Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-06-12
AS TO PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Mayor w. Nj. Brown Replies to Our
Remarks. Anent Subject,

read your column and half edito-
rial headed "Public Improvements"
and l must say that am a little sur
prised, and yet not very much either.
You say "The private citizen should
be compelled to conform, in making
improvements, to definitely located
property lines. How much more,
then, should the town itself see that
It's property lines are correct, espe-
cially In making some permanent i'm
proVements? 1t strikes us most forci-
bly, that there should have been no
permanent paving on College street
until the street line was definitely To-
Gated. 1t Is a well known fact that
the building known as the City Hall'
sits far out on the sidewalks feet
and inches If memory has not
played us a mean trick"
Now, Mr.. Editor, what we would
IKE TO know Is from what source you
got your stcrehouse of information
that. after two and half years re-
tirement from the Mayors office, that
you would still remember that this
particular property Is 3 feet and 7
inches out on the sidewalk? Will
the editor please tell the officials and
the public at what point in the town
or the town to find as a final result
that the Getty Hail. Is out on the
walk? The editor very we'll knows
that there is absolutely no corner in
the town Of Walhalla from which a
survey can be made, and be sure that
you are absolutely correct.
Then you question the wisdom of
lowering the sidewalks on Main
street, and say, ct would have been
much better. we think, to have taken
as basis of grading here a direct
line from the paving at the post Of
flee clear through to the end of the
street TO do this would mean to
build our sidewalks at this point
about eight feet high above the
street, and a continuation Of your
grade would possibly strike the Nor
man house about half way from the
ground to the second story, and then
to cut the street some more on the
Hill west Of the post office would
mean that the street would be about
ten feet below the sidewalk. And It
looks like the editor would still re-
member the results of high side
walks, when it cost the town Of Wal
halla $500 and other expenses from
the fact that you, as Mayor Of VAL
halla, caused to be walled up a side
walk so high that man could not
get on or off Except he fell off as
dld the man in this particular case,
that cost the town $1,000, from the
depot Tor two blocks to the Walha la
Hotel, and people who might want to
use the sidewalk at any given point
from the depot to the hotel are forced
to walk down the street, no mat ter
how muddy the street may be.
You seem to be very much in SYM
pathy with the property owners OF
ne Gown, aud vet you would have
me Town authoritio5 TO jump On the
people and take their land along thn
Strerts thai hey nave been in Deacp-
Apie Possession Of Fur more thpn fiffv
Years. Anu then when we go to the
property owners and get their per-
mission to cut the walks down to
something like safe grade, and so
as 10 conform to the streets, You set
up tremendous howl and find fault
with everything and everybody be-
cause they do not think Just like
you do.
Now, Mr.. Editor, want to refresh
your hne memory, for if you still re-
men1Der that the City Hall is three
rect out on the walk" | know thot n
is good. You talk about establish
ing the correct lines before any per-
manent improvements are done
When the writer began the grading
Tor the erection of the building now
occupy, you at that time were Mayor
oi Walhalla. You, with myself, de-
clded on certain lines, and about tho
same time Mrs. Oelkers, lust opno-
site me, had cement block wall
Duilt in front of her home, and under
your direction or sanction. Now let's
see ABOUT your advice as to estab
llshlng the lines before any perma-
n.h. "ork IS done. You know that
street is 1870 feet wide, and Won harn
allowed two jobs OF permanent work
to be done on Main street leaving Tho
street and sidewalks only 1875 feet,
thereDy losing to the town five fect
and YOU the Mayor.
neh' asaln, you go on and knock
me council about doing all the work
ON Main street. Now Just be y litt,n
PIT tair. What have we done on
MAIN street? Well. here 1t Is. In
on the west end OF Main street therc
nad always been very bad mudhole
s risht IN the center Of Main street
me wilson administration went up
there and put in good drain nina
but before the work was finally fn'
ished up, the present Council was
elected. and we thought it lust and |
rlght 10 continue that work to q |
point where 1T would be both safe
ana sanitary, for, as YOU know, the |
water stood for possibly months at a |
tlme, and was source Of great an
noyance to the people who lived near
and also to those who had to drive |
through II. Then the rebuilding of |
the sidewalk near the post Office, |
which has already been mentioned, |
IS az the work that has been done |