The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-08-24


the roads and bridges in repair and
would give every section of the county
its share of the chain gang work. He
would do his duty and the people
would have no cause to complain.
Mr.. Frean Mellett said he was
glad to meet the people Of Shiloh
again. he was a candidate for Coun-
ty Supervisor and hoped the people
would decide to put him in the posi-
tion where he could serve them. Mr..
Scale, who is candidate for reelec-
tion, has had the Office for two terms
already and he could not complain if
be were not given a third term. Mr..
Mellett assured his hearers that he
could build clay rods, work the chain
gang to advantage and discharge all
5he other duties of the Office to the
satisfaction Of the taxpayers, and
he would appreciate the suffrage of the
people Of Shiloh.
Mr.. ". H.. Scale, who seeks reelec-
tion, discussed the road question, say
ing that the roads of Sumter county
are now in fairly good condition, and
ne left it to any man who travelled
over them to deny that great and per-
manent improvement had been made
during his incumbency of the Office.
He said it had come to his ears that
there is some complaint concerning
the distribution of the chain gang work.
He did not feel that there had been
any just ground for complaint as be
had endeavored to work the gang
where it would do the most good to
the entire county and that he would
in time get to every section. He had
been informed that Hudson's Bridge
was in bad condition and that he had
been criticised because it had not
been repaired. He would say that in
sofar as that bridge was concerned it
should have been repaired before, and
that Mr. J. T. McNeill, a member of
the county board of commissioners,
who had volunteered to supervise the
roads and bridges of the Shiloh Sec
tion. had promised several months ago
to have Hudson's bridge repaired. He
wished Mr.. McNill was on the
ground to confirm his statement. In
his opinion great mistake had
been made when a bridge more than
1900 feet long was built at that point
when it would have been far more
economical in the long run to have
thrown up an embankmentifor greater
part of the distance, material being
abundant. He expected in the near
future to take the chain gang to Hud-
sons bridge and fix it as it should be,
for the expense of buying lumber at
present prices is too great to keep up
a 1900 fort bridge. There is complaint
also about working the chain gang on
the roads near Sumter. He regarded
Sumter as the hub Of the county and
the re ads leading out as the spokes.
Work done on these roads was work
done for the entire county and in his
Judgment it was the best work that
could be done for all the people. He
expected to continue working these
roads as he had been doing and if he
was continued in Office he would soon
have all the roads in the condition Of
the MaYesville road, which the people of
Shiloh knew from experience had been
wonderfully improved, hard clay
roadways taking the place of sand beds
that had heretofore been the dread Of
every Shiloh man who started to Sum.
ter. In reference to the financial
condition of the county he said that
when he took charge the debt was
about $4,000 and that it had been
gradually increasing since 1876 when
the Democrats got control and inner
tied a debt from the Republicans.
Now the finances are in much better
condition. There is on deposit in
bank fund of s6, 600 and interest,
which is increased at the rate Of 81, Goo
and interest year for the purpose Of
payiang the bonded debt of SIS, 600 at
it's maturity in 1906. Lee county
owes about $1,000 which will be de-
posted in bank to reduce the debt OF
the county. The affairs Of the county
have been economically administered
and there has been no unnecessary
expenditures.
In reply, Mr.. J. A. NJ. Caro-
way said that, as chairman OF
the meeting, it might be thought un-
becoming in him to have anything to
say, bat as he was in large measure
responsible for the building of Hud-
sons bridge he felt that Mr.. Scale
had stepped upon his toes and the toes
of several others present when he crit
icised the bridge as he had. The
bridge was needed and had been great
benefit to the community. It had been
build substantially and as seemed best.
Mr.. Scale said that he still
maintained that an embankment
| would have been better and that
bridges we're needed only to span the
streams, that the bridge as built was
! a needless expense.
The four candidates for Sheriff came
| next.
W. S. Dinkins said he would do his
| dnty if elected, and that he would say
| one thing. that a prisoner IN his Gus
/ todv would never be taken by mob,
except over his dead body.
Mr.. ". H. Epperson announced his
| candidacy, told few war Jokes and
premised to do his full duty if elected.
MIR. J. E. Gaillard said he was fam
iaiar with the duties Of the Sheriff's
| Office, had performed them satisfactorily
and il elected be would give his whole
time and attention to the Office.
! He would perform his full duty under
the law at all times and in all circum-