered that the macadam work
be continued to Warren street and a
clay roadway laid from that point to
the terminus of the clay work done by
the county; and that the claying of
Warren street and of Liberty street
from Sumter to Washington be done at
the discretion of the committee of
public works.
Messrs Chandler and Hurst opposed
ordering any more work done until
what is now in course of construction
is completed, but their motion to that
effect was lost.
A petition from citizens asking that
Sumter street be macadamized from
the railroad to Liberty street was read,
but action was postponed for the pres
ent.
Alderman Dick offered the following
resolution which was adopted:
Resolved that committee of three
be appointed to collect data and fur
ther the cause OF the proposed Govern
ment building for our city. Further,
that all citizens be requested to fur
nish any information they may pcs
sess to aid said committee, and THAT
said committee be requested to
report what progress they are
making from time to time and that
Council as whole be urged to push
this matter as rapidly as possible. -
Aldermen Dick. Chandler and
Schwerin were appointed.
On motion of Mr.. Chandler the
Mayor and Clerk we're authorized by
unanimous consent to borrow $4,000 for
necessary xpenses-S10OO from the