Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-05-20
WHY NOT IMPROVE {?

The town Of Waihalla Is one Of the
most beautifully situated in South
Carolina. AT the same time it is
one Of those whose unevenness
makes the work of permanent street
and sidewalk improvement expen-
Sive.
In this connection there are a few
suggestions that may be of benefit
to the individual citizen as well as
the entire town. The old method of
working streets is an expensive and
unwise one, from the simple fact
that each Improvement made is but
for few months or year or two
at the longest, when the whole thing
is to be done over again. Why con-
tinue such an expensive system when
the benefit Is nothing when the cost
is considered?
The town authorities are anxious
to put In permanent work to the ex-
tent OF their financial ability, and it
is their intention to do as much as
possible, and at the lowest price con-
asistent with permanent work. But
the citizen must do his part. AS a
matter of fact, the town cannot do
great deal at once because the
taxes levied will not justify it,
In order to preserve what old work
still stands. and keep it in passable
condition until it can be reached for
permanent work, the citizens can do
much, at little expense, to assist
Take the one item Of drainage of
lots as an instance. If the property
owner will so arrange his property
that the water can be carried from
1T at given points the town can pre-
serve the walks there at a small cost
for piping. Many lots in town now
drain water over the walks in half a
hundred places, and the entire side
walk Is washed in holes every year.
The town authorities are blamed for
the bad walks when as a matter of
fact the fault lies with the citizens.
Let us wake up to the fact that each
citizen has part in this work on
streets and walks. 1t is the duty of
the town authorities to give the best
streets and walks possible, and it Is
equally the duty of the property
owner to see that the drainage from
his premises does not undo the work
done by the town.
There are a dozen places on Main
street where the drainage from large
houses Is conveyed by house gut
ters directly to the sidewalks. This
is all right, provided the guttering is
Kept in repair. But the guttering
becomes defective, gives way at the
top, near the bottom or half way
down the house. The cost to repair
the defct would probably amount to
80 cents or a dollar. That would
come directly out of the pocket of the
property owner, Of course, and 1t
may seem to him it is the part of
economy to let the leak go unre-
paired. The walks can be fixed by
the town and the expense divided
among all the taxpayers. The amount
involved Is small, it Is true, but does
not that fact magnify the smallness
of the property owner who lets his
property thus become small drain
Sipon the public funds, when if he
Scared for his own property at his
own expense he could save this drain
on the public, and thus assist in get
Eing permanent work?
Let us consider these little things
chat in the aggregate mean big
thing for the town. a spirit of will
Ingness to assist the town officers in
&heir work will do much to improve
She town as whole There Is toe
much OF a desire to throw obstacles
an The way Of the officers, and then
&ritlcise them for not doing just what
1hey were Intentionally prevented
&rOm doing.
Let us get together and work for
NValhalla's improvement. 1t Is high
zine to do away with penny wise and
Dound foolish methods.