The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-12-09
BRIDGES BADLY NEEDED
ON WHITMIRE ROAD
Work Going Slow-Top Soil Not
Propr Mixture and Cars Getting
Stuck

| Editor of The Herald and News:
In your write-up of your travels
over the county looking after the in
terests of the public schools you never
fail to say something in favor of bet
ter roads, which is very commend
able indeed. Better roads are in line
VIII better schools. In fact better
roads are the foundation of better
schools.
l note IN your issue of December
2ad you had something to say about
the highway from Newberry to Whit
mire row under construction.
It is also comnnendable in you to
acknowledge that an engineer knows
more about finding a practical road
bed than you do. For so many of us
are not willing to confess our ignor-
; ance about matters that we know no.
thing about.
I started out to say someting about
this end Of the new highway next to
Whitmire, which | am very familiar
with. l have seen a part of 1t near
lv every day for two or three months.
1 saw part of it today to my sorrow.
On a level piece of road stuck and
: had to be pushed cut. The piece
OF road was supposed to be top
soiled.
You have been rlisinformed as to
the early completion Of the Whltmlre
bridge across Duncan's creek. l was
on the ground this morning where the
bridge is supposed to be built. l saw
two white men and three negroes
tearing down wooden forms where
two concrete piers had been built on
the south bank of the creek. l sup
posed they were going to carry the
two wooden forms over on the moran
side of the creek to build TWO more
concrete piers. l saw some steel and
rock living scattered about on the
hanks of the creek. If there was any
wood material there to build the zap
nroaches to each end of the bridge
did not see it.
note YOU said tat you were IN
formed that work on the bridge across
Indian creek below Mr.. J. N. Subers
would commence in very short time.
I make the prediction If the same
crew are to build the bridge belo"
Mr.. J. NJ. Suber's after they finish the
bridge at Whitmire, it will be sever
al moons before they get there. lhese
bridges were advertised and let OUT
to be built over three months ago. II
seems to me it should have been some
ones business to see that tAese
bridges were built in speclhed or
reasonable time.
AS to this end of the new road next
/ to Whitmire there is great deal Oh
work to be done yet, Notwithstanding
the fact that 81 mules, negroes and
road building equipment IN proper
tioo left the road last week going to
another county, accompanied by the
head loss. NJ. Afford, who is said to
be an expert road t2i!der. l am sor-
~ ne left before lie delivered the
goods. This end Of the road to Dun
cans creek is supposed to be top
soiled. In fact ore Of the foremen OF
the work told me that they had put all
the top soil on that they were gong
to. If that be true l am frank to say
that this end of the road will be a
failure. l have had some experience
in top-soiling clay roads. l kno"
that red clay put on top of red m0d
will not make road that will stand
rain and travel, and know by expert
ence that It will make good road to
get YOU into trouble by getting stuck
in the mud. And experience has
taught me that plenty of gray or
sandy soil put on red clay will make
a road that will stand the rain and
travel.
I trust that those whose duty
it is will take notice and govern them
selves accordingly and see that the
taxpayers of Newberrry county Will
get value receivd for the large sum
of money now being expended on TINS
road.
Jno. W. Scott.