The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-02
Good Roads Campaign.


county has been hearing the discus.
sion of the proposed bond issue Of
$4,000 both pro and con. Tomor.
row we vote. The committee having
this campaign in charge have work.
ed hard to secure a favorable vote
thereon. This question of good roads
is not new one by any means. For
the last fifty years, yes, even for the
last hundred years, the people of this
county have discussed this question
and have prayed for improved high
ways. All sorts Of remedies have
been proposed by all sorts and con-
ditions Of men. Politicians have
gone in and out Of office with va
rious proposals but with no effective
results. 1t is easy to propose plans
for Improvement but it is something
different to place a definite and weil
thought out plan before the people.
Some Of the men in this county who
are now opposing this bond issue
have held public office. Have we
ever heard of any definite proposal
on their part to improve our high
ways? If so, can they point 20 any
definite results? Our county officers
have done all possible in their power
with the limited means at their com
mand.
Mr.. Belser was elected to the leg
lslature under the promise to do
something. While others were talk
ing, he worked and has submitted a
definite, practical plan by which the
entire road system of the county can
be completed in five years under the
supervision of a competent engineer.
This is the only question now before
the people of this county and when
boiled down this question simply is:
Shall We build a complete system. IL.
hve years or go on under the old
method of a few miles annually.
The entire State is watching this
struggle for improved highways in this
county. All the commercial and good
roads journals as we'll as many Of 4he
large dailies, have made comment
thereon. The reputation of This
county for progressiveness is at stake.
IT is a question that no citizen who
has the true welfare of his county at
heart can lightly put aside.
Unquestionably the bordering coun-
ties will soon be issuing bonds for ,im-
proved highways. Marlboro propos-
es 100000; Florence is agitatingf the
question and other bordering coun-
ties will follow suit. Should these
counties improve their roads to. our
very borders, it will surely mean the
drawing of trade from our local
towns and from Sumter. Who is so
short-sighted as to question the in
terest Of every citizen Of Sumter in
this issue? Sumter is the centsr Of
this county and to it should come
naturally the trade of this county.
With better highways will come in
creased trade Without we must
stand aside and let others take that
which belongs to us. No man. no
city nor any body OF citizens can long
stand in the way of progress. No city
can stand STILL 1t must eithr go for
ward or backward. This is Just as
true Of the county. Sumter depends
for its future success mainly on the
prosperity of the county and any
attempt to injure the good relations
Of town and country is a blow at
every foundation of the we'll being
of both.
In voting tomorrow, we should also
remember that every dollar of this
100000 will be spent for labor and
that. therefore, practically every dol
lar of this sum will be spent In this
county. This alone means increased
prosperity for our people and a large
increase in our circulating medium.
The value OF the advertisement alone
that favorable vote on this issue
Will bring this county, can not be
estimated. If carried, Sumter icounty
VIII be the first county in the State
to improve all its public highways at
one time.
Every citizen. therefore. should go
TO the polls tomorrow and vote for
this proposition ana should make It
his business to see that his. friends
vote likewise in its favnr