The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-23
COURT HOUSE GROUNDS.
Present Is an Eye Sore and Needed
improvements Should be Made.


Some months ago the writer called
attention. through your columns. to
the appearance Of the court house
grounds. with hope that 1t might
arouse the county officials to the i'm
portance OF doing something In the
way Of improving their appearance,
and had not intended saying anything
more on the subject. but for the re-
quest OF q lady, who has requested
him to keep up the fight until some
thing 10 done,
The person making this request is
one Of the best known and most pa
triotic ladies in the city one who prac-
tices what he breaches. by keeping
her own yard In beautiful order, and
this being the case. the writer takes
pleasure In complying with her sug-
gestion. especially when 1t Is consid-
cred that there is no real reason why
the ground In rear Of the stately new
court house should present such a dis
reputable and unsightly appearance.
Some weeks ago the d. A. RS met
In this city, and 1t Is almost needless
to say they were elegantly entertained
In Sumter's hospitable homes. but it is
easy to imagine the surprise Of the
visitors at seeing the ugly and un.
kept condition of the grounds around
the building. and the modification of
their hostesses at such i condition Of
affairs. The grounds In the rear OF
the building could, with the exercise of
SINE taste and with a moderate ex-
'penditure Of money. be converted in.o
a charming little park, and IL there is
any city that needs q park that place
Is Sumter. 1t. Sumter, is probably
growing as fast as any town or city
In the State. and yet despite this there
Is not q single place where q stranger
can sit down and rest. outside Of some
building. and this lack Is simply a re-
proach to our people. both Of the city
and the county. One thing Is very
certain and that Is II the county is
not able =, keep up the grounds. there
Is no escape from the conclusion that
putting up such an expensive court
house was very reprehensible piece
or extravaganza. yet there has not
so far as the writer has hear,l, been
a single complaint on this score. The
truth Of the matter Is that the county
was not only able to put up the court
house. but to keep the grounds In or
der also. the condition of the latter be-
Ing due to indifference and MT to
poverty.
About six months ago the writer
sent a communication to the grand
jury respectfully suggesting that it
recommend an appropriation. from the
county funds. for the purpose Of I'M
proving the court house grounds. but
no action was taken on It: the conse-
quence being that practically nothing
has been done. The grounds in front
OF the building are in very sore need
OF attention, but are really decent In
comparison with those in tho rear,
facing Harvin st. What Is really need
ed Is for the grounds to be systema-
tically laid of. the trees. ever-greens
and shrubs selected and planted with
care. and II this be done the place will,
In the course OF few years. when
the plants have attained some size,
be beautiful and attractive and
source OF pride to the citizens Of both
the city and the county. instead Of be-
Ing a reproach and a cause for morti-
hcatiop as at the present time. Then
too II the grounds were kept in proper
condition the beauty Of the building
would be very much enhanced, instead
of. as things are at present, being
very materially impaired by its sur
AS the writer does not know who
Is really responsible for this inexcusa-
BILE neglect. this article is not intended
as criticism on any one county Of
ficial. or on them as a whole. but
merely to call attention to an actual
for which somebody Is re-
sponsible. and which should not cx-
ist; at least not In the wealthy county
of Sumter and its prosperous AMI grow
ing county seat.
w. d. WOODS.
Dec. IS, 1908.