The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1911-03-08
CHAMBER TO WORK
FOR FREE BRIDGES
Question Generally Dis
cuSSed Last Night.
BOND ISSUE OF $4,000. 90
Advantages to Columbia Shown By
S. the Speakers.


The State of March Z.
"I can not think of anything that
would help Columbia more than free
bridges.n The statement was made
last night bt fore the members OF the
Co.umbia Chamber of Commerce by
B. ". Shand, q member Of city cuuls-
Gil, de ending the propos bond issue
of $f5, 900 to purchase or erect bridges
across the Congaree river.
eve want you to come here. We
want you to trade, but you must pay
TO come here" This Mr.. Shand said
is the welcome that is daily extended
by the city of Columbia 70 the people
OF Lexin gtou and other counties IN the
western section of the State, who would
spend thousands Of dollars annually
with Columbia merchandise there was
not ar1f against their coming.
He said the toll was like Columbia
! merchant who would be so foolish as
to place man at his door and charge
customers a fee to enter the store.
The eauestion of "free bridges 'across
the Cougaree river was thoroughly
thrashed out before two score mem
bers of the Chamber Of Commerce and
it was decided that the Chamber would
z In q body work to carry the election
on the question Of issuing $4,000
wortn OF bonds. The election will be
NEXT Tuesday. There were discussions
by many of the members. Each side
was given a chance to present It's
ideas.
An aggressive opponent to the bond
issue was August kchn. H2 opposed
the election on the grOunOs that the
debt or the city vas already tCo large,
being over $1,000, 900. He said that
.tbe city should be made attractive so
as to induce people to come here. lie
did not see where Columbia would be
benefited by the purchase Of the bridg-
6s.
There wal spirited debate between
Chas. Marcy and F. S. Terry. Mr.. Ma
rey was another one of The aggressive
,opponents to the bond issue. He did
think that the city would be benefited
by freeing" the bridges. He said that
he owned considerable property and
that it was no. the taxes, but lat
tshe city itself should be first improy-
ed.
At the last session of the legislature
an act was passed authorizing and di-
recting the supervisor OF Lexington
Lcounty to Issue i've notes of Lexington
county for s., 900 each, payable one,
two, three, four and five years from
date at per cent interest, payable an
nually, for the purpose Of paying one
third Of the cost of purchasing the
bridge now used ,or repairing the same
s,or building new bridge across the
.Congaree river between Riehland and
Lexington counties and providing that
this should be dons whenever Coluu--
bia township was ready to furnish the
money to pay the other two-thirds of
the cost OF such bridge.
This act was the result Of the votes
of the whole Of Lexington county in
the 1910 primary on the question of
whether or not the county should bear
part OF the expense for freeing" the
ICongaree river bridge and at such
time that county voted IN favor OF the
proposition by 2,l24 to $50.
The statutes at large for 1908, page
1881, authorizes Columbia township TO
hold an election on whether or not
bonds should be issued to ''build or
purchase ard to maintain bridge or
bridges across the Congaree river and
the Broad river between the counties
of Richland and Lexington at any
point, between the northern and
southern boundaries of said Columbia
township" 1t further provided that
the bridge should be forever open
s'for the passage of all persons, ami
mails, driven or ridden, and vehicles,
not including street or railway cars,
coming into or going ont of Columbis
township, free of toll or Charge" The
bonds are authorized to be issued In
denominations of 500, $500 and 81, 900,
the total amount not to exceed 5000
and to bear q rate OF interest not to
exceed per cent. per annum, payable
annually On the 1st day Of July of
each yeaxs -
It wss rrovided, however, that the
ouestionM issuing, the bonds should
Be submitsed 70 the qualified voters Of
UolumbiSstownship at an kelectton to
be held s3ter . petition had been fled
with the county board OF commission
sers con saining majority Of the free
holders Of said township.
This petition has been filed. aud the
county board of commissioners have
ordered the election for next Tuesday
and have appointed managers OF cleo.
ton. At this election only qualified
oaook<ra oan vote 'E..