The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1905-03-29
Cruel to Agitats Now.

We regret very much 70 SOC that
the annexation of Brookland to Co.
lumbia has been reopened by the
Evening Record of that city and a
few selfish persons on the Lexington
side of the river. This policy OF
keeping the people eternally stirred
up broods no good to the progress
of either place. Some two years ago
the people of Brookland oyerwhelm-
ingly rejected the proposition in an
election neld for the arbitrament of
this question, and we submit, on the
opinion of 8 lsyman, that another
election cannot be held in the same
territory on the same question for
some years to come without disre-
garding the plain prohibition of the
State constitution. This being the
case it is wrong as we'll as great
injustice to those unfortunate people
at this time, when the flames of their
burning homes and household effects
have scarcely been extinguished, to
hsrass their minds and divide their
thoughts between annexation and
the far more weightier and iupor-
tant question of where the means
are to come from to replace their
burned homes and supply themselves
and their family with clothing, fur
niture and the necessaries of life,
especially 80 when We consider that
no good can come out Of such an
sgitation.
The people of Brookland has
been called upon to pass through a
trying ordeal and 8 great calamity,
and working upon their fears OF
having another corfagration raze
their pretty town, the annexationists
holds out the indacement that by
becoming part and parcel of the
municipality of Columbia, Brookland
will enjoy the same fire and police
protection as Columbia. This is a
very doubtful inducement as it is
known fact that Columbia cannot
and does not give it's own people
adequate fire protection on account
of it's insufficient water supply and
police protection by reason Of it's
inability to sustain larger and
better police system. But should
the Columbia paper make it's cffer
good the people of Brookland would
have to pay for these projections out
OF their own pockets besides con.
tributing largely toward the main
tainance of the fire and police de-
partments of Columbia, and as plain
business proposition it would be
economy for them to remain where
they now are, separate and distinct
municipality and build these con-
veniences themselves rather than not
only pay for them, but also submit
to tax for the benefit of their neigh
bors across the river for time to come.
We understand from reliable
source that the management OF the
Duck Mills will commence the in
stallnent of water works and sewer
age systems together with other
conveniences that will give better
protection and more comfort than
Columbia could possibly do. In view
of this fact it is wisdom for the peo-
pie of Brooklapd to decline to sign
any paper petitioning for an election
as to do so would be tying their
hands 80 that they would be power
less to prevent an injustice from
being done.
We are contending not so much
for the interests of Lexington county
IS We are for those of Brookland, for
to be candid Lexington can get along
better without Brooklapd than Brook.
land can without Lexington. We
hope that the annexationist will have
some mercy on the peace of mind OF
those already stricken people so they
can give their undivided attention to
the demands of fa nily duties and an
effort to replace their burned homes.
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The Japanese have withdrawn
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