The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-03-15
THE CUT OFF TO BE DRAINED
Foreman Wicker Of Grand jury
Meets Southern Officials AT Old
Town With Commissioners.

| va 1"oe w euhosuty party consist
ing Of Mr. r. E. Simpson, Superin-
tendent Williams, former superintend-
ent same division; Mr. Geo. T. Bish-
op, train master; the three railroad
commissioners Messrs. Sullivan, Earle
and Caughman, and Mr.. Thos. e.
Wicker, foreman Of the grand Jury
visited the pond on the Southern
road two miles above Old Town
known as the cold Cut OFF, with a
view to ascertaining, the possibility
of draining it. - =.
The railroad runs almost parallel
with Saluda river for many miles
through this section. At the point in
question, however, in the long ago
the river formed n loop or half moon
and later broke across from tip to tip
making straight bed and leaving
the half moon dry except in time of
freShet when the water would flow
around III the old channel. When the
Southern road was built the upper
channcl was filled in making a bank
or dam some twelve or fifteen feet
high. The lower channel was trestlcd
on account of a small branch or creek
! which entered the old channel short
distance above. After the road was
completed the water from high rivers
would back up under the trestle and
around the half moon to the bank
built across the upper channel. The
old bed being low here and the wa
ter having no outlet formed pond
of sta"nant water covering eight or
ten acres of land and menacing the
health Of the people living in this
vicinity.
We were told by one among
party of a dozen or more residents
who met the party above named at
the pond that in the summer the wa
! ter becomes covered with green
skin and an offensive odor rises from
the pond which can be smellcd sew
eral miles away.
The pond is productive of mosqui-
toes multitudinous in numbers and
of extra large size and chills and NAL
aria hematuria are of common oc-
currence.
For many years the people living
in this section have petitioned the
railroad and appeared again and
again through the grand jury to the
NJ f~n h,,E
and appeal availed nothing. Last year
the pond was reported to the grand
jury as had already been done many
times before and again the grand
jury recommended that the railroad
drain the pond just as it had recon-
mcnaed many times before but as
usual there the matter stopped.
AT the last term of court in Feb
ruary the pond was again reported
to the grand jury. Mr.. Thos. f.
Wicker who had served on the
grand jury of last year and who was
now the foreman decided to ascer-
tain if the railroad could be forced
to drain this pond and if so to push
the matter to it's consummation. AZ
ter consulting with Judge Purdy who
was presiding at the time and with
the other members Of the grand jury
he wrote the superintendent Of the
Southern road and informed him that
he would be given until the next term
of court to drain the pond and if the
work was not completed by that time
suit would be brought against the
road Immediately. The superintend-
ent replied that the matter would be
taken into consideration with regard
to draining said pond. Last week Mr..
Wicker was informed by letter that
the superintendent Of the Southern
road in company with the railroad
commissioners would visit the Old Cut
Off on the 13 inst. and asking him to
join the party at Newberry. Mr..
Wicker Immediately wrote prominent
citizens living in the vicinity Of the
pond to be on hand on that date to
present their case to the railroad men
hnd the railroad commissioners in
person. The meeting passed off
pleasantly with the result that sup
drintendent of the road agreed to
drain the pond It is hoped that this
will be done at once instead Of wait
ing until the weather gets hot for
then it might do more harm than
good. ...,'.