The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-08-10
A VOICE FROM LcWDESVlLLE.'
The Old Township Will Not Leave Able
vile County, but Will Demand More
Attention from County Officials.

Editors Press and Banner:
| | noticed III the Press and Banner
short time since Il reference to the report
that there was a movement on foot To take
Lowndesvile township out Of Abbevillc
and join it to Anderson county.
This is not Il new proposition. Some
years ago two young business men OF
| Luwndesvlle tried to get up petition for
a vote on that question. They met with
no encouragement, and | imagine the
present move will he received with just as
| little favor. The people of LOwndeSville
are IOval citizens of AbhevillC; they are
proud of the record the old county has
made in the history Of the State. They
| have stood heart to heart, shoulder to
shoulder with Abbevillc county in the dark
and stormy days that tried mems souls
and threatened our existence as a civilized
community. In those days OF danger eV-
cry part OF the county stood together and
presented Il solid front to the enemies OF
our homes and our cherished institutions
1t is only since the re-establiShment OF 10
cal self government that we have heard
murmurs of discomfort, and it has been
growing until it threatens the dlSmemDcr-
mcut of the grand old county.
Some wears ago Gl lCcnWoUd thought she
was not getting fair share of the l0aveS
AMI fishes, so she seeded and formed new
county and is now throwing dust in the
mother county's face. For several years
past Mccormick has been restivcly champ
ing the bit and threatening to kick over
the traces. but finding she could not get
enough territory for new county, now
threatens to Join Greenwood. And now
sleepy Lowndesville is is rousing up from
her Rip Van Wrinkle nap, rubbing her eyes
and asking where am l at = There
must be "something rotten i'll Denmark"
to cause SO much dissatisfaction. The
question naturally arises, what is 1t Alb.
bevilles soil and climate are unsurpassed
by any other county; her citizens have al
ways taken prominent part III the pollt,
ical affairs of the State, and socially and
morally she has no superior. Travel
where you will through the county, you
will meet with traces OF the old time
South, the auld lang syne, dear to the
heart of every true Southerner brave,
frec-hearted, generous people, but perhaps
somewhat lacking in the progressive spirit
that characteriZeS the age. Many OF the
best young men Of the county recognized
this fact and have gone elsewhere to seek
fortune. And the people OF the county as
a rule do not take enough interest in pub
lie affairs; they are not sufficiently care
full in choosing their officers. AS q cOnse-
uuenle, our most important county office
has for years been conducted with a con-
spicuous lack of energy and business sa-
gacity; the condition OF our roads and
bridges is sufficient evidence Of that fact.
It has been two9years since the freshet
damaged the roads and bridges so severe
ly, and those in charge OF the matter still
use that as Il special plea for neglect OF
duty. They seem to be like 'Micawber,"
waiting for something to turn up--while
the neighboring counties have gone ahead,
rebuilt the bridges, worked the roads and
put everything in ship-shape. In Ander-
son the roads and bridges in every corner
of the county have long since been put IN
tirst-claSS condition, and Anderson SUI
fered fully as heavy damages from the
freshet as did Abbeville. In this county
the roads are not fit to travel-ln many
places dangerous-and the people are put
to great Inconvenience, going miles out OF
the way to cross a bridge or ferry. In
some of the outlying districts (notably in
the Fork section of LOwndesville town.
ship this condition is becoming intoera-
bic; the highways have been neglected
until they have become almost impossible
in places; travel has been turned around
the other way, and nearly everybody who
could have moved out where they could be
more in touch with the world;- ;-as a con-
sequence, this once one OF the finest por-
tions of Abbeville county is fast becoming
d wilderness. .
The gentlemen who have managed our
county affairs for years past may be excel
lent gentlemen in private life, but the le-
gend Meme meme tekel upharsin" is
written in unmistakablc characters Oh the
walls of their official record.
The remedy for this unsatisfactory con-
dition is simple: Elect better men to office,
business men who are fair-minded and
far-sighted enough to treat all portions of
the county with impartial justice.
No, Lowndcs\ lille township is not going
going to be driven out by the injustice and
incompetence of county officials. We are
here to stay until we are laid to rest in the
county that gave us birth. Abbeville coun-
ty, now and forever S. A. S.