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

have heen. promised ROADS ffpT:- years
snd have been denied them on ac-:
co,n4 Of the lack of funds. But as
soon as sumter had funds in sight
the authorities began 10 plan Tor
highway to Columbia instead OF CIV
mo roads to their own people. Man
VIM orangeburg. Lake City, want
=. 10 build the bridge SO they can
~et to Columbia and still take the
trade that is going to them from
Snn,1er county and adjacent counties
IN account of present roads. Logic.
reason and justice should compel
sumter 10 build her own roads before
h.anching out into something that
viii bring no material benefit to the
county.
After the reading Of letter from
Mr.. H. J. McLaurin, Jr.. chairman Of
the County Board Of Commissioners
bv Mr.. F.. I. Reardon, Mr.. E. e. Rem
bert moved that the meeting appoint
a. committee to advise with the coun-
ty officials. as there was nothing that
sthc cioiZens could do right now. 8
sumter. S. G.. June 18th, 1920.
Or E. S. Hoqth,
s.tnnter. s. G.
Dear 81:
i On my return to town last night !
note IN the Item of the tenth a call
meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce for hearing in the interest
of the public. in connection with the
Gamers Ferry Bridge.
This notice does not carry a request
to the County Commissioners to be
present to submit any information
that we may have. / regret: to state
THAT. IN accordance with previous en-
gagem eats. ii will be necessary for
me to be in Orangeburs County that
date.
i may state, however, that the
Board of-County Commissioners Is
not in position to give full and COM
piete information with reference to
,he Gamers Ferry Bridge PROPOSE
ton, at this time. We are working
on this as diligently as possible. bat 1t
viii be three weeks, or: thirty days
before We can obtain complete infor-
=
which time it. is the intention of the
Board of County Commissioners.
when all facts are in hand, to CAN
#one or more meetings, in order that
the advocates and opponents of the
proposition may be given a fuif ana
complete hearing At that time we
hope to submit to them concrete IN
q
arrive alta wise and intelligent con-
clusion.
We have an understanding with
the State Highway Commission that
our Board of County Commissioners
is TO be heard after they get their
complete data in hand; in the mean
time they are surveying about four
ca different routes, and will have
this information in hand for our join
conference.
1t appears to me- that it will be
wise to defer action on this matter
until ali the facts are in hand, and
the public is permitted an oppor.un-
ity to arrive at an intelligent conclu-
sion. In the meantime, the matter
is being hurried in every way pos
sibIe. Yours very truly.
H. H J. McLAURIN. j.
Chairman County Board of Com
n1isSfonerS.
Mr.. H. zG. Osteen objected 10 this
motion. saying that formal appiica-
ton for Federal aid had been made
and that the citizens Of the county
should go on record on the propose
ton. Unless action is taken right now;
the bridge is going TO be put through
as planned He said that he would
ne delighted to see the bridge built.
but it was State and not a county
proDositDn Sections Of our own
county are cut off from Sumter 3or
lack of roads and at the present tnne
ii is not Just, fair or good business
10 take this step, committing the
county not only to the bridge. but
also the construction of the swamp
causeway-
Mr. NJ. D. Jennings was the next
speaker He differed with Mr.. Osteen
saying that because there was few
miles Oh SWdHlp On Olic o4SS VI x ~
e., and none on the other that 1t made
the swamp state proposition aud ,ie
other county one. He cited places
where the river had been bridged by
counties. He said that he had NO
land that would be affected by the
building Of the bridge but that pro-
gress demanded the step. What an
opportunity have we now! Let a
little yellow river separate us from
our capital city? No! The pro-
gressive citizens of Sumter county
will so down into their pockets and
pay for it il there are any extra
funds needed. Some say that trade
win be taken away from Sumter by
Columbia if this project goes through;
we'll if the business men Of Sumter
are not the equals OF those Of Colunl-
bia then the trade should go to Col-.
umbia 1 have confidence in the bus
mess men OF Sumter. and / do moi
fear an! such thing" He told his
hearers that this was a progressive