Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-05

the lower route that distance would be
cut to 201 miles. With six passenger
trains per day passing TirZah, and
Newport, and since that section has n
good road in addition, he thought 1t
time people along the lower route were
getting a show. He would not how
ever, retain any malice or prejudice, no
matter which route was agreed upon.
w. B. Wilson, Jr., championed the
cause of the upper or present road ad-
vocates. He had not been retained as
attorney TO present the case, he said.
AS one Of the trainers Of the present
road law, he was familiar with its pur-
pose, which was to do the greatest
good to the greatest number of people.
His contention was that the road be
built as it now is through TirZah, New
port and EbeneZer because 1t would
benefit the most people. Bethesda
township pays about one fifteenth OF
the county's taxes; but If the lower
route was taken, Bethesda township
would get between 20 and 25 miles Of
road against little more than one mile
in EbeneZer, and yet, he said, EbeneZer
pays ne-seventh of the taxes. But the
road should benefit the largest number
and since there are SO white families
living on the upper road and only 20
on the lower the greatest number
should be considered. But the country
lying away from the road should be
considered, and If this fact is taken
into consideration, the upper route
should most surely be taken as Bethel
and Fort Mill townships will be helped
Regardless Of statements to the con-
trary, the present road from Fort Mill
to Yorkville is the closest practicable.
By taking the lower route, Mr. Will
son asserted, only small section Of
country about four miles wide will re-
ceive benefit, and the road would be
built for the benefit of land owners, few
Of whom even live on their property
along the route.
The upper road needed working bad
ly in places, especially between York
vile and Newport. 1t was good now
while the weather is dry; but the good
ness Of it had nothing to do with the
proposition. The people were entitled
to ii and he felt they should have 1t. The
upper road can be built cheaper than the
lower II. II. White, surveyor, had
measured the two routes from the Ma
tional Union bank at Rock Hill to a
point near the county home. The dis
tance between the points was 13 6-10
miles by the upper road and l3 $40 by
the lower. According to engineers,
grading on the lower road will be
heavier than the upper. No bridges
will have to be built on the upper road
while the cost Of bridge construction
on the lower would be at least $4,000.
There would only be one large fill on
the upper road at point near White
Hill church. The upper road would
furnish the slightest grade, the cheap
est road and would be beneficial to the
greatest number of people.
In ntn1t 70 n
said that between $1,500 and $4,000 had
been subscribed toward the upper road
and that rights Of way had been secured
from parties living along the way.
DR.. r. S. Kirkpatrick, of Fort Mill.
testified that the majority of Fort Mill
citizens favored the upper route. Mr..
Wilson, he thought, had covered the
matter in fair way. 1t occurred to
him that people Of the lower road
should go down in their pockets and
build their own road. A petition sign
ed by LOG petitions Of Fort Mill asking
for the upper road, was submitted to
the commissioners.
w. w. Miller, county engineer, gave
his opinion as to the Finley road, ;"
which the lower road advocates want
ed to join. The Finley road was not
completed by any means he said. 1t
could not at all compare with the Fill
bert road. A steel bridge would have
to be built on this thoroughfare. He
admitted that people interested had
contributed much in time and money
toward this road.
Mr.. ]. c. Wilborn had friends living
along both roads. The county has start
ed a new era in road construction. Old
historic roads are being abandoned.
New sections are being opened up. The
upper road people have the Southern
railway in addition to their good road;
the lower road people need a road to
haul fertilizer and produce, and are
suffering for lack Of such highway. He
claimed the lower road to be the better
route by reason Of soil. Mr.. Wilson
asked that all those who favored the
lower road stand up. Less than one
third Of the citizens present arose.
Thos. F. McDow, Esq, said that If he
thought the commissioners would set
tie the matter by majority sentiment
he would not rise to speak on the sub
ject; neither would he discuss 1t II he
thought they would be governed by
any motive other than for the benefit
of the people He was willing to sub
nit the question to the good judgment
and conscience of the commissioners.
He thought the commissioners correct
when they built the north road by
Bethel instead of Bethany. They did
so because Bethany already had good
road The matter under discussion at
present was much the same. The up
per road to Rock Hill Is good the low
er section has no road. According to
the primary previously taken, upper
road advocates were in the majority.
However, they had a good road over
which to come to the road meeting.
while lower road men experienced
some difficulty in reaching Yorkville.
Mr. Wilson. he said, had failed to say
anything about the good road the up
per country already had
The upper road is good. Automobile
drivers have made the journey from
Yorkville to Rock Hill in twenty-five
minutes. Capitalists wanted the upper
road improved for automobile riding.
The upper road people now have every
advantage. and the speaker asserted
that the Rock Hill car line would be
extended to EbeneZer as soon as the
company could get some help from the
county.
True, the lower route might cost a
little more; but $4,000 had already been
subscribed to it. The upper road will
help nobody, the lower road will. The
speaker liked both Fort Mill and Rock
Hill because he wanted them to like
him; but since they had things their
way they should be willing to help 9TH
er sections.
So far as taxation was concerned, the
Southern Power Co., and the railroads
much toward the heavy
taxes paid in EbeneZer and Catawba
townships. The speaker asked that the
commissioners be not influenced by|
any vote: but to do as they had done
in the Bethel Bethany road matter
decide in favor Of the community most
needing the road. Their sense Of JUS
tice and right should direct their ver-
dict
BY way Of rejoinder. Mr.. Wilson for
the upper road, argued that capitalists
would use either road built as an au-
tomObile turnpike. Most of the lower
road partisans he said, lived in Rock
Hill and Yorkville and not in the cOun-
try. The lower road would only serve
a small neighborhood: the upper many
people. Mr. Wilson couldn't see why
Mr. Mellow should have anything to
say about the Southern Power COM
pany, since he had gotten more out of
that company than had EbeneZer
township.
Western York. said Mr.. Wilson, will
get a road in the sweet by and by. |
Those people naturally want it as soon
as possible. 1t will take nearly twice |
as long to work the lower route to
Rock Hill as the upper 1t therefore |
stood to reason, he declared. that wes-