The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-08-28

section Of the community OCCupieu al
most exclusively by white people and
in such close proximity to the source
of the city's water supply as to en-
danger its purity, and have thereby
created great antagonism to the
proposed college and threaten to de-
stroy the cordial relations that have
so long existed between the whites
and negroes in Sumter.
In these circumstances we feel il
our duty as citizens, desirous of
serving the best interests Of the city,
to place. on record our matured opin-
ion relative to the establishment Of a
negro college at the proposed Ioca-
ton and to inform those who are Ia
boring to establish the proposed col
lege that such institution will not and
cannot now receive in Sumter that
friendly support and encouragement
from the people Of the community
| that are essential to its immediate and
permanent success. And we, there
fore, advise most strongly that some
other location be sought, either near
Sumter or elsewhere.
/ We call upon our colored citizens
who have taken and are taking an
active part in promoting the estab-
lishment Of the proposed college to
reconsider their plan to erect the col
lege buildings and create a college
settlement on the tract of land ad-
jacent to the city pumping station,
since persistence in this plan will as
suredly engender i'll will and create
friction that never before existed in
this community. It will entail an
appeal to the courts for settlement
of the question as to the city's right
to protect the purity Of the water
supply that Will involve litigation that
will be, in all probability, protracted
and costly to both sides.
The protest was referred to Messrs.
R. D. Epps, J. K. Bradford, II. D.
Noise and ]. H Grady, who were
charged with the duty of circulating
it for signatures
The question of location Of the col
1eee near the waterworks had been
previously submitted to the Board Of
Health, who answered to the follow
ing effect:
Sumter. S. G., July 2s, 1907.
To the Hon, Mayor and City Council
City Of Sumter.
|. Gentlemen: At meeting Of the
Board Of Health of the city of Sumter
held this Cay, at which were present
Dr.. ). c. spar9 president ana bc. 8
c. Baker ana Nr D. ". Cpttiao, the
following preamble an resolutions
were unanimously adopted
whereas. It IS the opinion of TIE
Board Of Health that every possible
precaution should be taken to pre-
serve the purity of the city water sup
ply, and among other means to pro-
tect the watersheds and water bear
ing strata constituting the source Of
such supply; and,
Whereas, the settling of any con-
siderable number Of persons within
the area of supply would most GER
tainly be a source of danger to the
supply; and
Whereas. we understand that the
natural trend Of the water-bearing
strata from which our supply is de-
rived is from northwest to southeast;
and
Whereas. we learn that there is a
movement looking to the settlement
of considerable population to the
northwest and north Of the pumping
station and upon what we believe, ac-
coroing to the best information at
hand. to be within the limits of said
water shed,
Therefore be it resolved:
1st. That we. having visited
the locality and made an in
vestigation and taken into ac-
count what we are informed is the
proposed plan Of settlement, are of
the opinion that the carrying out OF
said plan will be a source of danger
to our water supply and so prove
serious menace to the public health.
End. tt at we notify the City
Council of .nese facts and request
that they a once take the necessary
steps to preserve the purity Of our
supply by the protection. of the neigh
boring water shed and water
bearing strata, and to this end we
would recommend that a competent
sanitary engineer be at once employ
ad TO determine the proper limits OF