The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-06-23
LAKE ClTY'S SIDE
o. THE CONTROVERSY,
GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF THE
ANNEXATION MOVEMENT--WHY
TIE CHANGE is DESIRED.

hood that misapprehensions may
arise and that misunderstanding
may be created, with regard to the
matter of the proposed annexation OF
. portion of Williamsburg to Flor
ence county, we have reached the
conclusion that it is the duty of those
in possession of the true history of
the movement to give the facts in
connection Herewith and to give
them especially to those directly in
terested in and affected by the pro-
posed annexation. This article is such
q history. We do not propose to en-
ter into controversy, notwithstand-
!. ing the fermentation Of such thing
has been attempted; nor do we in
tend to attempt anything like an ex-
tended argument, for such is neither
necessary nor desirable. A bare
statement of the facts will be the
sum total of this letter.
The idea of Lake City and such of
the surrounding territory as would
wish to accompany her into Florence
county is by no means an idea of re-
cent origin. As far back as the day
Immediately following the election
upon the formation of Rutledge coun-
ty tt = suggestion was made, when
youi 2 merchant of Lake City re-
marked to another citizen: If we
have lost the election, let us go to
Florence county" This was the
definite, tangible origin. Long be-
fore then the matter had been
spoken of, but this re mark may be
regarded as the real starting point.
Day by day the suggestion was re-
peated and the idea spread until it
became the fixed understanding that,
should the supreme court decide
against the formation of Rutledge
county, we would at once seek en-
trance into Florence county.
As before remarked, the idea OF
annexation to Florence in the event
of losing out in the supreme court
\ became a fixed determination, and
we settled down to await the action
of this court. The very day after the
decision of the court was announced
we,the people of Lake City, learned
that DR. w S Lynch and others of
Scranton were circulating petition
asking that the area north of Lynch's
lake be cut off from Williamsburg
and Joined to Florence. This was on
a Friday. On Saturday the follow
ing gentlemen went to Scranton in
body, to wit: Mr. H H Singletary,
DR. T. B Hinnant, Messrs W T Askins,
JIM Truluck, w L Bass and DR. A H
Williams. With the kindest feelings
in the world for Scranton and with
out the remotest idea of doing any
injury to these people, who all along
the years have been our neighbors
and friends, these gentlemen went to
DR. Lynch in his office and, in the
kindest and most considerate man.
ner possible, stated to him that the
people of Lake City wanted to 60
along with the people of Scranton
into Florence county, and requested
that those in charge withhold their
petition for just two or three days
and we would get up an amended
petition and circulate it, paying all
expenses ourselves, and that if we
failed to secure enough signers to
satisfy him and the others interested
with him, beyond all doubt, that the
election would be carried, we would
withdraw our petition and they could
serd theirs in. Whereupon DR. Lynch
declared that personally he was in
favor of granting the request but
not feel like acting without consult
ing the other leaders. He was then
asked if the leaders would not give
the people of Lake City a hearing
upon the matter. To this he replied
that they would give us hearing,
and himself fixed the time and place