The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-31
STREET PAVING NOTES.
chamber OF Commerce Cooperating
With Council I'm Effort to Widen
and Pave City Streets,

the property owners and City Council
VIII cooperate with the commercial
organization.
Already the Chamber Of Commerce
has worked up a plan to widen North
Main street from Warren to the city
limits. a number Of property owners
have agreed to give land for the u
pose of widening this portion of Main
street.
"A new street is projected running
from North Main through the prop
erty OF Miss Lucia Roach, eastward to
connect with the proposed extension
Of North Magnolia street This new
street, If put through, will start op-
posite the corner Of Live Oak street
and will possibly be an extension of
Live Oak street. Efforts have been
made for years to connect North
Magnolia with North Main by this
proposed new street. 1t is understood
that free rights Of way have beer Of
fered in both instances.
Secretary Reardon, Of the Chamber
OF Commerce has requested Mayor
Jennings to fix up the petition in le-
a form for freeholders to sign re-
questing that a special election be or.
dered to vote upon the issue of bonds
for paving the streets and sidewalks
under the abutting property taxation
plan.
just as soon as the petitions are
written up the secretary will get busy
having them signed. In order to has
ten the calling Of the election, and ia
cilitiate the rapid signing of the pe-
titions. so that the paving work may
be started at the earliest possible
date. President J. z. Hearon, of the
Retail Dealers Association will ap-
point a committee Of business mon to
cooperate with the secretary In hav-
ing the petitions signed. A meeting
of the Retail Dealers Association for
this purpose will be held next week.
This committee will talk up the
AUDITING property taxation plan, ex-
plain In detail, and a mass meeting
of the citizens will be called by the
Chamber of Commerce at which
Mayor Jennings and others familiar
with the proposition will be asked to
make talks.
What Is now needed Is concerted
action between the citizens and the
City Council. The business organiza-
lions should take a very active part
in getting the election petitions signed
TO hurry up the election. and then
every effort should be put forth to see
that the election goes in favor OF the
bond Issue.
Street paving can be done cheaper
during 1915 than 1t will likely be So
cured for w again because labor may
be secured at low cost. Thousands Of
dollars will be put into circulation
and this will relieve distress among
hundreds Of unemployed laborers and
furnish trade for merchants Of Sum-
ter as well.
Under the abutting property plan
those citizens who wish their streets
paved may petition council by a ma
jority OF the property owners on any
street making the request. The cost
will be divided between the city and
the property owners. the city paying
one-third. the property owner on
each side OF the street paved paying
one-third each.
Bonds will be sold to meet the ex-
penses Of the paving and the property
owners will have twenty. thirty, or
forty years In which to pay their
share. the length OF time depending
upon the time the bonds are issued
for. For instance il thirty year bonds
are issued each property holder will
be required to pay every year only
one-thirtieth Of the amount Of his or
iicT pIO Idld snare OF the Cost, WITH
out interest.
Sumter will make better progress
with many miles Of decently paved
streets and sidewalks. Property val
ues on paved streets will he enhanced.
This Is the most equitable method OF
street paving imaginable as under this
plan those citizens who want their
streets paved will be able to have
the improvements without waiting in.
definitely as is the case now. Then
again the property benefited by the
paving will pay, as it should for the
special benefits received, and the 9th.
er thousands Of tax payers living or
unpaved streets will be subjected tc
only a small and equitable portion OF
the burden of expense.
Ry qipninu Tho natit;on No fcoahc ola