The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-27

thee farmers who persist In foolish
dependence upon the corn-cribs o,
the west who will be In a bad fix mex
spring.
without betraying a confidence I,
con be stated that thssauthor OF the
article printed Wednesday over the
nom do plume. Sober was a lady
resident Of the county but
Y not OF the city. This much Is
stated to dissbusc the minds of some
readers of the paper Of the impress
sion that the article was written by
. preacher. Familiarity with the
Bibls v not the exclusive prerogatiye
of ministsrs Of the gospel.
An automobile ride Monday OF
s'xty miles ger the roads of Sumter
and Lee counties forcibiy reminded
the writer that there Is still much to
- done In the way OF road improve
msnt what ID bad frr an automo-
bile h worse for buggy or carriage
horses and positively cruel to heavily
loaded wagon teams. The Court
House In sumter and the Court House
IN Bishopvtilc are creditable to Sum-
ter and Lee counties and magnificent
advsf sftissuAents for the progressive
ness and public spirit of our people.
but the public roads. which are more
esssntiai 20 the progress and pros
Dsri<y Of the county. are a discredit
and the worst sort OF advertisement a
county could have. When there IL a
rosdwny. leading from Sumter Court
House 60 the handsome new edifice
chat the people Of Lee have Just dedi-
Gated. that u In keeping with these
two ssructures--a road that II as good
. highway a. the buildings at either
end a'e court houses--then the pso-
pie OF sumter and lee will have. rea-
son 20 10 proud Of themselves and OF
the iubstantial progress OF their
counues The tax that the people
pay a. build handsome court houses
4 ~ aothlns to what they pay daily
for poor roads They pay dollars In
Lost time and dar.ase to stock every
time shsy haul . load over a bad
road
rhs administration building plan
cot through Council by trs narrowest
possible margin.
Where u the money to pay for the
administration building to come
fromr
II Council goes ahead and borrows
the money 20 pay for the admlnistra-
tion building. where will the money
come from 10 repay the loan? Par
s'coiariy u tho dispensary Is voted
out n
10 may be q good business PROPOSE
tion to erect a combination building
20 house the nre department. city Of
fces and city prison. but II does not
appeal TO us. We may be lacking In
perception. we may be obtuse---it
must be something OF the sort-bul
the policy adopted by bare majori-
ty Of Council does not appeal to US
Furthermore we do not believe the
Council has the right to undertake
an enterprise OF this sort without sub
mitting the question TO a vote of the
quaiihed electors at an election to be
held In response to a petition of the
freehoiders. Council may have the
right and the authority to do so. bu,
the question Is one that admits of de-
bate. III the city had a surplus I'm the
treasury over and above the floating
debt and current expenses. the sur.
plus funds might be used. but wher
the city owes as much as II does &c
the banks and will oe forced TO Dor.
row money Cor current expenses In
anticipation OF the collection of tn,
years taxes. the authority OF Coun
ell 10 contract a debt OF $1,000 fol
an extraordinary purpose Is question
able. II may look like good busines,
but the experience OF other towns hai
proved that u is not good policy t.
combine IRE department and polio,
headquarters. When the city prison
and offices OF city officials are adde,
TO the others the combination Seems
TO be too much of a conglomeratior
20 be a success.