The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-03-03
THURSDAY, MARCH 3,192l
LET THF COMMISSION ALONE

1t is indeed lamentable that the
present state legislature has seen fit
to ruthlessly attack the State High
way department, the inception of
which was one of the most forward
movements towards progressive de-
velopement ever taken by Cur legis-
lative body. 1t looks to US now like
an attempt at "killing the goose that
lays the golden egg"
In commenting on the State High
way department the Greenwood In
dex recently had this to say:
"The fight on the State Highway
department seems to have been the
outstanding feature of the State Leg
islature this session aside from the
elections which have been very strik-
ing features.
at is the same old c2se of putting
ones personal desires above the pub
Lie good. The State Highway depart
nent has done most excellent work in
South Carolina. It has brought sys-
tenn and has made it possible for this
state to claim its share of federal aid
road money.
at is inevitable in a plan to
link up the county seats of the state
that there will be a clash with local
views in some of the counties but a
reasonable view ought to brinf
advocates of some local road to rea-
sonable condition. 1t would be fal
better to have one piece of real road
in a county, even though not
where a majority Of the people want
ed it, than no such road at all. 1t
would be an object lesson that would
coon bring the people to such a pass
that they would be willing to do some
thing in their own behalf and so get
the roads which they wanted most of
all.
"This county has found the State
Highway department great help in
many ways. It's officers are most
courteous and efficient. They know
their business and are on the job,
quick and ready to respond to re-
quests for aid and for suggestions and
show a most commendable desire to
cooperate. If South Carolina is to
continue to get a share of the federal
aid road money it must have a State
Highway department. And the de-
partment should not be crippled and
handicapped in such ways as have
been proposed in the bills which have
been introduced in the legislature this
year and fortunately so far have beer
killed"
Through the functioni:.g of the
State Highway department great good
has already been accomplished for
Williamsburg county. A system
road improvement work has been
brought about through the department
that otherwise would never have
been accomplished. Federal aid has
been received and, we believe, is being
wisely applied in Williamsburg coun-
". That is, road improvement work
of a permanent nature is going for
ward which will soon connect the
county seats of Williamsburg and
Clarendon counties, and yet this is
only a beginning provided the de-
partment is not put out of buslre's
by a bunch of near-sighted legisla-
tors and a coterie of IossIaci con-
stituents who dread public progress
from fear of taxation. Permanent
road building is what South Caroli-
ma needs and what the majority OF
her citizens want. They have demon
strated in measure their willingness
to meet the federal aid requirements
by putting up their money. 1t IS the
only means by which we may nope
to have permanent roads. Yet there
are those who would prefer the old
system of wasting, literally wasting
$4,000 to $4,000 annually on roads
and bridges with practically nothing
to show for the expenditure, then at
temp to find solace in the heaping OF
abuse upon the "road engineer and
the county authorities, and during
cannaien times some would actually
demand "Where is the money going"
The County Record is thoroughly in