The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-12-11
LAIRENS, :. e., DEC. II, 1918.

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Whether or not the counter-propo-
sal OF the council to the Rccdy River
Power Company is itself a reasonable
one to Githcr party remains for the
future TO decide, even if the power
company accepts il. Without mlor-
nation at hand on short notice on
which 10 base any opinion, The Ad
vertiscr, which gives some little
thought to the public works of the
city, would not attempt to say that
the rate suggested by the council is
high or low. When the council
changes from the peak basis to the
meter reading basis of making con-
tract, ii is, we fear, like The Adver-
tiser as much in the dark as it was
ten years ago when the old contract,
which proved SO unpopular, was
made.
The railroads, the telegraph and the
telephone we're taken over by the gov
ernment during the war as a war meas
urc. Whether or not the efficiency OF
either was increased by this action is
open to question. When we consider
the results obtained and the increas sed
cost to the public, it is natural to Won
der whether or not, with the same in
crease in charges and with the same
restrictions removed, the railroads un-
der private ownership would not have
done as wcl or better. 1t is reason
able to suppolc that with increased
business and charges a larger pcrc ccnt-
age OF profit would have been shown
than had been shown during the period
Just preceding. The governments
balance sheet did not show such prof
ii. But, the war is a thing Of the past
and we ought to return to pre-war con
ditions as early as possible. The prop
erty which was seized from Stochold-
crs as a measure OF national safety
should now be returned to those stock
holders, for the menace which made
the transfer acceptable to the public
and the stockholders no longer exists.
MEMORIAL TO HEROES.
The Advertiser has received the fol-
lowing letter from Col. r.. d. Darling
ton, suggesting that suitable memo
rial be erected to the men of Iaurens
hn hn
sacrifice in defense Of those high ideals
for which the American army fought
in France:
II occurs to me that the good people
of Laurens should begin at once to
consider the erection of a suitable me-
mortal in honor Of those OF our boys
who have made the supreme sacrifice
in the defense OF our ideals and theirs
Comparatively speaking. the losses
sustained by this country have been
slight indeed. but Laurcns county has
contributed largely from its quota Of
those who offered all.
1t is my opinion that we should pay
fitting tribute to those men whom we
cannot honor in person. If this sug-
gestion meets with your approval and
I know that it wild, please be kind
enough to put my name on your list
Tor $1,000, and I wish that could give
more
If you intend to do this honor in the
proper way, it will be necessary for
us to get after it in busineSs-like
manner and appoint some committees
to see our people. feel sure that ev-
arybody in I.aurens county would con
slider it an honor to subscribe to such
fund, but, unless the matter is
brought directly to their attention, a
great many would overlook the import
ance Of sending in their subscriptions.
Hoping that we will do som ing
thar we vii! be proud OF in after years,
+ am
Yours very truly.
r.. d. Darlington.
Dec. Z, 1918.
We believe that the suggestion that
Col. Darlington makes will meet with
the hearty support Of the patriotic peo-
Rlc OF this county. The men who have