The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-16

City Council met Tuesday in its
regular semimonthly session and
discussed fully, and in part heatedly,
the condition Of affairs on Mary
street and the best methods of max
ing the railroad company comply
with the city's requirements. Action
op this matter was finally taken when
-.N McKeiver made a motion which
was passed that the A. c. l.. agent al
this place and the local attorney for
the road be notified at once by the
clerk that unless the railroad COM
pany closed the. ditch on Mary
street and puts the street back into It's
former condition within twenty-four
hours that the mayor and a commit
tee appointed by him with the city
force would close the ditch and make
the changes necessary to put the
street back into its former condi-
tlOn. his dSffVn was sA
the situation had been fully discussed
and all OF the members Of council
present made acquainted with the
situation.
I. There were only five members OF
council present when that body was
called to order. Aldermen McLaurin.
Booth. Wright and Glenn being
absent.
After the reading and approval of
the minutes OF the last meeting, Mr..
n. b. Ross. a forestry expert and
tree repairer stated to council that he
was in the forestry business and that
he was prepared to put the trees in
the city in good shape as cheap as
anyone else that would ana he would
guarantee to leave them in good
condition. He stated that he had no.
tsced that there were great many
trees In the city needing attention
which he was ready to give. If coun-
eli should decide to. have the trees
sloctored. After he had talked a
few minutes he was, referred to the
tree and park commission to have
them act on his suggestion.
Mr. Jennings made his report on
the matter OF correcting the en-
croachmenrs made BY the railroad on
Mary street. He stated that he had
not been able to obtain the city at
torney's opinion in writing. as he
had been authorized to dor but that
the matter had been taken up with
the railroad officials by the city at
torney and they had promised to fill
up the ditch and had stated that they
might" remove the telegraph poles.
The city attorney had gone TO Mr..
Reynolds. the resident attorney for the
road, who had placed in writing what
the railroad was willing to do. This
paper was read by Mr.. Jennings TO
Council who with Mr.. jennings. were
not satisfied with 1t. The statement
as made by Mr.. Reynolds was that
the railroad was willing to put
twenty-four inch pipe in the ditch.
as required by the city engineer. for
a distance Of 400 feet. on condition
that ditch be left open the rest OF the
way. $50 feet as shown by the city
engineer. The telegraph poles were
still in the street and a house had
been moved over and placed on the
street. Mr.. Lee. the city engineer.
stated that the contractor for the
work that was being done had posi-
lively refused to put down the pipe
at the depth at which he required it
and that he had therefore made him
stop work on the ditch. Furthe~-
more he railroad company had dug
street without any permission m
re city and had shut off that street
not be used now. He said that II the
city allowed the railroad company 20
shut up Owens street, 1t meant tie
cutting Off Of passage between the
western and southern sections of the
city. except by way Of Sumter street,
which meant the going distance Of
half mile or more to persons wish
ing TO go from one OF those parts OF
the city TO the other. He said that
Brand or Mulberry street had been
decided TO the city. he did not think
that Owens street had ever been given
to the city as street. but that II
had cen used for more than twenty
years as a public throughfare. and
he did not see that the railroad COM
pany had any right to close 1t at this
49, IT. lttoh xvhioI ho hoop