The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-02
THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
It Has Been Busy-A Member Re-
cites Some History of the
Work.

Observer.
Mr.. Editor: Replying to one of
: your suggestions in Tuesdays issue,
under the caption ''How Would This
Do?' as a member of the commit
tee appointed to look after the new
court house grounds, I beg leave to
; say that you are just one year behind
the times. Last February We planned
that work, and we feel it justice to
the association that the public should
know that we do not spend all our
time "insisting on the impossible. -
Now, I ask space for a bit Of his
tory. Last year, when the new court
house was nearing completion, the as
sociation, fearing that mistakes might
be made in the work to be done on
the grounds, asked permission Of the
supervisor, Mr.. Wicker, to bring a
competent landscape gardener here to
give directions as to the work. The
grounds were then covered with rub
bish; but, after going over them for
several hours with the committee, the
mayor and the supervisor, the garden
er advised that as soon as the debris
was cleared away. We employ a civil
! ienoineer to give details as to grad
: ing, terraces, walks, etc. Later the
association had the civil engineer to
come. and we were promised by the
I supervisor that work should begin
the next day. That was in June. if l
mistake not. Since then, the commit
tee has begged, plead, and besought
that the work be done.
Since the 5th Of January we have
made every effort to see the newly
elected supervisor, hoping that we
could prevail upon him to do the
work. but so far have failed even to
see him. As a final resort, we have
appealed to the members Of the grand
! jury who hold over.
Now, Mr.. Editor, if you will sug-
gest anything further that We can do
in this matter we will appreciate it
highly.
We were told a year ago by the
powers-that-be that the cost Of doing
the work outlined by the landscape
gardener would be very small compar-
atively; that plenty Of granite is on
the county farm, the county teams
could do the hauling and the convicts
could do the work.
AS to the union station: The land
seape gardener went over those
grounds too with the committee, and
assured US that with very small
cost decided improvements could be
made there. Mr.. Williams, the sup
erintendent was communicated with,
and his reply was that the road had
no money to spend on any improve
ments at the station.
Contrast this with the spirit mani
tested in Clinton. Up to two months
ago there was no civic association
there; but the ladies were Informed
that if they would organize one and
take entire charge of the grounds
around the new station, the railroad
would give them carte blanche and
foot the bills. What is the result?
Already the grounds are thing OF
beauty, with their concrete copings,
graveled walks and handsome palmet-
to plants. All this done in two
months time! Why? Because the
man behind them had their plans car
ried out without delay.
My only apology for this lengthy
article is to set the members Of our
association right in the eyes Of the
public; to let them know that we are
not set Of dreamers, "insisting on
the impossible" while We "miss the
PRACTICAL" But most certainly do
We beg to differ with you that an op-
portunity to beautify both the upper
and lower squares is an impossible
thing. 1t is no. impossible, and it is
going to be lonesome day! The
wagon-yard may not be in Ward l,
but it will be somewhere else than our
public square. And some Of these
days, too, the public will come to
agree with the association on this
point.