The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-15
BETTER ROADS WANTED.
Columbia Chamber Of Commerce
Calls for Good Roads Rally at Co.
lumbia Oh October 1.

tain legislation to provide for the
construction Of gaps in our system of
roads caused by the lack Of bridges
crossing Of the rivers OF the State
and to provide a system of road main
tenance for the highways leading to
the State capital at Columbia and for
those connecting the county seats and
larger towns. Disconnected efforts
have been made at past meetings of
the legislature to provide for road
construction, but they have been fruit
less. and 1t is only by concerted ac-
tion Of all parties interested in good
roads that we can hope for legisla-
tion providing a definite system for
road construction and maintenance.
With this end in view. it is propos-
ed to hold a good roads rally in Co.
lumbia on the first of October which
will be attended by delegates from
the following organizations:
All Commercial bodies.
County Supervisors Asso ation.
Mail Carriers Association.
Farmers Union.
AN Good Roads and Automobile
Organizations.
This convention would be expected
to formulate a law to be pushed at
the next meeting of the legislature,
providing a system for road construc.
ton and maintenance for all classes
OF roads and to provide funds for the
construction Of highways and bridges
that are for the use of large sections
OF the State, and for the maintenance
OF highways between the county
seats.
1t Is not proposed to interfere with
the work Of the present supervisors,
but to provide means of assisting
them in the maintenance of the coun-
ty roads. There are however many
roads that are not demanded by local
county interests but which are need
ed in system Of intra-State highways,
and should be constructed by or un-
der the direction Of some central au-
thority. such as the State department
OF agriculture
Our State Is divided by it's large
rivers. the santee. Congaree, Wateree,
Broad. Catawba. the two Pee Dees.
and the lower part of the Edisto, into
sections between which at present.
there is little communication except
by railroad. The only bridges across
these streams at present are al fol-
lows:
Santee. none.
Wateree. one at Camden.
Catawba. one between Lancaster
and York counties.
Congaree. one at Columbia.
Broad. one near Columbia and one
between York and Cherokee coun-
ties.
Little Pee Dee, one between Conway
and Marion.
Lower Edisto. none.
The cost Of construction has been
too great, or local interest not suf1i-
cient to warrant the building of 9TH
er bridges across these streams,
though their need is felt by large Sec
tons OF the State. 1t is too much to
expect Richland and Sumter coun-
ties to build bridge across the Wa
teree. for which there Is little local
demand. but which would be of i'm
mcnse banefit to people living in the
counties Of Sumter. Darlington, Flor
ence. Clarendon. Williamsburg.
Georgetown, Horny. Marion. Dillon
and Marloboro, who wish to come to
Columbia and all points west of Co.
lumbia.
Likewise there Is probably COM
paratively little local demand for a
bridge across the Santee. between
Clarendon and Orangeburg counties,
yet such a crossing would be of great
use to the entire lowcr part of tho
State.
There should be a highway across
the upper part Of the State. connect.
Ing the counties Of Union. Chester,
Lancaster and Chesterfield. but the
lack Of bridges across Broad and Ca
tawba rivers prevents.
Those who have travelled by auto.
mobile. or who have thought on the
subject. know the great limitations on
travel. and the large extra mileage be-
tween points that the lack Of bridge
crossing of rivers entails on the trav-
eler.
Commerce and travel between these