The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-27


which they have come out for Parker
may be taken as sign that they be-
levs that Parker is the popular can
didase and has better chance of elec-
zion than Rooseyelt. It is certain
that they believe he viii carry New
York.
Ne are prone to give the blessings
We enjoy no consideration, taxing
them as a matter Of course. But the
trouble that Charleston, Columbia
and Sparsarbu-g and several other
towns in South Carolina, not to mea-
sion hundreds Of towns in other places
throughout the country, are having
with their water supply should cause
the people of Sumter to be more
thankful for the inexhaustihle supply
Of absolutely pure water with which
benefcens Providence has blessed US.
Wss know OF no other town that pos
seses as pure or as abundant supply
o water. We do not have 20 take
sour water from sewerage contaml-
natad river nor from some small
stream of doubtful purity that is
sble to fail in time of drought.
Bns just beneath Us. at depth
withiD easy reach, there is stream
of pure water hcwing through Da-
sural filter of white sand and gravel
whose volume no one has or can esti-
mate. We say il is inexhaustible for
SC has nsver failed or shown dimunl-
ton in She severest droughts during
the more than ten years the water
works haFe been in operation. When
surface wells have gone dry and ordi-
nary pumps have failed che six six
inch wellsat the pumping station have
never failed 20 Weld constant supply
seven when the pumps have been kept
going day and night. The Sumter
Water Company has no monopoly OF
this water supply and any manufac-
tory thas requires large and unfail-
ing supply of pure water ready filter
ca for Immediate use can obtain it in
Sumter By merely boring wells
shrough the upper strata of clays to.
THE water bearing stratum of sand.
Sumter, though distant from any river
ser large stream, is better supplied
witt water for domestic and manufac-
snring uses than any other town in
the State, and if we possessed no
other advantage ever other South Car
olina towns orr water supply alone
would entitle this city to the consid-
Grafton Of those who seek place OF
residence or location for business.
The projected railroad from South
port, N. c., via Conway to Sumter
means much to this city and to the
section Of country it will traverse.
IF the proposed road follows an air
lire from Conway it will cross the
Northeastern Railroad near Lake City
or Scranton, bisect the Puddin
Swamp section and cross Black River
not far from the Brick Church. It
viii open mp a region now almost en-
Is rely without railroads and will make
this city she market for thousands of
prosperous farmers whose trade now
goes to other nearer towns, which,
under existing conditions, are more
convenient. The proposed railroad
viii alter conditions and Sumter will
Be put into close touch with section
that is now tributary to other towns.
For these reasons the business men
and property owners of Sumter should
not only welcome but should do their
utmost to lend encouragement and
( substantial aid to the enterprising cit
izens Of Conway who are the promo
tors and financial sponsors of this un-
dertaking. While it is true, that Sum-
ter now has excellent railroad facil;-
ties, better. probably, than any other
town in the State, and Conway is iso-
lated at the terminus Of an uDimpor-
tans branch of the Atlantic Coast
Line, nevertheless, We are as conf
dent, as is is possible to be, that the
proposed road, when completed, as we
are assured it will be at 60 distant
day, will be of much more benefit to
Sumter than it can be to Conway.
Sumter should not only welcome the
new road but our people should get