The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1908-01-15
First Week With Auditor.

First Week With Auditor.
Our semi-annual trip over the county
was begun at Irmo on Monday after.
noon. The train being late Auditor
Dent did not arrive until late IN the
afternoon, he having missed connec'
ton in Columbia. On account of the
wretched and horrible conditions OF
the roads in the Fork, this territory
was covered by rail.
We have never-in all our travels
over the, county-seen such con.
glomeration of mud and water-the
roads in many places being almost
impassable and dangerous to travel
Right here we want to say that oul
Representatives in the legislature
should make some radical changes in
the present system Nof working the
roads Ill this county. The prese n
nlan has proven but little less than a
farce and some cEa lges should be
Inade, aad maue at once. The people
of the country will no longer work
the roads.
Theaverage man would much ratb-
er pay the communication tax of SIS
than to be away from his work on the
farm, the time being worth more than
the tax. AS aresult there are. but a
few people " no work the roads now
a-days; they depeEd upon the chain
gang.
But few people, met US a. Irmo on
account OF the inclemen6 weather.
The business of the place is on a
stand still, being about the same as
when we were. there last with the
County Treasurer. There is but one
change In the mercantile life of the
place, that of David and II. A. Lorick.
The latter continues the business
while the former will look after his
farm and will likely open up ia mer-
q ntile, business "a his home. The
christmas and holiday trade was not
up to other years, 80 We were told,
and, while q lot of cotton has been
handled by Messrs. L. S. Matthias and
David aad Hamp Lorick, money is
tight at Irmo. ,SS ~ ~
z At noon Tuesday we boarded the
tain for Ballentine, where more citi-
zens of this vicinity met US than at
any time within our recolle ection.
The afternoon was an Improvement
en- the morning. The sun shown
brightly and the people left their
homes. The returns were fair and
the citizens generally in good humer,
all sanguine over bright prospecte
ahead. go. @
At six o'clock, the same evening,
we took the train for White Rock.
Wednesday morning we met an un-
usually large crowd, the farmers of
the surrounding country being unable
to do farm work on account of the
incessant rains. Our friends, Messrs.
D.. A.. Richardson & Son, general
merchants, are doing an extensive
business. The Messrs. Richardson
are pleased with the results of an ad-
vertisement placed in The. Dispatch
several weeks ago, and they spoke of
the many sales made from this source.
They are clever merchants and are in
every way worthy CT the confidence
bestowe in them by the people of
White Eock and surrounding section.
The afternoon found us at Hilton,
where the turnout was up to the
average, and the people anxious to
return their property at its true value.
We were soon in the hands of our
young friend, Johnnie Greene Hitler,
who entertained us, as usual, in
royal style atsthe home of his sister
in-law, Mrs. Hitler. After serving the
cis:zells 1T Hilton, we took, the UP
train for Caapin, one of the largest
meeting places in the county, and the
largest number of impatient people
turned cut at this place that we have
ever met there. The auditor was in
deed a busy man the entire, day. We
spent the night with our good friends,
Mr.. and Mrs. j. s. Wessinger, where
weIwere delightfully."- entertained with
fine music and songs, rendered by
that talented and popular young lady,
Miss Blanche ,KyzeT, which inspired
our hearts and caused US to lay, aside
the cares and monotony' of our trip.
Miss Kyzer is the very able assistant
teacher. in the Chaplin school and the
many expressions of her faithful and
efficient service by the people Of that
town, was gratifying to US. ::
We found but few changes in the
merchants. Mr.. j. s. Boozer has
moved into his new brick store, and
Mr.. Pickens Lindler occupies the
building vacated by Mr.. Boozer and
carries line of groceries and hard
ware. The Bank of Chaplin is growing
under the management of Mr.. j. F,
Honeycutt, the popular cashier
Chaplin is fine business point, being
located in one of the finest farming
sections in South Carolina and no
better people are to be found on the
face of the earth than these same old
honest Dutch.
Peak, the last place in the Fork,
was reached on Friday morning.
Here the citizens gathered in great
numbers to render unto the auditor
their taxable property, and to pay
their just dues to the newspaper man.
Peak, like Chaplin, is good business
point, the merchants not only receive
share of the business from this
county but from Fairfield as we'll.
The school continues to grow under
the very careful tutorage of Miss Cora
Lee Whittle, who is not only a young