Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-08-27
ANNIHMATION OF DISTANCE.
Scope OF Great Highway is Spread
ing-DircCt to Coast.


| Columbia to Charleston, and one
which can easily be put in first-class
| shape, was the proposition laid be-
! fore Commissioner E. j. Watson yes
| tcrdaN by a party Of gentlemen who
travel the state in automobiles for
commercial purposes. The new route
to Charleston as advocated by these
gentlemen would cut the distance to
90 miles as against 1925 by the
present short route and 1882 by the
longer route.
The road, should it be decided to
follow this short route, would fol-
low the present Capital-to-COast
highway until it crosses BateS's Fer
ry. This ferry, by the way. is to be
improved, permanent landings made
on each side Of the river. the cause
ways improved, the addition of "A
motor to be made to the boat and
wiring to be fixed so that the ferry
can cross the Congaree without in
tcrfCring with navigation. At pres
Cnt 1t is necessary for the ferry to
lie ON the Richland side OF the
stream all the time.
tropOScu New Route.
After crossing the C0ngarep river
the new road, instead of going from
Fort Motto to St. Matthews, @ould
take the straight road bearing to the
left and crossing the tracks Of the
Atlantic Coast Line half way between
Creston and Lone Star, then cross the
line into the eastern neck Of Orange
burg county and follow somewhat
the tracks of the Pregnall division
OF the Coast Line, crossing the tracks
of the Coast Line at Elloree and
Holly Hill and then going due east
from Holly Hill into Berke eley coun-
ty Turning south between Pinopo-
lis and Monks Corner and coming
back close to the main line of the
Coast Line the road would go from
there direct into Charleston, making
the distance from Columbia to Char
lesion only 90 miles.
A study Of the map Of this pro-
posed short route will show that it
follows more or less of a ridge all
the way from Columbia, the lower
end of the road being a natural hard
pan. The road can be put in first
class shape, 1t is said, with little eff
fort and little cost.
Should the farmers and people
along the route Of this road demon
strate the interest and determination
the people along the Columbia-An-
dersOn-W n-Walhalla-Lake ToXaway high
way did, they will have it in a short
time. Along that route the farmers
as well as the residents ir the towns
turned out and devoted time and
money to getting the road. The pro-
gressive little town of Honea Path
raised $1,000 for the road and an
nounced at the Anderson mass meet
ing that they had the money in the
bank. Walhalla citizens raised $500
one evening with nine men met to
start the ball to rolling. Highlands,
N. g., desiring to get connected with
this roadway by linking at Cashiers
Valley, raised $4,000 in one week,
one farmer giving himself $500.
Headed by Mayor Brown, Of Wal
halia, the towns along the route ap-
pointed canvassing committees and
every one, town residents and farm
ers, willingly subscribed money and
promised to devote time to improv-
ing and fixing the road. The result
is that the new automobile highway
to Lake ToXaway and that hitherto
undevelOped section of the greatest
scenic Fairgrounds Of the mountains
Of Western North Carolina and South
Carolina will be opened for travel
by October 1st.
Watson VIII Try New Route.
The building and improving Of the
cross-State highway. as pointed out
by Commissioner Watson, stimulates
good roads feYer everywhere. The
supervisor Of Lexington county in
two days concentrated his energies
and chain gangs and removed a ter
ribly rocky Hill on the Captial-to-
Piedmont highway, which is a part Of
the road to the nountains. The SUI
perviSOr OF Laurens county took his
chain gang and in five days built
that part Of the Capital-tO-L ToX-
away highway in his county all the
way to the river and put it in first
class shape. The work which is be-
ing done by the county supervisors is
being praised by the people and com
mended in hearty fashion by Com
missioner Watson. The supervisors
OF Anderson and OCOnee counties are
doing their part towards putting the
roads in their counties, which will
compose the mbia-Anderson
Walhalla-ToXaway highway, in prime
condition, but the most gratifying
part Of it all, as pointed out by Mr..
Watson, is the interest the people
themselves are taking in improving
the roads. Farmers and residents
generally are subscribing money and
working the roads by their homes
themselves and cooperating in
gratifying way with the efforts for
improved highways.
Commissioner Watson will make a
preliminary run In his automobile
over the proposed short route to
! Charleston some time within he next
| two weeks