The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-05-24

superstructure of this work, with
the central one bearing the weight
of the draw. Three of these piers
have already been placed and the
work is progressing steadily. On the
other side of the river the embank-
ment and trestle work is taken up
again through the swamp and runs
for a mile. In effect, the whole
work is a continuous bridging OF
nearly five miles. 5000 feet Of it in
concrete trestling.
Builders Of Project.
The work is being done under
the supervision Of the Santee bridge
commission, composed of represen-
tatives of the counties of Charles
ton, Berkeley and Williamsburg.
The commission is composed of w.
K. Mcdowell, chairman, c. J.. Ba-
ker and John McCrady, represent
ing Charleston; w. P. Russell and
C. Ballentine. representing Berk-
eley, and S. a. Graham and P. j.
Gourdin. representing Williams
burg, with William Burguson Of
Charleston secretary and treasur-
er, and M. Rutledge Rivers of
Charleston as legal counsel. The
state highway department is su-
pervising engineering work with j.
L. Parker making periodical in
spections and w. Roberts resident
engineer and J.. Williams inspector
Of construction. The approaches
are being built by the Rawlins
Contracting company with Mr.. Pin
nell as superintendent and the
filing by the Cornell Young COM
pany as subcontractors. The foun-
dations for the bridge are being
built by the ~Simons-Mayrant com
pany of Charleston. The bridge
and its approaches will cost within
s85O,0O0, one-half of which will be
borne by the federal government
under the highway aid act, and the
other half by the three counties of
Charleston, Berkeley and Villains
burg, of which more than three
tourths will be paid by Charleston
county. The bridge will bring the
Pee Dee section of the state, for the
first time, into easy communication
with this city and open up an ave-
nue. through the coastal country
into that rich region, and it is GER
tain to result in great commercial
benefit.
a Great Highway.
Of interest and Importance seq
ond only to the bridge and its APP
proaches is the highway that leads
from Charleston to the Santee,
which, in it's first sections, is prac-
tically a reconstruction Of the
whole roadway system of this re-
gion. The concrete driveway which
runs. now from Cosgrove avenue,
on the Meeting street road to the
ten mile post, is to be continued
Immediately about six miles furth-
er. At that point, where now
there is made a sharp turn. across
the Atlantic Coast Line tracks to
the causeway over Goose creek
around The Oaks and so toward
Mount Holly, there is being cut a
straightaway continuation of the
| Meeting street road, avoiding the
| sharp turn and the railroad cross
ing. The clearing has already been
made and the roadway is now be-
ing constructed. This highway will
be pushed straight on to the San
tee river, passing through Mount
Holly, Bonneau, Russeliville and
coming out almost at ST. Stephens.
It will be of a uniform width Of so
feet, which makes it eligible to fed
eral aid for hard s%urfacing, which
some day will doubtless be given 1t.
The road passes through a most in
teresting and beautiful country.
Some Of the oldest and most his
toric spots. intimately associated
with the early settlement and civil
ization Of Carolina, are Immediate
ly upon or open from this highway.
! Mulberry Castle, Biggin church,
where Sir John Colleton is buried,
| Exeter, the oldest country house
in the state, Strawberry, Midway.
Belle Isle, Francis Marion's old
| home and the place where he is
buried, are some of the lovely and
! romantic spots hiatt are reached by
this road. The old Santee canal,
still largely intact and with poten-
tial value that may yet come into
realization, is crossed. When the
road is completed it Will make one
Of the most interesting and de-
ljghtful drives imaginable. besides
being a commercial highway con-
Meeting up important sections OF
the state and an essential link in
a great coastal line Of communi-
| cation, along which will pass a
heavy stream Of traffic.
The road from Charleston to the
Santee bridge is being built indie
%pendently Of the bridge project but
is linked up with it as a single de-
velopment. Each of the three coun-
ties participating in the building OF
the bridge is constructing the high
way passing through that county tc
the bridge. The Williamsburg sec
ton has been practically complet-
ed and Charleston's portion is al
ready and has been for some time
in use, but the last six miles Of it,
as has already been stated, is to be
hard surfaced. Berkeley is worklns
steadily on its portion and will have
it done within a comparatively
| short time. BY this fall the whole
way from Charleston to the bridge
approaches the road should be
open. After it has been complet-