Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-29
NOTE AND COMM EMIT.

NOTE AND COMMENT.
As reported in the house last Fri
day, the sundry civil appropriation bill
contains $4,000 for a public building
in Rock Hill.
The weatherwise say the danger Of
killing frost cannot be left out Of
consideration until after the first full
moon in April. From that event the
peach crop Is reasonably safe.
There are no shoals in Catawba riv-
er between Wright's Ferry and the
dam, now. Formerly there were some
pretty swift shoals on both sides OF
Carothers Island. which used to be
famous fishing ground. But now there
is not a rock to be seen. A boat can
drift lazily from Wright's ferry to the
dam, without danger Of hitting a sin
gle rock. The seining resort at Car
others Island is no more, and the Is
land itself has been reduced somewhat
in size.
What is known as the Whitesides
granite quarry, about six miles north
of YorKville will no doubt some day
come in for its fair share Of atten-
ton. Experts who have examined this
property say that the granite to be
found there is Of as fine quality as
Is to be found anywhere within f1ve
hundred miles. and Is really superior
to anything that has ever been turned
out Of the well-known quarries at
Rockton, In Fairfield county. Not
only Is this true, but the lode lies In
good position for convenient and econ
omical quarrying. The stone splits
out like chestnut rails" and Is capable
Of taking q very satisfactory polish.
It has been used throughout this sec
ton for years. and 1t would no doubt
be quite an easy matter to develop
large market for it II the work should
be undertaken by men with the nee
essary experience and capital. The
late F. Happerfield, who seemed to
know about all there was to be known
about building and monumental stone,
used to say that the Whitesides quarry
was the finest Of which he had any
knowledge. He tried to secure the
development Of the property on
large scale and spent money with that
end in view; but finally gave up the
task under the full conviction that
where he had failed somebody else
would some day make big fortune.
The destiny Of this quarry depends
upon its being brought to the atten-
ton Of people who will be able to
appreciate It's possibilities and who
may have the means to properly de-
velop the same.
~ would very much like to see some
reform In this matter Of letting bridge
contracts" said q well-known substan-
tial citizen to the reporter yesterday.
'T do not want to be understood as
criticizing the present county author
ities," he continued, "but there Is GER
tainly need for reform and the facts are
we'll enough known to assure me that l
will be satisfactorily backed up In what
I have to say. The practice Is to
advertise for bids with the understand
ing that the successful bidder must
enter into bond in double the amount
Of his contract for faithful perform
ance, etc. So far so good; but there
are number Of professional contrac-
tors who have learned by experience
that such agreements count for but
little to illustrate I will cite certain
facts that came under my observation.
The commissioners advertised for
bids for the building Of a bridge over
a certain stream in accordance with
specifications that had been previously
drawn up. The work was easily worth
$50 or $50 for a fairly good Job and
no man who intended to give a good
job would have thought Of filing a bid
at a less figure. The contract was
let, however, for less than thirty dol
lars and within three months after the
bridge was completed it had to be
condemned. There are numerous cases
that are nearly If not quite as bad as
this, and J. think it about time to call
a halt. I would like to see the adop-
ton of straightout business principles.
I would like the board to let 1t be
distinctly understood that all work
given out on a competitive basis must
come fully up to specifications before
the contractor will be allowed to touch
one cent OF money. This would be fair
to all contractors and 1t would result
in giving the county much better
values for it's money than 1t has been
receiving up to this time"
LOCAL LACONICS.