The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-04-28
TIE GOOD ROADS
CA M P AIGN
eople of Rafting Creek Endors'
So ,500,00O Bond Issue for
Permanent Highways

my ladies honoring the occasion by
5aen presence. and at the conclusion
M the speaking program the bond is
l1ss was unanimously endorsed by q
Using vote.
DR.. M S. Kirk, of Hagood, presid-
sed and introduced the takers. all of
yNhom made short but convincing
stalks, showing why Sumter county
Should vote s2,509,000 for main
saaighway system of permanent, hard
surfaced, concrete bridged, we'll
; drained roads.
Mr.. Henry j. McLaurin, Jr., chair
man of the Sumter County Board OF
4Eo,nmissioners in an "open confession
3 of failure on the part Of the present
hoard and its predecessors to do
something with nothing showed con-
sselusiyely that money is simply thrown
away trying to construct even SEM
plance OF permanent highways or to-
seyen maintain approximately 200
miles of highways with 112 bridges.
Wilen this county has no material
worth while to construct or maintain
roads. He showed that notwithstand-
ing this county has had a lot Of money
and had employed the best of engI-
neering ability, with an abundance OF
fhe latest improved road building
naehinery and had also utilized the
experience of other counties and
nther States, and the expert advice of
he United States and the South Caro-
1ins. State Highway Commissions. that
This board had reluctantly. but he be-.
8 elieyed, wisely abandoned all efforts
Efo construct highways that would
Afaifd for eyen reasonable time. and
that his board has adopted the only
poiicy consistent with the unhusiness-
7ike and time and money-losing sys-
TEN OF dirt highways that wash away
After heavy rains. and the comnais-
ssaners can only hope to keep these
sana-e1ay and dirt roads in passable
condition by shifting the road forces
ana chain gang from place to place as
rapidly az possible to patch up holes
I'm the roads.
Sumter county. he says has no ma
tEraf road building material for econ
enn5ca1 permanent highway construc-
zion, and his board believing that it
would be cheaper in the long run to
cosiEtruct hard surfaced. we'll drained.
cenerete bridged and properly
Traded highways had requested
tIie Sumter county legislative delesa-
ton TO afford the taxpayers an oppor-.
;4ainity to decide for themselves the,
s4aestion of issuing s2.500,0001 in per-
ss1taanent road bonds with which to
sbEald a main highway system OF ap-'
. proximately 121 miles as a starter for
better highways, which j will save
thousands of dollars in maintenance
and give the people something for
their taxi money.
Mr. Il d. Jennings pointed out in
q convincing manner, with proof from
the county auditors books, from the
county treasurers accounts Of ex-
penditures, and from other official
I sources that the actual Increase in
taxes will not exceed one-third of the
present taxes by issuing of $2,500.000
! in highway bonds. He also conyin-
cingsy proved that the time, money.
ducts, wear and tear on automobiles
+ ducts. wear and ear on automobiles
and other vehicles, saving in gaSo-
lire, and other economies Of perm
save more than two and a half mil
Saion dollars in less time than it re-
quires to retire these bonds, and at
SJthe same time increase the value Of
Farm lands and give the people liv
Z ing today an opportunity, as well as
their children and grandchildren to
ride over smooth and money-saving
roads
Mr.. Jennings showed from the
county, auditors books also that the
citizens Of the City of Sumter actual
ly pay forty-four per cent of the to-
tai taxes Of Sumter county levied for
general county purposes {not includ-
Ing special school tar: levies by each
school district and that the rail
roads pay fifteen to sixteen per cent
Epf the total taxes of the county, also.
: asgTega1ing sixty per cent of the 81
! 598.330 bond issue to be paid by the
only forty per cent of the. bond issue
TO be paid by the rest of the entire
county Of Sumter.
A splendid opportunity for the
farming sections to obtain good roads
at little expense. He pointed out in
several ways indisputable evidence of
the fact that in the long run, taking
into consideration the hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually ex-
pended in automobile repairs and un-
necessary quick wearing out Of tires
alone, that is in automobile trouble
expenses. saved and other economies
which will result from a permanent
{, highway system that the peole Of
Sumter county will actually pay moth
ing for their hard surfaced roads in
the long run. and that while $1,000
goo loomed UP as a big thing to many
voters for which to build hard sur
faced roads. th..t it will be many times
more than paid for by a business
ike. economical maintenance and