The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-02-14
TO have SPRING FESTIVAL,
BIG CELEBRATION TO BE PUT on
BY COMMERCIAL ORGAN.
KATION,
Detailed Plans for Affair Not Yet De-
cided ON, But Committees Have
Been Appointed to Work Them
Out-New Directors Of Chamber OF
Commerce.
(By e. I. Reardon.)

Of the Sumter Chamber Of Commerce,
and with the City Council Of Sumter
In hearty accord, after q discussion Of
the proposed plans outlined below,
between the entire City Council and a
special committee Of the Chamber Of
Commerce, at q special meeting of
City Council on January oath. it was
decided that the council and the
Chamber Of Commerce would cooper
ate In the holding of a spring fest-
val In this city during March of the
present year.
Acting under appointment of the
board Of directors Of the Chamber of
Commerce, President J. z. Hearon o..
the Retail Dealers Association con-.
curing therein. directors G. A. Lem
mon, 3. s. Booth. w. Percy Smith,
and President Hearon met with City
Council In special session on January
24th. at the Office Of Mayor JENNINGS.
Secretary Reardon acted as spoke:s-
man for the board of directors.
After the members Of the commit
tee had stated that they were there
for the purpose of securing the coop
Grafton Of City Council in the plan and
that the directors of the Chamber OF
Commerce had initiated and authori2-
ed the committee to proceed to for
mulate plans for a spring celebration.
DR.. e. 8. Booth. the chairman Of the
special committee. directed Secretar ry
Reardon to explain in detail the OBJ
jects Of the Joint meeting requested
by the Chamber Of Commerce COM
mittee with City Council.
1t was stated to council that the
Chamber Of Commerce and the Retail
Dealers Association feel that Sum
ter has made such wonderful pro-
gress under the commission form of
government, and under the splendid
business management Of the present
city council. having put down already
$226,000 worth Of paved streets and
sidewalks. and having voted an addi-
tional $4,000 for more street paving,
making 100000 in all for improved
streets Of concrete. vitrified brick, as
phalt. and bithulithic, and many
miles Of cement sidewalke. many Sum-
ter citixens feel that Sumter has some
thi9g additional to be proud Of now
! apQ eemethinx that $40 can <lst
yisitors with commendabis pride. The
above with &s5.ooo new girls high
school building. and about $4,000
spent in sewer. water and drainage
pipe extensions. within two years
Therefore why not 20 a little cele-
brating and invite our friends of the
other municipalities In this and 9TH
er States to visit Sumter next spring,
and see what progressive, optimistic c
get together spirit will do for am.
community even though faced by the
adversities Of financial and Industrial
depression In the cotton States during
the European war. Also afford op-
portunity for intelligent discussion of
the plan to build permanent high
ways throughout Sumter township.
and other townships.
And In addition to tho fore going
why not invite the thousands of Sum-
ter's friends and customers from
Sumter. Lee. Clarendon, Kershaw, Or
angeburg. Richland and other counties
tributary to Sumter's commercial IN
terest and have them accept sumtor's
hospitality and at the same time fur
nish some wholesome recreational
amusement for the masses of the mon.
women, boys and girls Of the rura,
districts from whom Sumter derives
Its living and its commercial support {"
We can also at the same time CO.
operate with the United States gov
ernment and the South Carolina de-
partments Of agriculture, commerce
and industry in inaugurating a sys-
tematic campaign Of preparation for
the coming Of the cotton boil Wee, il
ny an agricultural chautauqua or se-
ries OF meetings Of the farmers, bank.
ers. merchants. land owners. rentcra.
and others in showing the menace
confronting this State by the inc,i-
able approach Of the boil weevil into
the Pee Dee counties by the year 19l ?
The merchants of Sumter will be
asked to participate by putting OF e
special exhibition OF their goods and
exhibiting. each firm in its own pc
cuiiar way. and under it's own dir
ton, the latest fashions in mems, vo-
mems, boys and girls outfits, aud
displaying what Sumter merchan,s
have to offer to the people of tie
rec Dee cOunties ~ 00utb Oo,oI;,