The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-01
TINE GOOD ROADS CAMPAIGN.
EVANSVILLE STARTS WITH 4
SUCCESSFUL MEETING
Prof. T.. Horton COlcOck PriucipaI
Speaker - Practical Working of
Bonding Plan Explained by Mr..
BelSer.
Special TO The Daily Item.

mass meeting in the interest of the
good roads movement in Sumter
county was held here today at noon.
The meeting was held in the school
by Rev. II. A. Knox of the Presby-
ter1an church. The attendance was
smallHOIN6Nhahm hm hmm nm
not very large, but might be said to
have been representative one. AS
already widely advertised, the object
OF the meeting was for the purpose Of
| placing before the people the need
of the bond issue Of $15O,OOO for the
| building of good roads in this county.
This was the first of six such meet
ings to be held in the county be-
fore August l when the election on
| the subject will be held.
The principal speaker Of the day
| was Prof. F. Horton Colcock, profes-
| sor of mathematics and civil engineer
ing in the University of South Car
| olina, at Columbia, who is an expert
| along the line Of good road building
! and has travelled extensively in the in
| terest OF such work. The other speak
ers of the meeting were DR.. S. c.
Baker Of Sumter and Hon. Richard
b. Belser, representative in the leg
| islature from this county and who was
elected on good roads platform last
| summer.
DR.. Baker was the first speaker and
he made brief but pointed talk
along the sanitary side of good roads,
showing how the bad road with its
attendant mud holes and poor drain
age was inimical to the health Of any
| community through which it might
pass. This was probably new phase
| of the question to most Of his hear-
ers and the importance Of it was very
forcibly impressed upon them. Er.
Baker, also, touched on the value Of
good roads In the hauling Of the CROPS
to market, speaking somewhat from
his own experience along this lire.
His brief talk was much enjoyed and
80 plain facts were undouhtedlv
| deeply Impressed on the audience.
Prof. Colcoclr was next introduced
and made a powerful argument in ia
vor of the good roads movement from
the economic cida of tho o,act,o, no
began by referring to the good roads
Of the West which he had visited re-
Gently. He referred to the AUTOMOBILE
ist as being able to take care Of him
self and said that he found that these
people were always more than will
ling to help the neighborhood in the
matter Of building good roads He
stressed the necessity of quicker
transportation from an economic and
social standpoint and referred to the
great improvements along this line
since the days of our fathers when
| it took several days or weeks to go to
and from market. The immense cost
of transportation is an important
factor, the annual cost of transpor Ia
tion by rail in this country is about
2S.0O0,000 and by dirt road about
100000. The building Of bet
ter roads will lessen this immense
cost to the people. The saving in
repairing transportation vehicles and
the Wear and tear to harness, etc,
portation and better roads will les
sen these items. This saving will
pay the individual assessment imposed
on account Of the extra tax Prof.
Colcock stated that it appeared from
the amount of sand on the roads in
this county and the clay easily avail
| able, it would be much cheaper TO
build good roads here than in many
other less favorable places.
The speaker stressed the fact Of
the increased valuation of property
on account Of better roads passing
such property. He said in building
good roads the people would 'be lay
ing up wealth for the future gener-
ations. The farm. lands would easily
be increased 33 per cent or more. 1t
would, also, make more agreeable
homes for our families as the neigh
bOrhood would be closer bound to-
! 81 pt hnr 10 al faa Of
try life would be encouraged.
! Prof. Colcock explained Very clear
, ly that the issuing OF these bonds
would be a purely business PROPOSE
ton. The great railroad lines of the
country are Guilt with bond issues.
The bond holders and Tho people re-
ceiVing the money from the sale of
/ these bonds are both satisfied. He