The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-16
RIVER CROSSING ARGUMENTS.
of Pinckncy's Landing
Bridge and Gamers Ferry Appear
Before County commissioners.

The lineup of the forces before the
Board of County Commissioners Tues
day in reference to the Pinckney's
Landing free bridge over the Santee
river, and the Garner's Ferry, fiat
boat toll ferry over the Wateree rv-
er was as follows:
For Pinckneys Landing: Mr.. Her.
bert A. Moses, Mr.. r. B. Belser, Dr.
E. S. Booth. Mr.. f. I. Reardon.
For Gamers Ferry: Mr.. w L.
Sanders, Mr.. j. F. Williams. DR.. Wal
ter Cheyne. Mr.. A. c. Phelps, the lat
ter. however. favoring both crossings,
but opposed to a toll ferry at Gamers
Ferry crossing. leaning to Gamers
Ferry crossing with free ferry first,
and Pinckney's Landing following.
Mr.. r. b. Belser, for the Pinckney's
Landing free bridge, entered into per-
haps the most comprehensive and de-
tailed explanation of the merits of
both crossings showing by large map
just why he thought the Pinckney's
| Landing free bridge was worth more.
rot only to Sumter city and county,
but to the greatest number Of coun-
ties in this section of South Carolina
and across the Santee river. He
could see no necessity nor profit to
this county in the Gamers Ferry
Crossing tell ferry, which, while con-
venient as short cut to Columbia,
and the only thing ne could see in it's
favor, is only about fifteen miles from
the Camden bridge crossing over the
Wateree river and there is no use for
two crossings SO close together.
Pinckney's Landing free bridge
gives crossing further down the
river and serves not only Sumter
county but many other counties on
both sides of the Santee now COM
pletely cut off by this swamp and
river, while Columbia is not cut off
from this section because Columbia
can be reached by the Camden cross
ing over Wateree river.
Mr.. Belser very plainly said that.
Judging from his information obtain
ed while member of the legislature,
and since that time by talks. |
and Of recent inquiries among
taxpayers, he feels sure that the tax
payers of Sumter county will not stand
for the spending of the peoples mon
ey on the Garner's Ferry toll fiat boat
crossing when the Pinckneys Landing
bridge which would be a free bridge.
and which is endorsed by the State
Highway Commission, and to be paid
for one-half by the State Highway
Commission, and the other half di-
vided up among Il number of counties,
Will serve greater number of people
and be of the greatest good to the
greatest number. 't''
DIR. Booth and Mr.. Reardon insisted
that public hearings should be grant
ed In order that both sides be heard
from before the commissioners and
the delegation decide on either pro-
Ject and in this Mr.. Phelps concur
red.
Mr.. Moses thought the Pinckney's
Landing crossing, from every point of
view, from a standpoint of conven-
ience to the people Of the State at
large, and the fact that it brought
thousands into closer touch who have
Deen widely separated for two hun
dred years, the fact that it will bring
trade to Sumter county, while Gar
ner's Ferry will carry away trade, all
argue for Pinckney's Landing free
bridge.
Messrs. A. c. Phelps, W. L. San
ders. Dr. Walter Cheyne, and j. +.
Williams all favored Garner's Ferry
because some of them thought it
would bring Richland county and Co.
lumbia trade to Sumter even over a
toll ferry and because it was a more
central crossing which would place
sumter on more direct highway
route from east to west. None Op
posed a wide open. duly advertised
public hearing for both sides.
The advocates of the Garner's Fer
ry proposition hooteG the contention
OF the Pinckney's Landing advocates
that Gamers Ferry would be washed