The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-06-16

yress We cannot be like China and
ouild wall around us. We must en-
large our vision, There are fine
,eoo,e in Columbia and we should get
acquainted with them. we are PROUD
Of our capitalscity and we should
:et in closer touch with them
Mr.. r. d. Epps spoke next ana ana
ao favor the construction OF the
bridge at the present time. He re1er-
:ed to Mr.. Noises fine Coiumola
oeople but said that if we had good
roads in Sumter county and couhl
ret around, we would find out what
fine people we had in Sumter Coun-
tv. He said that the talk of pro
.res." patriotism etc. was not on
The subject. We all are in favor OF
progress but we differ as to what is
he next step in progress. We don't
want ten months road to Colum-
Dia, as those favoring it said could be
built for s25. 900 extra. 1t would take
100000 to build road that could
DE used all the year and this was the
road the people wanted when they
could afford to build.
Mr. H. C. zHaxnswor.h moved that
box be put at the polls in the COM
ing election and see how all the
people felt.
AR. !. Lem King who was against
he proposition when he came to the
meeting said, that after listening to
Mr.. Belser he Has in favor Of it. The
,ausewav Nh Relser had described
vas in good condition now and ii
would not cost SO much to fix it up.
He was down there when DR.. Lennon
got lost in 1916 and there was big
freshet on that night and there was
anIv a little water on the causeway.
! Mr.. C. -J.Jackson interrupted him at
Ibis point and said that he was
down there at the same time and
there was no freshet at all, just a
rain. Mr.. King said that he had heard
hat it would cost 100000 to build the
f.auseway and bridge. but he did not
believe that and he would favor that.
There may be a railrastd strike and
we would be in bad shape if we
could not get food on account of
roads.
Judge II. o. Purdy said that the
com m issions should have consulted
he people before taking any action,
nut a principal could Withdraw the
action Of his agent if not legally and
morally bound The bridge is not
t1ecessarya Only a matter Of senti-
,nent. Only pleasure seekers want
t.tl1e road and they can wait awhile.
he read an interesting letter from
! Mr.. T. S. Sumter against the propos-
ed bridge. Mr.. J: II. Clifton was op-
posed to any expenditure by the
county until the county roads were
pt in good shape, butSif the people.
the citizens of the county, will IN
dividually contribute to the extra cost
Of the causeway then the bridge
should be built. There: is plenty OF
time to collect tthe subscriptions be-
fore the bridge starts.
Motion of L. ID. Jennings and j.
Lem King, the following resolution
was finally adopted:
Resolved that this meeting ap-
proves the action Of the County
Hoard Of Commissioners in securing
the public funds of the Federal Gov
ernment for the construction of the
Wateree river bridge. But it is the
sense Of this meeting that the
Board use no co'lnty funds in con-
structing the approaches to the
bridge. and the same only be built
when there is enough private sub
1,11il6 the
IN full.
And provided further that the
County. Board of Commissioners be
requested to begin at once the build
ing Of the Goodwill or Turbevi!le
Short cut road and the new road in
lower Privateer township which
have been requested for some time.
There were several representatives
Of Columbia present and they We're
called on to. express their views on
The proposition Mr.. E. o. Black, rep
resenting the Columbia Chamber of
Commerce. made an earnest argu-
ment in favor Of the construction
of the bridge. which had long been
needed to open up coIllhluHlcdeioit
between sections Of the State that
have. been separated by the river
ue said that the Gamers Ferry
road would benefit both Sumter and
Richiand Counties and also the
whole State. He pledged substantial
support by the business men Of Col
umbia. who felt that the towns OF
South Carolina must link. themselves
together by every means possible and
work together to build up the busi-
ness of the State and to be able to
compete on an equal footing with
the progressive and aggressive trade
cente RS of North Carolina on one side
and Georgia on the other.
Mr.. S. 3. McMaster, Of Columbia.
also made u strong speech in favor
of the plan to build this essential
link in the State highway system, and
to build it now when Fec al funds
are available to pay one-hsuf the cost
OF the bridge.
Mr.. f. o. Black. director of the
Of