The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-02-24
County Supervisors Report.

1OU1s
To the Hon. J. G. Klugh, Presiding
Judge.
I beg leave to submit herewith my
annual report in accordance with Sec
ton 1853 of the code of 1902.
An itemized statement Of the ex-
penditure in the different department
of the County Government Ia hereto
attached.
I am glad to report that the con-
dition of the public roads are perhaps
better than ever before, in the history
of the county, at this season of the
wear. This condition however is due
largely to the very favorble weather;
as very little rain has fallen during
the past several months. Usually at
this season Of the year the roads are
badly cut and almost impossible IN
many places.
7 desire to state, that all public roads
of the county have been gone over with
the scraper during the year, and put
in good condition.; the work being
done by convict labor exclusively.
These road scrapes being used, during
the summer months: this work having
been completed on or about October
the tenth. The convicts were then
put into two camps-and placed one
each on two leading roads from
Abbeville, and up to the present time
have been engaged hauling stone and
gravel, constructing pavement roads.
One road commencing at Long Cane
Cemetery and running by way OF Due
West and Donalds to Saluda River IN
the north east corner of the county,
q distance Of about twenty-five miles:
practically all the level parts Of this
road have been either maccadamized
or graded, and it gives me much
pleasure to state that very excellent
duality of gravel or ebert was readily
obtained without cost to the county.
The other road beginning at the city
limits of Abbeville, running by way
of Martin Mill to Lowndesville in the
North West corner of the county was
worked in the same way.
About six mile Of permanent road
was constructed during the year. There
seems to be growing demand for the
opening up of new public roads IN
every section of the county. 1t is my
opinion, in most cases the request for
these roads should be granted, but un-
fortunately perhaps for all concerned
we feel that the financial condition OF
the county will not warrant us grant.
ing many requests for new roads.
Owing to the fact that the right of way
for the location of new roads though
usually given free of charge, but when
the supervisor undertakes to locate
the road the land owner almost in
variably objects to the road passing
over his land, unless he be allowed to
dictate exactly where the road should
be located. These rights of way are fire.
quently given to the county by the
land owners, however IN many cases
they assume, having given the right OF
way as a matter of courtesy, they
should be allowed to say exactly where
the road should be located on theil
premises. Quite frequently they give
the right of way with the hope or un-
derstanding in their own minds thai
a public road, 80 much desired, will be
located in an cid plantation road tina,
has been in use for fifty years and IN
many places this road would be, II sc
located, in ten foot gully, therefore
making it practically impossible to oper
new roads; as many of the land owners
will not give the right of way nncon
ditionaly and as the funds for road pur
poses are limited the rights of way to-
new roads cannot be condemned and
paid for by the county, :,
From experience and observation i
Is my opinion that many of our puollc
roads should be relocated. Some prog
ress has been made along this line dur,
ing the past year. About five miles o.
road have been relocated, going aroune
hills on an easy grade; much yet re
mains to be done along this line: AS
rule the opening up of new roads ano
the relocation Of old roads must be done
between the gathering and the planting
of the crop, in order to save the county
from paying extra damages. In relo
eating old roads the land owner ls no
expected to give the right of way, ant
the same is almost invaribly paid for pJ
the county.
I desire to state in this connection
that the county board of commissioner Ied,
resolved at their meeting in March l9O'
to accept four days work from delln