The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-10-27
MONEY ALLOTTED TO COUNTY.
State Highway Department to Let
Road and Bridge Contract Soon.

been advised by the state highway
department that $4,000 has been
allotted to Bamberg county for the
construction of Bamberg county's
portion of the Edisto river bridge and
the road leading up to the bridge
through the swamp. This means that
the contract for this work will be
awarded by the state highway de-
partment in the near future.
The matter of building this short
link of the Columbia-Savannah high
way has been one of considerable
concern to the county authorities for
some months. AS is known, the Or
angeburg authorities have about COM
pleted the road from the river swamp
to Orangeburg, and the swamp link
on the Orangeburg side is now near
ing completion, while nothing what
ever has been done on the Bamberg
side of the river. This is no fault
ofthe county authorities, as arrange
ments were made for financing this
project on the part of the county
monShs ago. In fact, the local au-
thorities confidently expected the
Bamberg work to be completed 81
multaneously with the Orangeburg
work. But for some reason the state
highway department has delayed it's
part of this matter until the present
time. A number of conferences have
been held by the local authorities
with the highway commission in an
endeavor to get this work started be-
fore the winter sets in, but it seems
that the highway department engi-
neers were behind with their work
and could not complete the plans and
specifications heretofore.
While the state highway depart
ment has not announced the plans
for the. Edisto river bridge, it is un-
derstood that concrete bridge is be-
ing planned and will likely be erect
ed over the Edisto. The bridge is to
be located short distance down the
stream from the present bridge. The
road leading through the swamp to
the bridge on the Bamberg side will
leave the present right of way at the
crossing. of the canal, and will be
carried straight to the bridge site.
There will be no small bridges in
the new .causeway, all but one or two
being eliminated, and concrete cul-
verts will be provided in their place.
When this work is completed the
problem of the Edisto river swamp
road and bridge will be permanently
solved, it is expected. For years and
years the matter of keeping up the
river road has been source of deep
drain upon the county for upkeep.
There are some thirty bridges in the
present causeway through the swamp,
on both Bamberg and Orangeburg
sides of the river, and every freshet
usually carries away few of these
wooden structures.
While no estimate of the cost of
the bridge and causeway has been
submitted, the highway department
roughly estimates that $4,000 will
cover the cost to the government,
which would mean like expenditure
on the part of the county. In addi-
tion to giving the county perma-
nent swamp crossing, a $4,000 con-
struction project at the present time
will afford employment to a large
number Of workmen for many
months to come.
The state highway department has
also announced the allotment of $10,-
900 for. bridge construction over the
Salkehatchie river at Buford's bridge.
Allendale county is now constructing
a fine road, also link of the Colum-
bia-Savannah highway, from Bu-
ford's bridge to Sycamore. Consider
able mileage of this road has already
been about completed, and travellers
say it is one of the finest pieces Of
work in the state. Work is soon to
commence on the causeway through
the Salkehatchie swamp, which lies
entirely on the Allendale side of the
river. Bamberg is peculiarly fortu-
nate at this crossing, for not a single
bridge or scarcely foot causeway
is necessary on this side of the main
bridge. The Allendale authorities
have held several conferences with
the Bamberg authorities in an endea-
vor to interest Bamberg in going in
with Allendale on the construction of
a concrete main bridge over the Sal
kehatchie. While Bamberg county
has not yet announced it's decision in
the matter, it is feared that the coun-