Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-11
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

devoted the greater part of its regular
monthly meeting last Wednesday to
the consideration Of the equities aris-
ing out Of the necessity Of erecting a
new and expensive bridge over the
mouth Of Allison creek because Of the
back water from the dam of the Ca
tawba power company.
There has been a hitch over this
matter for some time, and while there
seems to be no reason to fear a fall
ure to reach a proper settlement, still
the question seems to involve problems
that are more or less. confusing, and
the delay that has been occasioned by
inability to reach an understanding up
to this time has already caused quite a
lot Of inconvenience to the people Of
the immediate locality.
AS was stated some time back, when
the trouble developed at Allison creek
bridge by the filling Of the dam, the
power people let the water off and set
themselves to work to remedy the Sit
uation by the construction Of a new
bridge. They proceeded, they allege,
under an understanding with the for
mer board of commissioners, at a site
further up the creek and were erecting
a bridge in accordance with plans and
specifications Of their own. Before the
work was completed 1t developed that
there was no clear understanding as
= ~
county, and operations were suspended
until satisfactory agreement could
be reached.
Mr.. w. H. Wylie, w. B. Wilson, Esq,
and Engineer w. S. Lee appeared be-
fore the board Wednesday in behalf Of
the power company, and there were
present a number Of citizens in behalf
of themselves. The Power people rep
resented that they had reached an
agreement with the former board,
whereby the county was to pay half
the expense Of erecting the proposed
bridge at site agreed upon, and to be-
come responsible for its maintenance
thereafter.
The board admitted that there had
been an agreement as to the location
Of a site; but no member Of it had any
recollection as to any agreement that
the county should pay half the expense
Of erection or become responsible for
maintenance. The argument Of the
board was that whereas the former
bridge was only IS feet long, and pres
ent conditions require a bridge Of 430
feet with a fill Of 200 feet or more, it
Is fair that the power company not only
pay the greater portion Of the expense
Of erection, but that 1t should help to
maintain the bridge in the future.
Replying to the argument Of the COM
missioners, the power people admit
ted the correctness Of the comparative
figures, but introduced citizens Of the
neighborhood who testified that the IS
foot bridge was useless in time Of high
water either in the creek or river;
that in such event the water was deep
enough over the low approaches to
swim a horse: that this condition
sometimes lasted for days, that after
the water had receded vehicles would
sink in the mud to the hubs. Under
these circumstances, it was held that
the county would have eventually been
compelled to incur practically the same
expense that has now become neces-
sary, and the power company, therefore
has not inflicted anything like the
damage that seems so apparent. 1t
was argued also that the power COM
pany has become a citizen, created di-
rect taxable values Of s1,0OO,000, and
that the taxes it will have to pay will
make the matter of maintaining such
a bridge a small item.
AS the outcome Of the argument out
lined, the power company proposed
that it would pay half the cost Of erect
ing a bridge in accordance with plans
and specifications to be furnished by the
county if the county would take the
responsibility Of future maintenance.
The commissioners replied with a count
er proposition by which it offered to
become responsible for future mainten-
ance Of a wooden bridge to be erected
by the power company in accordance
with plans ard specifications to be
furnished by the county; provided, |
that the power company maintain the !