The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-19
TO COLUMBIA BY DIRECT ROUTE
NEW PUBLIC HIGHWAY TO ELM
MATE 20 MILES.
Plan to Improve Road Across Water
&c swamp, and Citizens Offer
Hearty Cooperation.

public highway is to be constructed
between Sumter and Columbia, thus
saving 20 miles between the two
cities. From Columbia to the Water
ee river the road is in good condi-
ton now, and after getting out Of the
to Sumter.
The connecting link that is to be
built is the crossing of the river. This
will be completed within three
months. the weather permitting.
Work was begun yesterday. This act
ual taking hold Of the situation has
developed within the last few days
and has been handled in a business
like manner. In other words, to
state the matter cOncretely, the old
Garner Ferry road with ferry will be
made a thoroughfare between the
two cities.
For five years there has been more
or less talk of this opening Of a high :.
way through the Wateree swamp.
Since the automobile has come into
general use the need Of such a con-
nection has been felt more and more.
There is not day that a Columbia
car can not be found in Camden and
Camden cars in Columbia. But there
has not been such marked exchange
Of visits with the Sumter friends. The
reason is plain. While an air line
will place Columbia and Sumter as
near together as Columbia and Cam
den are now, Yet the road Of commu-
nication from Sumter is 6S miles
for 1t Is necessary to go by way Of
Camden to get across the Wateree
river. A road through the swamp,
cutting off 29 miles between Sumter
and Columbia, would stimulate COM
munication between the two cities to
a marked extent. This road will be
In use by October l. unless all signs
fail.
There was once a good road from
Sumter to the river at Gamers fer
ry. built something like 100 years
ago, when Columbia was in its in
ancy. The road was built in order to
make more comfortable the travel
between the Pee Dee country and the
mountains, as many wealthy residents
of the eastern section of the State
went every summer to the mountains
by private conveyance" Up to the
time Of the War Between the Sec
tions this highway, known as a State
road, was we'll kept up and the mud
sills or piers upon which rested the
trestle work of the bridges across
the swamps are in good condition
now. 1t is upon these that the frame
work of the new bridge work is to
be built.
The chief promoter of this work
is Harry G.. Bates, who successfully
led the movement to establish Bates
ferry over the Congaree river, about
eight miles distant from the old Gar.
ner ferry on the Wateree. He has
gone over the route of the causeway
through the swamp oil the Sumter
side and has declared that he can put
the road through successfully this
summer If there are no freshets. For
the last three years there have been
N pni IL
make a thorough examination OF con-
ditions in the swamp. Mr.. Bates was
much pleased with the condition of
the old parts OF the State road, and
he made the announcement that if
he should be guaranteed 500 for five
weeks he would get the road
through from the river to connect
with a good road leading to sum
ter.
T. II. Auld of Eastover, John NJ.
Bates. A. Mason Gibbes and s. T.. Nc
Master have assured Mr.. Bates that
they would raise the money, and he
has gone ahead with the plans.
He has employed 20 laborers and
the start will be made Monday morn
ing. This will be a considerable un-
dertaking. Mr.. Bates will give his
time and labor, and $500 will not
meet the necessary expenses. but it is
proposed to organize regularly
chartered company and to spend
about $1,000 or $500 in making this
a good road. The owners Of the com
pany would depend upon ferry fees
to he reimbursed. If this should
pru,c as successful as the Bates
ferry undertaking, the promoters
would soon get their money back. 1t
will cost little to install n ferry. for
Houses ferry will be moved to the
site Of the old Gamers ferry. the
owner of Houses ferry having givNn