The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-21
THE AUTO ROUTE
BETWEEN CHARLESTON AND Or
ANGEBURG DISCUSSED

And It's Selection Deferred to the
First of May When the Best Will
Be Chosen.
The News and Courner says an
enthusiastic meeting of the Path
finders to Orangeburg Of the Charles
ton Automobile Club was held at
the Commercial Club Thursday af-
ternoon. The meeting was called
by the good roads committee Of the
Automobile Club, and Col. James
Cosgrove, the chairman, stated that
the object of the meeting was to
discuss the selection Of the official
route from Charleston to Orange
burg in accordance with the resoll-
tions adopted at the good roads mass
meeting held at Orangeburg on De-
cember Sth. The following gentle
men were present: James Cosgrove,
Geo. w. Williams, Brig. Gen. G. G.
Greenhough, Admiral j. D. Adams,
Ashley C. Tobias, Wilson G. Har-
vey, Samuel G. Stoney, ]. H. c.
Wulbern, H. Stevens White, Paul E.
Trouche and NJ. B. Paine, Jr.
After a through discussion, the
following staterRynt was authoriz-
ed:
1.-The inspection Of both of the
routes from the City of Charleston to
the city of Orangeburg by our COM
mittee discloses the fact that the
greatest trouble to be overcome Is
that from high water. This apples
with about equal force to both routes
Our inspection was made at time
when no heavy rains had fallen for
several months and, therefore, the
roadways could not show the effect
high water would have on them. IN
addition to this great many prom
ises have been made by the road
authorities and the people of the
territory in which both highways
run as to this Improvement, but the
plans have not had time to mater
alize and consequently a final de-
cision at this time might do a grave
injustice to one route or the other.
Taking into consideration all the
circumstances, the committee Is Of
the opinion that no final decision
be made now, 80 that the opportuni-
ty be given to the road authorities
to put their highways in the condi-
tion promised, or nearly so, by the
first Of May, 1910, and about that
date the committee will make a
through run to the city Of Colum-
bia, going by one route and return
ing by the other, the decision as to
the officials route be postponed until
this inspection is had. We believe
this action is equally just to all par
ties and will give the opportunity
and time required to put their roads
in the best possible condition be-
fore the inspection in May, so 1t
will depend solely upon what ef-
forts will be made by them to i'm
prove their roads and the condition
of same in May, 1910, which of the
competing routes will be chosen as
the official one.
A resolution of thanks was adopt
ed for hospitality and courtesies ex-
tended the pathfinders by the citi-
zens Of Summerville, Harleyyille,
Bowman, Orangeburg and Holly Hill,
and the following letter was read
from Supervisor w. H. Dennis, of
Berkeley. The chairman was re-
quested to reply to Mr.. Dennis on
the line indicated in the statement
printed above. with the admonition
for Berkeley county to get busy"
and show by next May what it can
do in the making of good roads
Dennis letter follows:
Macbeth, S. c., Dec. 13, 1909.
The Hon. James Cosgroye, Char
lesion, S. C.-Dear Sir: l wish to
express to you and your committee
my appreciation Of the great kind
ness shown me on our trip from
Charleston to Orangeburg and re-
turn. This pleasant trip will long
be remembered by me, especially
should you decide to adopt the old
State road through Berkeley county
by Holly Hill, as the route from
Charleston to Orangeburg. While
the other route has more induce
mentS in regard to several small
towns, still feel that the present
conditions of road beds on the State
road and even road from Cooper's
store to Summerville will over-bal-
ance the small prosperous towns on
the other route. And / wish to
state further that the route / ad
vocate can go through Summerville,
and will go through one of the most
prosperous towns in our State, Holly
Hill. / wish also to state that
have road machine and with some
repairs can be put in condition to
do good work. Should the commit
tee decide on route l advocate, /
will with pleasure begin work at
once on said route; and | am quite
sure that the energetic people along
the line will give me great asSis.
tance and with my chain gang and