The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-09
The Morning After.
Editor of The Daily Item:

Editor of The Daily Item.
1t is always good policy to try to
place ourselves in the position of the
other fellow and to attempt to under
stand his point Of view, if possible.
Unfortunately there are always those
people in this world who believe that
there is but one side to every ques-
ton and that their side is the right
one. We have gone through a very
active campaign to obtain the issue
OF S15O.OO0 in bonds in order to COM
plete and improve our public roads.
can not believe that there is a
single man in this county who is op-
posed to good roads for his county
as an abstract issue but / can very
we'll conceive that there are many Of
our people who might honestly be op-
posed to the manner proposed to Sc
cure them. AS Secretary Of the
Chamber of Commerce, l actively
worked to secure the approval Of this
issue. not alone because / was Sec
retary OF this organization, but be.
cause l believed that we needed i'm
proved highways In this county and
that such Improvement would mean
increased prosperity for all. 1t is as
useless for any citizen TO attempt to
array city and country against one
another as 1t would be for any man
to array his left hand against his
right. In fact. there Is not now. nor
has there been any such an issue and
i sincerely hope that there never Will
be. We may agree now and then to
'Gasagrce but only as Individual cit
liens, not as sections. The Chamber
Of Commerce was organized and is
working to build and to improve this
county as whole. The vote on the
bond issue shows that there were
those In this city who opposed 1t
just as there were those In the coun-
ty who opposed it. In fact a num-
ber Of the most substantial members
of the Chamber voted and actively
worked against 1t. They honestly
disagreed with the position Of a
large majority OF our members.
The issue OF improved highways
for this county will not down be-
cause 1t Is plain to every citizen that
they are badly needed. Let us. there
fore, get together at once and study
the best means OF securing them. If
the bond issue Is the best way, let us
fight 1t out along that line until It Is
approved. If there Is a better meth
Cd Of securing improved highways.
then let us work together for that
method. What is needed now IS con-
certed a.;ton, not discussion as to
what should have been done In the
past.
we propose to call meeting, In
the very near future. Of the repre-
sentative citizens OF this county ~
discuss this issue and to arrive. II
possible, at some definite conclusion
by which this much needed improve
ment may be made. l desire to make
the following suggestion. not as rep
resentative Of the Chamber OF Com
merce. but as an individual and in
order that 1t may be discussed thor
oughly before this meeting. We
now have $4,000 annually for road
purposes. We have also $4,000 ar
nually for five years from the lond
issue. This money is now being
spent by the county board. We need
competent road engineer. CoulI
not such an engineer be employed
at once by the county board? This
engineer would then survey every
public road In the county an0 blue
prints could be made thereof He
could make an accurate estimate OF
the total cost of building sand clay
roads throughout the county, provide
for the proper building oc these
roads proper grading, ditching etc
When this issue again came hefore
the people, as 1t is sure to do. IN
some form or other, every citizcn
would be Informed as to the actual
cost of building and completing tho
entire public road system OF the
county We would not go at It blind
~ but with accurate Information. The
cost of maintenance would he cal
culated and provided for.
The Chamber of Commerce invites
discussion and desires to receive suE-
gestions az TO his question from every
part OF this county.
A. V. SMELL.
Secreary OF the Chamber Of Com
meRre.