Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-04-14
PLEA FOR GOOD ROADS.
MIR. Zachary Contends Oconee Roads
are Better than Anderson's.

your permission I will state a few
more facts about the roads on the
east side of Seneca river, but I am
at loss where to aim AS my friend
from Pendleton is first on one side
of the river and then on the other, it
Is impossible to locate him. How
ever will content myself with one
more shot on the wing, and one only.
My friend mistook my meaning if
ne thought | was making light of
their being recognized as part Of Oco-
nee. was somewhat amused that
good, level headed citizens would
want 10 be cut off into another coun-
ty when they know the travelling
facilities are no better, and in many
places worse. These are Tacus, and
all living on that side know it as
well as l do.
Now let US see how badly they
nave been neglected for the last ten
years. know that four years of
that time every dollar of taxes for
roads belonging to that section was
placed on their roads, and their own
citizens did the work; and I have
good reasons to believe it has been
the case ever since.
Let us review the bridge matter
little: Maxwell's bridge cost Oconee
$3,500, and passing up the river five
miles you come to Cherry's bridge,
which was erected at cost Of
$4,000. This is in sight of Rave
nel's, which cost $3.50. Now, Friend
Miles, couple these figures together
and see If your friends have been
sadly neglected. l am Of the opin-
ion that my friend should have an
inlet to his own town by trading
down the Eighteen-Mile hill, which
he admits is still there, but in fair
fix. We would ask our friend to
turn his battery on the officials Of
his own county and have that hill
graded. Then / am assured by our
Supervisor that he will attend to
Oconees side. atE.
My friend refers to the road lead
ing from Townville' to Maxwell's
bridge, and. wants to know if there
is worse road in Oconee. | don't
know the condition of all the roads,
but can assure him there are plenty
IN Anderson county in worse condi-
ton, one Of which is the splendidly
graded road to Townville. We don't
want any such grades in Oconee, es-
pecially on this side of the river.
Well, what If 1t was a good grade?
(Which 1t is not. There is no cross
Il
an Andersonian had cause to pass
that way last winter and had to wait
| two days and nights before he could
get across--his horse and buggy on
one side and he on the other. Do
you call this an up-to-date crossing
for the banner county? This same
| road crosses the 1 ghteen-Mile creek
in the Pinckney bottoms, and / had
cause to pass that way in January,
and the road was so bad that the
travel had to quit the road bed and
was compelled to turn out in the
bottom about thirty feet from the
road. thereby tresnas assine or cc::c
more Of Anderson's valuable land.
| have heard Of no one having this to
do at Conneross, which my friend
calls my attention to. I want the
public to know also that two-thirds
of this road Is in Anderson county.
The little piece Of road this side of
MaXwelPs is narrow, but level, which
seems to be a disgrace to Oconee,
yet 1t Is not so much so as the road
leading directly to the city Of An
derson, which is so narrow you can
gather plums as you travel along in
your buggy.
Now, Miles, this is the truth and
you cannot deny it. If you do | will
prove it by one of Pendleton's citi-
Zens.
Now for that valuable land which
was cut OF by the change at the
Smyth place. 1t had been abandon
ed for years and there was nothing
on 1T but few punches of broom
straw, some scrubby pine bushes and
the balance in poverty grass, and /
had my doubts If it was strong
enough to hold up the road-bed, but
1t has so far.
If Anderson has no deficiency let
her draw out some Of her surplus
cash and expend 1t on the roads be-
tween the Eighteen-Mile creek and
the line of Oconee.
Now, Friend Sitton, have these
roads put in good shape, and then
talk about extending your boundary
line over in the fertile valley of the
Seneca. | have tried to show to the
public the status Of the situation in
and around the territory discussed
with the best Of feeling toward all
concerned, and If / have wounded the
feelings Of any one did not intend
1t. John r. Zachary.