The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-01
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
RAILROAD CROSSING NATTER
BROUGHT UP; TO BE INVES-
TIGATED.
Council BOrrOwS Money from Balti-
more Bank-BOnd of Gas Plant
Promoters FOrfcitcd-NO More
Street Paving at Present.

Council met Tuesday night with
all members present except Alderman
McLaurin, who came in late, and
proceeded to have a long and exceed
ingly busy session. The principal
matters to receive consideration were
the giving Of relief to citizens south
Of the railroad lines, the borrowing
Of money for the city to meet cur
rent expenses and the decision that
Council could not at the present time
sanction the paving Of any more
streets, even when citizens were will
ling to pay half Of the cost, because
of the fact that the money was not
in the city treasury and the city had
already contracted to have more done
than it could we'll pay for.
Council opened its proceedings
yith prayer as usual, after which
the request of the various citizens
present were heard and and dis
posed of. Mr.. r. o. Purdy pc
titioned Council on behalf Of f. B.
Wright, in whose behalf he presented
a letter written by Mr.. A. d. Turner,
that the city refund half Of the bond
deposited when Mr.. Wright was
granted a franchise for gas plant
in this city. The reason set forth
in the letter and as stated by Mr..
Purdy as sufficient that one-half of
the money be returned to Mr.. Wright
was that he had been lead into the
understanding by statements that
were not true, that he had done
everything in his power to get the
gas plant for the people Of Sumter
and now, while he admitted the right
Of Council to take all Of the bond,
he asked that $500 Of it be returned
TO Mr.. Wright. This letter was sub
mitted by Mr.. Turner, on behalf of
Mr.. Wright who, he stated had lost
at least $4,000 in the undertaking
besides the $1,000, If Council saw
fit to take the whole Of the bond.
Letter was submitted without Mr..
Mr.. Wright's knowledge. The mat
ter was taken up later and disposed
Of by Council declaring the whole
amount OF the bond forfeited to the
city, Council looking at the matter
as purely a business proposition in
which the city was entitled to the
bond as their due after the plant was
not put in.
Mr.. NJ. II. Beck asked that some
thing be done to make passage across
the railroad crossing at Manning
avenue less dangerous. He stated
that this was very dangerous place
as 1t was at present and that he had
had several narrow escpes. DR.. Max
we'll and W. T. Andrews also asked
for relief at these crossings and at
other dangerous crossings. Mr.. j.
A. Schwerin also complained OF the
fact that crossings were frequently
complaint seemed to be mostly
against the shifting Of freight trains
and against the flying box cars"
while at the same time the parties
complained that the crossing was
often blocked for intervals Of ten or
more minutes. The matter was,
upon motion Of Alderman Wright,
referred to a committee who should
look into the matter and confer with
the railroad officials as the best
method of giving citizens relief from
the present conditions The mayor
appointed on this committee Messrs
Cuttino, Wilder and McKeiver.
Mr.. j. A. Schwerin came before
Council to ask that Council define
what a bill poster is. He stated
that he was in the bill posting bust
ness and paid his license for being al
lowed the privilege Of putting up his
posters. There were others how
ever, who did not claim to be bill
postes who did bill posting but who
did not pay license. He wanted
things to be equalized SC that all
would be treated alike. He thought
that distributing circulars on the
street was advertising and that all
advertising ought to be made 10 pay
the same license. No action was talk
on in this matter.
MIR. j. Is. Crosswell asked that tho
sewer line be extended down Sumter
street so that connections could be
made with it from Crosswcll Il Com
pany's warehouse. This was referred
to the City Engineer to be looked into
and reported back to Council.
Mr.. w. NJ. Graham complained
hat the Turkey Creek canal had