The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-04-24
fTo BE coET1HUED.1
TURKEY CREEK CANAL.
Health Officer Reardon Makes a
Trip With Supervisor Scale as His
Guide

ening Turkey creek canal, at the
Chamber Of Commerce smoker last
Tuesday night, President Manning
asked him to tell us something about
good roads also. Mr.. Scale replied
that as soon as he could get out Of
Turkey creek he would proceed with
been with me yesterday on the banks
of this famous canal for a distance
Of about one mile from the head Of
Dingle's mill pond, he would know
why Major Scale could not get out
of Turkey creek any sooner that he
did, So spoke city official, who
has been inspecting the work now
being done by the county chaingang
in this canal. Said he, Il think Ma
jor Scale has struck the toughest
proposition in the shape Of drainage
and clearing out of right of way he
has ever been UP against but his
force Of convicts are coming down
the line cutting out width Of swamp
and woods on both sides which looks
as though he was preparing to build
a railroad or Panama canal from
Dingle's mill TO Sumter.
Turkey creek canal is, or
rather was, choked up with
logs. brush and other matter
for the best part Of the distance, and
caved in and washed out so that it is
a wonder that any water got off at
all In fact, great deal Of the water
had to run over the banks and after
running around in the swamp and
woods, got back into the canal any
old way it could. For a distance of
about five hundred yards from the
head of Dingle's mill pond the canal
has suddenly terminated, and there
/ is nothing to indicate that there ever
was any ditch or canal there as the
sand has completely filed up the ca
nal.
It will require lot Of work to put
this canal III a condition to do the
work of draining Sumter, and the
country through which it runs. But
the changing force, under foreman
Brunson, is making great headway,
and when it gets through with the
work of deepening and widening and
sloping the banks so that they will
not cave, why Sumter is going to be
greatly benefited in the way Of
drainage, as will also be, a large Sec
ton Of country tributary to this ca
nal. No one who has never been
down the canal from Sumter to Din
gle's mill pond, has any idea Of the
amount of work required to put this
ditch in the right condition 70 do the
work expected Of it. 1t is irregular,
in width and depth, crooked, and
caves in a great deal and stops up,
and backs water. It was necessary
to cut down great many large black
gum, pine and oak trees from the
banks on both sides, and to cut out
many large logs from the ditch, be-
Sides cutting down lots Of small trees
from both sides, nearly all Of the way,
before the work OF eXcavating could
begin Hundreds of large stumps on
both sides will have to be blasted or
dug out in order to widen the canal
It will be necessary for the chain
gang to go over almost the entire
distance three times before complet-
ing the work as it should be done to
guarantee satisfaction. Quick sand
beds for hundreds Of yards give lots
of trouble, and it will require sloping
of sides to a width of from ten tc fif-
teen feet in order to overcome the
difficulty of the banks caving in. But
when Major Scale and Foreman Brun-
son turn this canal over to the city,
there ought to be a big fish fry given
in their honor by the Chamber Of
Commerce, Board Of Health and City
Council, and can guarantee that
Turkey creek catfish stew will go
good at this fry Fish traps have
been taken out of this canal, by the
force at work, but the boys in stripes
are catching catfish right along with
set lines. Major Scale can run along
a three-inch cypress over a mud hole
or across a canal like a squirrel, and
it is no wonder he can outrun any
other man for supervisor on level
ground.
Major Scale is authority for the
statement that Health Officer Rear
don is no good crossing mud holes.
and saplings across Turkey creek ca
nal, as that officer fell in and was
covered from head to foot with blue,