The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-03

loaned out at seven per cent. we would
get rid of the bonds in less than forty
years.
Prof. Sigh said there were two
power companies in Newberry now
surveying, the companies having
capital of $7,OOO,O00, and if they came
to Newberry they would help pay tor
the roads. And the Parr Shoals COM
pany would begin work in about SIX
weeks. \ new mill was soon to be
erected in Newberry with capital OF
$250,OOO. Without these, No. town.
ship would pay $4,000 Of the bonds
over one-third.
As to the cost of the roads, in Rich
land county the sand and clay roads
had been built for less than 500
mile. In Richmond county, Ga., where
the gravel was shipped in from this
State, the macadam roads had cost
about $1,000 mile and the sand and
clap roads less than $500 mile. The
government mile Of road between
Nevberry and Prosperity has cost
about $3.50 with convict labor and
would have cost about $3.50 with free
labor. Fun had been made Of this
road. said Prof. Sligh, but it was al
ready a good road and as soon as It
had time to pack those who had made
fun of it would regret it. It had been
built with pick and shovels. without
the use Of a steam roller-in order to
show what could be done with pick
and shovel-and not having had the
use of steam roller it would take 1t
between four and six months to prop
erly pack. It was safe calculation
that the roads in Newberry could be
built for $1,000 a mile-and that was
giving a big margin.
Prof. Sigh had two maps, drawn
to scale. showing what 300 miles OF
road. which coull be built with the
bond issue at 81 900 a mile, would ac-
complish. On Ole Of these maps he
had lines drawn across the county
every three miles, putting road with
in one and one-half miles of every
point in the county. This figured 2l3
miles Of road. On the other map he
had lines drawn from the centre, ra-
Aiating towards the borders of the
county. the lines at the frrtherest ex-
tremity being only three and one-haJt
miles apart, Of course coming togeth-
er at the centre. This figured up only
249 miles, with no place in the county
over mile and three-quarters from
permanent road, and Of course no
place that far anywhere except on the
very outskirts. The maps, Of course,
were no indication Of how the roads
would run, but simply to show what
800 miles Of road in the county would
do. There was no doubt, said Prof.
Sigh, that 300 miles could be built,
and he believed 500 could be built
with the bond issue.
A two-mill tax, paying as we 60,
simply said to each township, You
take care of yourself. IF it was all
Jumped together, bringing in $4,000
for the whole county, the old question
would arise as to where to start, and
there were more votes in Newberry
than anywhere else, and in all llkell-
hood that Is where they would start,
and No. 10 wouldn't see the work.
The good roads bill was drawn in the
interest of the outlying townships.
The bill said that at least IS per cent.
of the money raised from each town
ship should be expended in that town
ship, except in No. l. Why was No.
1 excepted? Because $4,000 would
be raised in No. /, and $4,000 would
build every mile Of road in No. l, and
No. l would give the others $SO,o00.
But why was Is per cent. minimum
fixed in the other townships? Because
it might be found that one township,
with fewer roads than another, might
not need over IS per cent. Some had
less roads than others. The commits
sion was given little discretion. 1t
was taken for granted that its men,
bers had little sense.
As to Mr.. Blease's argument that
the roads would all start at the court
house and No. 10 would never see any
of them, the bill provided that the
work should start in at least three
widely separated parts Of the county.
Prof. Sigh spoke Of the advantages
Of good roads, of the saving to the TAR
mers in wear and tear on vehicles and
G 4Lo ;,,o,ooco IN tha ya1ua OF lands