Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-20
FRIDAY, JUNE 40, 1919.
BETHEL ROAD
Full Statement OF What Has Beer
~ p" DONE and How p

to the effect that the Betnel ROAD nan
been granted Tentatively" and with
your permission desire. to make a
somewhat fuller statement:
Our delegation before. the board
last Saturday, was composed Of the
following gentlemen: ,
T. e. Brandon, ]. d. Brandon, L. B.
Brown, w. P. Boyd, J. D. B. Cur
renee, r. ]. Davis, Guy Davis, Henry
L. Hoke, ]. Ed Harper, R. B. Riddle,
T. H. Riddle, Joe Riddle, ]. ]. Nichols,
II. G. Stanton, A. L. Thompson, Thos.
N. Dulin; also E. N. Miller, township
commissioner. 4
There was submitted the following
statement, which had been previously
agreed upon by the above delegation:
"Mr. Chairman and gentlemen Of
the county board, We desire to pre-
face the few remarks that we have to
make with the assertion that we are
not trying to trample on any ones
rights, nor are we claiming that the
Changing should be given us to the
exclusion of any 9th or part or section
OF York county, o. Bethel township.
But, gentlemen, We do claim tnat tnls
is. the first movement OF any conse.
QQeIlCc LIldI has DCCAA AAAeteS - @S~-~-
township upon a financial basis.
I'VE do not come begging you TO
build a good road; but we come with
a financial proposition that we submit
to You. as sensible men and guardians
of the individual and property rights
of York county, and Bethel township
in particular. will be hard for you to
resist. z
sition: We are asking for road to
be built through one OF the best sec
this road is completed together with
the north and south road through Clio
yer and Bowling Green to the North
Carolina line, Bethel township will be
connected with Yorkville, Glover,
Bowling Green and the various places
In said townships, namely: Bethel
church, Riddles and Davis's mills,
Bethel chapel, and both Boyd's and
Wright's ferries. 1t will also connect
Campbell & Barnett's store, by gravel
road, very nearly connect Ford & Bar
nett's store, formerly known as Glenn
a. Riddles. Ferguson & Sons store Is
not SO closely connected. There are
various other places Of considerable
Importance that will be directly or in
directly connected with the various
towns, churches, mills, stores, etc.
I'VE submit, gentlemen, that 1t will
pass through one of the most populous
sections, if not the most populous sec
ton of the township, and that 1t Will
benefit more people either directly or
indirectly than any other road that
could be built through the township.
I'VE submit also, gentlemen, that
this ten miles of road can be built for
less than any other ten miles of road
in Bethel township, for the following
reasons: We have steel bridge over
Crowder's creek at Davis's mill, ever
lasting rock pillars on the north prong
of the road leading to North Carolina
by the residence of Howard Riddle,
and the banks Of Crowders' Creek at
this point are such that by putting fve
or ten feet of cement on said pillars,
the bridge will be raised so that there
win not be the remotest possibility OF
destruction by food We are sure that
this one advantage would save the
county $500 to $4,000. '"
"The Bridge over Beaverdam creek
near the residence of A. E. Siford Is
in a bad condition and will soon have
to be rebuilt. BY raising this bridge
three or four feet we believe you Will
save all grading at this point. There
are other natural advantages, too nu-
merous to mention. l
Now, gentlemen. as to the financial
part Of the proposition, we have q
subscription Of more than $4,000 In
cash We have a right Of way signed
by land owners allowing York county
to build a road through or across their
lands, also sand, clay or gravel to
complete said road.
I'VE also submit that the right Of
way for this road would cover about
thirty six (36) acres OF lano, ana a
very reasonable estimate OF the value
of this land would be $40 per acre,
which would be equal to $1,440. The
necessary clay and gravel, we would
estimate as being worth $500, which
would make a grand total, in natural
advantages, savings, and donations
of about $500.
Now gentlemen, you may argue that
the right of way amounts to nothing;
but we submit that 1t Is our property
and that Ii is worth more than our es-
innate, and we are giving this, know
ing its true value. Again gentlemen,
why are we making such generous
offer2 Because we are needing and
wanting a road very badly. We real,
ize that If we get anything we are
going to have to pay for 1t. In the
second place, because the present act
fails to include in its general terms
ed Tor every other township in the
county save Bullocks creek-conveni-
ent connection with the county seat
over a first-class well graded road. In
the third place 1t has been eight years
since the chaingang has done any road
work In Bethel township and that 1t
has never graded foot Of road In said
township. AS to the law, we leave
that to the county attorney. We have
confidence in his honor and ability, we
also have confidence in your honor
and ability. We leave the matter with
you.
I'VE have made you the best PROPOSE
ton that an honorable intelligent and
liberal minded set of men could offer.
You have the power to give 1t to us
or to withhold 1t from us. The power
lies in your ballot. May we ask you
what a ballot is? May We give you
an answer? 1t is beautiful and pa
thetic thing, beautiful when used to
promote what our consciences teach
us is right; and pathetic when used
contrary to the teaching Of an en-
lightened conscience. Through suffer-
ing and great trial it came to you and
represents the inalienable rights and
sovereignty of man. Use 1t. 1t is one
of the most potent influences of the
modern world. God gave 1t to you to
use in the interests Of truth, Of right
eousness and Of justice"
The board gave a careful, patient
and somewhat lengthy hearing to
the Bethel delegation as to facts, ETC.,
and to Thos F. McDow, G. w. S. Hart,
J. G.. Wilborn and County Attorney j.
S. Brice as to the law. The commits
sioners then retired to its private office
and in twenty-three minutes Chair
man Boyd came to the door and an
nounced to our delegation, You got
your road" Now, If there Is anything
tentative" about this we submit we
do not see it that way. And we feel
sure The Enquirer did not mean to
make this impression.
Now as to the leader Of the delega-
ton, he would be pleased to go foot
and accord each gentleman of the del
egation due credit.
Thos. N Dulin.