The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-31
OUR lsUMMERToN LETTER.
Damage by Heavy Winds-Prosperity
Evidenced by Much Cotton Being
Heid-Successful Poultry Raising
General Comments and Person.
ais.

Y
nave been more severe than usual;
and on Thursday morning Summer
ton received share Of the wind
storm that swept the State. Though
lasting only short while, the high
winds wrought considerable damage
in this section OF the country. 1t is
reported that on the Gaillard lands.
about six miles from this place,
frame house was blown ten feet off
It's pillars causing it's occupants to
be more or less injured. Up about
Paxville the effects were quite as
serious as this. several buildings hav-
ing been rather shaken up. A third
and more far-reaching effect was the
disabling Of the telegraph and tele-
phone systems. For two days all
communication by either of these
means was entirely cut off, making
matters just little worse than they
already were. At best. our telephone
system is decidedly inefficient. 1t
never has been anything more than a
primitive arrangement: but during
the absence of its local manager mat
ters have gone from bad to worse. At
present, the whole system is in a di-
lapidated condition and gives irregu-
lar and unsatisfactory service. Per-
haps this recent wreck is a blessing
in disguise, affording an excellent op-
portunity for a new switchboard. or
certainly some much needed repairs.
1t would seem that the switchboard
at our Central Office, from it's old and
outward appearance. must have been
the first one made by the manuafctur-
ers. With good and reliable sys-
tenn many new subscribers could be
had and rents would be cheerfully
paid for satisfactory service.
BY the majority Of our farmers, the
rain Thursday morning was probably
gladly welcomed. and some no doubt
begin to hear their corn grow. There
are, however. some engaged quite ex-
tensively in raising poultry, and we
have been expecting to hear Of some
difficulty they may have had in shell
tering the young chicks. Our pro-
gressive farmers are waking up to the
value Of small industries, and that of
poultry raising has been tried with
much success by several parties in
rvftx
of incubators and brooders, they are
each year enabled to make large ship
ments to various points in and out of
south Carolina: Last year, it was
quite common to see large coops of
fine fat broilers shipped by express to
the Colonia Hotel in Columbia, for
which fancy prices were paid. Sit
tings of eggs were frequently shipped
out and curious as it may seem, one
day old chicks were also sent to dis
tant points, some that we know OF
having beeen sent to Florida. Only
The other day one of these shipments
Of one-day old chicks was made to a
distant point by Mr.. A. Plumer Bur-
CESS, and he has received information
that they reached their destination in
good order.
AS another evidence of the solid
prosperity of our farmers, We will
mention that there are still several
hundred bales of cotton In our ware
house, and about the same quantity
held on the farms. Until very recent
ly there were about $500 bales held
on consignment in Wilmington, but
We understand that all but y few
hundred have been sold. At our local
ginneries, within our corporate linn
It's, over 1000 bales of cotton have
been ginned this season, while in
our sister town of Manning" from
the best information we can get. but
little more than $500 were turned
out. Manning. however, in spite of
the disadvantage of being a mile and
half from the railroad is still do
ing fully as we'll as could be expected
1T Is quite a pretty little town with
beautiful streets and many handsome
residences.
Our newly elected and re-organized
town council has gone to work with
vim and vigor. Our streets are being
repaired, and the town cart under the
efficient guidance of "Old Johnson
| and his son, is at work daily hauling
pair the breaks in the excellent "clay
and sand" street work done by pre-
vious administration. In the policing
OF our town and the maintenance of
law and order, our Intendent is ably
| assisted by our efficient Trial Justice.