The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-23
IMPROVEMENTS FOR
BAMBERG ARE MANY
White Way Is Opened With Big
Celebration by Citizenx


Celebration by Citizenx
Bamberg, Dec. 20.-Bamberg's !
newly paved Main street and white
way were formally opened Monday
night at a big celebration in honor
of the step in progress that Bamberg
has taken. Main street has only re- |
Gently been paved with concrete at !
cost of $4,000, for distance of
about / 500 feet. At cost of
$4,000 new lighting system has
been installed along the entire length
of the business district. The white
way composed of steel light posts
placed at intervals of 100 feet on
each side OF the street. Underground
wires carry the current to the lights,
each post supporting a 40O-candle-
power electric lamp. The street
presents the appearance of city and
it is said that the street is better
lighted than any street IN any OF the
large cities in this section.
The celebration was presided over
" Gel. J. c. Guilds, who introduced
J. Carl Kearse, of the local bar, who
recounted the progress of the city re-
Gently. In addition to this new work
that has Just been completed, work is
new progressing on the city drainage
syster? under the supervision of the
United States Public Health Service,
popularity known as the anti-malarla
campaign, at cost of S25, 900. Work
has also just begun on the paving of
the sidewalks on both sides of Rail
road avenue for a distance of about
5000 feet, at cost of approximately
5000. Thus the city has just COM
pleted and now has under way city
Improvement work to the extent OF
$65,000.
Financing of Work.
In this connection it should be
stated that the financing of this
work by the present city council is
an achievement worthy of special
note. Not cent of city debt will
be incurred because of this expendi-
ture, which to city of 1000 inhabi-
tants is rather enormous at one time,
The paving of Main street was ac-
complished through public subscrip-
tions to the extent of one-half. The
other half was paid by the abutting
property owners. One-half of the
cost of paving of the Railroad ave-
nue. sidewalks is being paid by abut-
ting property owners and the remain
ing half will be paid out of the city's
ordinary funds. Fifteen thousand
dollars of the city drainage fund was
paid in by the citizens of the city
in cash contributions and the re-
mainder is being paid the city by the
Rockefeller Foundation through the
international health service.
The city fathers state that the
work of city Improvement has just
started. A movement is now well
under way to provide a sewerage
system for the town and at the same
time raise funds for the improvement
of all the streets of the town. An
election is soon to be held at which
time the voters of the town will vote
on the question of issuing bonds to
cover this expenditure, the amount
of which has not yet been ascertain
ed but will likely be at least
100000.
Bonus Checks to Employees.
The directors of the Peoples Bank,
of this city, have voted bonus checks
to their employees as follows: A. M.
Denbow, president, 5000; c. W.
Rentz, Jr., cashier, $500; Miss
Sandifer, bookkeeper, $500. The
checks were given in appreciation of
the service of the employees during
the past year. In addition to this
action, the directors declared 10
per cent dividend, voted $4,000 to
the surplus fund and carried $4,000
to undivided profits. The banks
capital is $4,000 and the bank owns,
it was reported at the meeting, more
Liberty bonds than any other bank
of it's size in the South
Pythians Elect.
At the regular semi-monthly con-
vention of Bamberg Lodge No. 38,
Knights Of Pythias, the following
officers were elected to serve during
the year 1920:
Chancellor commander, j.. }.
Heard ;,vice chancellor, S. R. Shleder;
prelate, C. w. Rentz, Jr.; master OF
work, William R. Watson; keeper of
records and seals and master OF
finance, E. L. Price, Jr.; master OF
exchequer, H. N. Folk; master-at-
arms, John Schwarting; inner guard,
George R. Briggs; outer guard,
Melvin Zorn; trustee for three years,
H. NJ. Hit.
The above named officers will be
elected at the first regular conven-
ton in January, at which time also
the second rank will be conferred
upon several prominent young Bam-
berg men.
During the year 1919, the Bamberg
Lodge of the Knights of Pythias has
achieved a record which many local
Pythians believe is probably without
a parallel in the entire state. More
than fifty new members were added
to the lodge through initiation, while