The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-03

~au D charged lsoS.
TIE sumter W'atuhmau wss found.
- b isse and the True southron In
lsee. The Wsn,Anaa and southfon
sew be- me combined circulation and
oaasass u both Of the old papers
~ y nsaifsstS ths bsst sdvsrtsng
med1ua b euntar.
The demand for first class high
ways connecting the different sections
OF the State 10 growing so insistent
that the enactment Of the State High
wav Commission law 10 but a matter
OF time. The legislature will begin
to feel the pressure pretty soon and
VIII md ways and means to give the
people what they demand. There is
q demand for a short and convenient
route to Columbia from the eastern
part Of the SKATE by way OF the old
Gamers ferry crossing OF the Wa
teres. and an equally strong demand
for o shorter route to Charleston
across the santee In the vicinity Of
Nslson's ferry. The Gamers ferry
road would be Of some benefit to the
and county Of Sumter, but Of
greater benefit and convenience to
all Of eastern South Carolina ana
would be truly q state highway. The
proposed highway to Charleston
would, likewise. be Of great benefit to
everybody living east of the 'wateree
and Santee rivers and should be-
built and maintained az q State high
way. From q strictly unitarian point
Of view. we believe the proposed road
across tho santee would be Of more
vaiue to Sumter than the Gamers
ferry road. Since It would open up
q larger trade territory, to this city,
and for this reason Sumter should
show an interest In the efforts to Sc
cure this bad that are being made
BY the people Of Clarendon. wiuiams-
'burg. oranseburg and Berkeley
ceuntiss. 4 first class road 10 the
eoatse river below summsrton and q
fsFry q bridge AGREES tina
nea "a tsamcs
Nlsctric power in unlimited guam
tity ana at . Iawsr rate than Sumter
has heretofore been ablse to obtain
would DO . great thing for the COM
mnnity. and the people of Sumter
heartily endorse the movement inau-
gurated by President Belser. OF the
Chamber OF Commerce, to induce eli
thsr the Parr Shoals Power Co. or
b Southern Power Co. to enter this
city. An abundance of cheap elec-
trio power is necessary in the build
ing up of an Industrial community,
and II 10 along manufacturing lines
that Sumter needs to be developed.
The first cost Of the Danish West
Indies 10 325.00O.O 900 and no one can
estimate how much they will cost the
United States eventually. for tho
main object In buying them from
Denmark was to obtain the most de-
sirsb,e location on the Caribbean sea
for he establishment Of a great ma
val base The construction Of a greas
navy yard and Its Notifications will
call for the expenditure of many mil
Hon dollars and the annual expense
OF maintenance will run into the mil
lions. But II Is a necessary expense.
for the Panama canal must be ade-
quately protected.
IL villa succeeds In gaining com
ple<e control Of Northern Mexico, as
no seems likely TO do In the near fu-
ture. there will be no need to continue
negotiations with Carranza respect
Ing the patrol Of the border. The
United States will be forced either to
fight villa or make terms with him.
The advocates OF a large standing
ormy are taking renewed hope from
tho alleged failure OF the National
Guard to perform the required SER
vice satisfactorily. A regular army
OF thoroughly trained professional
soldiers would undoubtedly be rnore
efficient and effective In a sudden
emergency than any other military
force that could be organized. but it
II impossible to maintain an army
sufficiently large 10 meet any need
that might arise. No matter how
large a regular army this country
might have, II would be necessary to