The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-13

OF Sumter and to property owners
holding lands Immediately east of
the city Is that now on foot to form
q drainage district OF this territory
for the purpose OF permanently drain
ing all Of the land I'm the district
through Turkey Creek Canal and
lateral bitches running into the Tur-
key Creek canal. The proposed move
ment has been sgitated for a number
Of years. but II has been only within
the past few months that any def
mite steps have been taken To form
tho area into a drainage district.
The proposed district covers an area
OF $3.50 acres and tho estimated co-t
b $4,000. In order to secure this
money bonds will be issued by the
Turkey Creek Drainage District as
soon as II Is formed and the land
which In benefited by the drainage
win be taxed to pay of the bonds.
The proposition of those interested is
TO widen and deepen Turkey Creek.
90 that II can take care OF all of the
water which now runs into IL and
the additional water which will run
into II from the bays and ponds which
VIII be drained by means of the ditch
co which will be extended throughout
the district. The canal will be widen
cd TO fifteen to eighteen feet and will
be deepened from two to five
feet. according to the needs at
the various places along the
canal In accommodating the volume
OF water which Is poured into the
canal In order to make the work
permanent IL Is probable that a num-
Der Of sand traps and other me-
diums viii be provided to catch the
drifting sand and prevent the canal
from filiing. as II has done every few
years In the past.
The organization of the Turkey
Creek Drainage District. which is
now under way. comes under the act
OF 1911. providing that property mold
ers within certain area may unite
In the formation Of a drainage dis
trict for the purpose OF issuing bonds
to raise money for the required work.
All Of the land which is benefited by
tho drainage Is bonded and will be
te:ed proportionaIly TO the benefit
received by II by the drainage of the
land.
Under this act the property hold
ers I'm the proposed district circuiat-
ed petition several months ago
which was signed by a large majority
IN the district. tthe law only requires
q majority OF the property holders to
sign the petition) The petition was
then iled with the clerk OF court for
sumter county and he appointed a
Board Of Viewers, under the terms OF
the act. consisting OF Messrs A. b.
Stuckey. w. A. Bowman and Joseph
Palmer. civil engineer. who have been
over the lands In the proposed dis
trict and who on Tuesday fled their
report with the county clerk. Thi,
report Is very favorable to- the form
ing oil the drainage district and con-
tsins much information as 20 the
work which will have TO he done and
the good which will be accomplish
ed.
The clerk of court now has TO set a
day ;S- q hearing of the matter, in
case there Is objection OF some Of the
property holders within the district to
the forming of the drainage district.
One feature OF especial interest to
those living In the city. more than
hslf OF area OF which is within pro-
posed district. Is the taxation of city
property for the proposed improve
merit. In the past the city has kept
up the Turkey Greek Canal and many
OF the property holders In the coun-
~ have benefited by the city work
without having To pay any of the
NhV 'iAJ VIII receive "a
great share OF benefit from the pro-
posed work. but what share of the
cost II will pay is feature which IS
yet undecided. Another benefit To tn,
city IL tho probable improvement Of
the health In the eastern half Of the
city by better drainage OF the land
In the Immediate vicinity of the city
and In the city. because OF the eradi- .
cation OF the breeding places of mos
aultoes. There are about 100 acres
In the city which are affected by the
proposed drainage district. while the
rest OF the district. $3.50 acres. is
In the county and is Of advantage pri-
marily TO the property holders with /.
out tho city.
Mr. Frank g. Eason. of Charles !
tom. limited Sfafaa 1rt,Ipa.n