The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-08-21
BRIDGE TO |
Be BULL
Mr.. Belser Writes Letter Con-
corning Plans IS
BIG MEETING AT SUM
MERTON ON FRIDAY
Santee Will Be Spanned at Pink
ney's Landing and Will Mean
Much to Sumter

Editor Daily Item:
l desire through your columns tot
call the attention those interested I'M
the Pinckney's Landing crossing to a
meeting to be hello at Summerton
Friday, August goth, for the purpose
Of perfecting the plans for building a.
bridge across the Santee river at that
point. The meeting will be called to
order about IL O'Clock a. M.
1t is proposed to organize a stock
voinaahdaySundays t vwvdisplay Ib
company to build the bridge and
causeway which is estimated to cost
in the neighborhood of $500, 900. and
operate it as toll bridge until such
time as the state or counties interested
shall be in a position to take II over.
There are something over 10000
automobiles in the state and based on
the revenue being derived from the
bridge at Camdem a we'll constructed
cauSeway and bridge at this point
should carry traffic which. at o charge
OF 81 a. car with proportionate charges
for wagons and other vehicles, would.
bring in revenue Of $4,000 to $780,
90 year.
This bridge will open up trade
territory embracing, the eastern Sec
tions Calhoun and Orangeburg and
the northern portions of Dorchesters
and Berkeley courties which should
be of very great value to the whole
sale and retail trade of the city OF
Sumter. In all other directions SpSfs--
ter now draws trade for a distance OF
at least 40 miles AID with the Santee
| river bridged there is every reason 10
think that we would be able to draw
trade for an equal distance In that
direction. particularly as there are no
towns in that territory which can sue
cessfully compete with Sumter as a
wholesale distributing center.
Sumter, Clarendon, Calhoun and
Orangeburg counties are expected to
pro rate the amount of stock neces-
| sary between the four counties and a.
canvassing committee IN each county
raise the amount necessary from that
county. There is every reason to be-
lieve that the stock will pay gooc divi-
dends until such time as the state is
able to take over the bridge and at
that time stock owners will be refund-
ed the principal a their subscription
in full. Under these conditions Il
seems that there will be enough peoE
pie in the several counties who will
receive special benefits from the bridget
to subscribe to the necessary fundss
for its construction. -
l understand that Governor Cooper
and the members Of the highway com y
mission will attend the meeting and it
is expected to get the movement def
nitely under way at. the Summerton
meeting. All citizens of Sumter who
are interested in this project are in
vited to attend the meeting. The cit
liens of Summerton hope to be able
10 finish the meeting in time to take
the party down to Scott's Lake for a
fish fry and at the same time show
the location of the proposed bridge
which is only about two miles south
of Scott's Lake. Either Mr.. Reardon
at the Chamber of Commerce or my
self will be glad to give any further
information to those wishing to take
in the Summerton meeting or sub
scribe to the stock of the corporation
to build the bridge. Respectfully,
r. B. BELSER.