The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-01
GOOD ROADS ISSUE.


roads campaign was held Thursday at
Mayesville, the principal address be-
ing made by Prof. Colcock, of the
University OF South Carolina. A num-
over from this city. and 1t is hoped
that the attendance from that section
OF the county tributary to Mayesville
was large. The good roads campaign
Is being conducted on a safe and sane
plan: there will be no politics and no
forced enthusiasm and hurrah about
H. A business-like and practical pre-
sentation OF the need Of good roads
throughout the county will be made
and the people will be left to decirde
for themselves whether or not they
win continue to pay the burdensome
tax that bad roads entail upon every
citizen and every property owner. II
a majority OF the citizens OF the coun-
~ prefer bad roads to good roads. IL
they prefer paying ten times as much
IN an indirect tax for the privilege OF
hauling a half load over bad roads as
Il will cost I'm direct taxes to build
and maintain a countrywide system
OF good roads. II Is their right to so
declare at the ballot box, and those
Who believe that good roads are the
basis OF progress and prosperity for
this section will bow TO the will OF
the majority for the time being and
look 20 tho future FOR the realization
ef their plans for the up-bullding OK
sumter County. The campaign VIII
pc purely aid simply one OF educa-
ton and argument. and the argu-
ments will be made by men who have
made an exhaustive study Of the
road problem In all Its phases and
will come before the people prepar-
ed to speak authoritatively and to
back up every statement with facts
and figures. They will be able to tell
accurately what II costs a county to
have bad roads and to tell what 1t
profits the land owners. and all 9TH
srs who use the roads. 10 have good
roads over which TO haul their farm
products and merchandise to and
from the market They will tell
how 20 build good roads enconomical-
ly and how to maintain them at a less
cost than IL does now to maintain the
bad roads II these facts do not ap-
peal TO the voters. nothing will. but
knowing that our people are intelli-
gent aud always seeking means to
better their condition and 70 en-
hance the value OF OF their property.
NE are confident that the bond issue
for the building OF good roads will be
authorized; and that within a year
or a little more. the construction OF a
complete system OF modern highways
will be well underway. We trust that
as many Of the voters OF the county
as possible will attend the meetings.
for. unless those who are to vote on
this most important question inform
themselves as 20 the issues to be de-
cided. they cannot vote intelligently.
n viii not do - decide beforehand
that $4,000 Is too much money to
spend at one time on the roads. They
must know why and how the expen-
diture OF this sum CT money can and
will be vastly more beneficial TO the
whole county, IL II Is spent at once,
than II II were spent I'm driblets. ex-
tending over a long period OF years.
They must learn that by building a
complete system OF roads IL will be
possible To- save enough on mairtea-
ance To pay. or perhaps more than
pay, the interest on the bonds. and
still have the benefit OF good roads at
no greater annual expenditure on &C.
count OF roads and bridges than un-
der the present system. This Is the
purpose OF the good roads campaign
to lay before the people the facts
that prove conciusively that il is real
" cheaper. Immediately "a we'll as i'm
I'm the long run. Co have good roads.
even though the initial cost is seem
ingly great. than to put up with poor
roads. or Co attemt To develop a
system OF good roads gradually.
through long term OF years. We ad-
wise every voter 10 attend the meet
ings and To- 80 with an open mind.
prepared TO hear the arguments and
decide for or against tho bond issue
on the merits OF the question.