The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-26
,ace By Nav Fifteenth Supervisors Form
Association
Clearing House For Road Build
ing Information. Gov. Cooper
Speaks

Columbia. April 24.-AddressinG the
Association of County Supervisors of
! South Carolina yesterday ut the JET
fcrson Hotel. Governor Cooper outlIn-
cd program Of good roads leSlSl;l-
ton that promises much for the fu
trrc growth and development OF the
State Had suggested two yearS ago
J that tue State appropriate s2n 1000 900
II year for Il period of six years :or
| the construction Of permanent hi%h-
! ways. the people would have thought
me crazy. said Governor Cooper.
Yet today wc know that this Sti,c
has appropriated approximately 500.
| 100000 for war work of various kinds
| in two years and no one has been iIr
| poverished" While he made no ;ur-
thcr mention of definite amounts for
expenditure on good roads there was
;sn opinion that his remarks We're in
dicative Of his sentiments as regards
appropriations
Continuing he said. Il have asked
the State highway engineer to pre-
pare three good roads bills. One Will
outline a state system of highways.
the &. ate. l have also asked him 70
pre pare bill outlining a county sys-
iem Of good roads for the various
counties of the State. And | have
also asked him to prepare q bill out
lining a system Of county roads un-
der control of the county built with
the aid of State funds somewhat on
the plan by which States build
roads with federal aid. When these
three bills are prepared, l will send
copies Of them to the county super
viSors and to the members of the leg
islature so that some definite plan
may be agreed upon before the gen
cral assembly convencs next year.
''It is time for the county supcr-
visors to perfect an organization ot
some sort. SO that we eau get to
work at once. The people won't OBJ
.iect to paying for roads if they get
the worth of their money. BY organ
izing,I YOU will be able to present
solid front when the legislature meets.
and will be i'm a position to plan for
Statewide Improvement.
There is about $7,000,O00 available
this year for road building. stand
ready to do what / can for this cause.
want TO see South Carolina take
forward step in road construction.
We now have an opportunity before
us: the people are dissatisfied wi:h
their roads. We do not want condi
tionS to remain as they are n"~.
Farmers Will not be satisfied and v"ry
likely the more progressive farmers
will consider seriously the question 0:
moving to other States where trans
portation is easier il we do not i'm
prove conditions.
we want settlers from the West
and Northwest to come into the state
We have q majority Of negro pop"',a
ton, and the cure for it is to have "a
steady strealfl of good white farmers
to move i'm and occupy lands liz"
idle. Good roads will offer an induce
ment to settlers who have been acc.ss-
toned to the highways Of the Nof-h
west.
Governor Cooper in the cour&e "f
bis remarks told why he did not -
an extra session OF the legislature
saving that the legislature had con
sidcrcd several good roads measures
and had adjourned without passl'iS
them. and that as there was no ezra
ordinary emergency he did not ;"ri
that he had the right to call an cX-
traofdinary session as no condition
existed that had not existed prc"iois
to the adjournment of the leSisla t''rr
After having heard remarks from
Governor Cooper aud l.. G. Hawkins.
:;ecretary OF the State automobile as
sociatiou aud Mr.. Wooten represent
ing the State highway committee.
the supervisors organized with j. NJ
Miles of Spartanburs as president an'l
L. y. Mcmillan of EambcrS as vic2
president.
The association is: to serve as ,
clearing house for iuformatlon wlta
regard to road building Supervisors
will exchange vicwS as to the ''>St
method of treatment Of roads III DIFF
fcrcnt localities and Will point out
mistakes made SO that other super
, visors may avoid them lnfornia'lo
gained Try experience will be passed
on to other supervisors. and in this
way money will be expended with bet
ter returns Plans were also discussed
yesterday for orSauizn: good roads
associations in each county. so tliat
+. The supervisors may have tn" hncK-
ing Of the people in the execution OF
their plans.
After various motions and suSEes-
/ tions had been made it was decided
/ to appoint a committee on legislation
which committee is composed OF "
\. Stevenson Of .Abbcvillc. r. W. E"vi
OF York and Mr.. Wootcn Of the Si.ii"
! highway committee.
A committee on bylaws WIS app
pointed as follows: NJ. c. West OF
Kershaw. e. X. Knight of Chester
| field and a. l.. Erwin Of Florence.
The second meeting OF tho associ::-
| ton will be held at Grccnvillc 1"
JULY when u good roads convention
/ will be held in that city. at which
time various types OF good roads MA
chinery will be on exhibit. After n:
year. the association will meet an
111, i,, J,n