The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-06-21
CITIZENS OF SUMTER AND
RICHLAND COUNTIES DISCUSS
BUILDING OF A CROSS.
ING.
Diversity Of Opinion as to Which
Should be Proper Site for 1t, Rich
land Wanting 1t at Garners Ferry
aud Sumter Wanting it at Sumter
Bluff, where Conditions are Revcrs-
ed-Big Dinner Provided and Much
Enjoyed.
From The Daily Item, June 16.

the Wateree River and swamp was
discussed on Thursday at meeting
of Sumter and Richland county citi-
zcns at the old DeSaussure, or State
Farm, where a big 'arbecued dinner
was served. The Columbia party
was met at Beech Island by the Sum-
ter men and taken In the latter's cars
to the State farm. 1t was after din
ner that the matter was discussed
and the meeting was presided over
by William M. Perry Of the Columbia
Chamber of Commerce.
The Columbia State of this morning
has the following to say of the trip
made by the Columbians and it's re-
suits:
A tie to bind Columbia and Sumter
and through them the towns of the
Pee Dee with those of the Piedmont
is sought In the proposed Columbia
Sumter highway through the Wateree
river swamp. as outlined by the road
boosters" from Columbia. who yes
terday journeyed by automobile, ferry,
wagon and 'shanks' marc" to the old
DeSaussure farm in Sumter county.
There they met around a barbecue
board in company with a large num-
ber OF Sumter men and members of
the board Of directors of the State
penitentiary.
The outcome of the meeting was a
decision to select competent civil
engineer. who will advise q central
committee OF six as to the most ac-
cessible way Of reaching Columbia
from Sumter. This committee will
consist of two men from Sumter,
three from Columbia and one of the
State penitentiary directors. Sumter
will be represented by Hugh c. Hayns-
worth and Henry McLaurin. M
! The meeting also went on record as
favoring tax on all automobiles in
the State for the purpose Of construct
Ing bridges of Statewide Importance,
providing for transportation, especially
actoss the Wateree, santee and Upper
and Lower Pee Dee rivers.
Should the proposed highway be
put In operation 1t would nccessitate
more work on the Sumter side than
on the Richland side of the river.
From Camden down the wateree and
thence on to the mouth of the Santee
the swamp is approximately four miles
wide; at the Garner's Ferry crossing
about three miles of swamp is on the
sumter side and the remainder, al
ready partly filled in, is on the Rich
land side. Several miles up the river
Is the Sumter crossing, with the pro-
portion of swamp reversed. Which
course should be chosen for the pro-
posed highway will be left primarily
with the engineer and the Joint COM
mittee.
| BY the Garner's Ferry route the
trip from Columbia to Sumter would
amount to about AZ miles, thus short.
ening the present route by way of
Camden about 25 miles. On the other
hand by going to the Sumter crossing
which Is about mile below the State
| farm In the northwestern corner of
Sumter county, the road would be
shortened not more than ten miles
while entailing the same amount of
expense.
AS an immediate project the pro-
posed highway met with a. sentiment
of discouragement for two reasons:
Lack of sufficient funds to construct
substantial causeway through the
Wateree swamp and the scarcity of
labor among the State convicts prac-
tically all of whom are kept busv
maintaining the farms operated under
state supervision. For these reasons
state assistance will be solicited
through the enactment Of q small au-
tomobile tax.
Among those from Richland county
to attend the meeting and barbecue
as guests Jointly Of the penitcntiary
board and the Sumter Chamber of
commerce were: Mayor Griffith, G
Flavie Cooper. S. B. McMaster, Thorn.
well McMaster. Andrew Patterson. su-
pervisor; Frank c. Hoefer and A. Z.
Campbell, commissioners. w n
Thomas, clerk OF the board; Colin S.
Monteith w. M. Perry and Rawley w.
Holcombe of the Columbia Chamber
OF Commerce; Luther Garron, Will
liam Banks. p. H. Lesesne, w. H. |
Sondley Of the penitentiary force and
John Williams and r. c. Hamer of
EastOver. Four of the penitentiary
directors, j. M. Smith, w. H. Glenn, |