The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-08-24

SASOO, Jul l15AIo, VIC AAOoI, 4AA WA
defense, go to Bamberg county,
This latter statement was not made
as a threat, Mr.. Martin told the COM
mission, but as the only means of
self-defense the citizens in the 100
square miles involved have if these
rights are not accorded.
Mr.. Smoak then made the state
ment that ''if you can get the money
to match the $4,000 we will be
glad to build the road" He further
said the commission has contracted
out $4,000 of the original $780,
! 900 bridge bond issue for bridges
and that concrete bridges are being
built throughout the county. The
ranchville-Dorange road being very
good now while other roads are bad,
the commission decided to "fx-up'
| that road and build concrete bridges,
stated the chairman.
The. relative Importance of roads
| was brought up and Mr.. Smoak re-
marked that the roads to county
seat are the most important, And
| let us starve to DEATH interJected
Mr.. Martin. Mr.. Martin said that
Branchville trade is going to St.
George, ,Walterboro, Bamberg and
elsewhere on account of the former
town having no road. Mr.. Smoak
responded that it would be built by
the chain gang as soon as if it was
built with federal aid. If built by
contract the laborers will spend mon
ey in Branchville but none will be
spent by the chain gang, Mr.. Martin
pointed out.
At this point Mr.. Cleckley, of the
commission, told Mr.. Martin that
when he (Mr. Cleckley) told Mr..
Martin that the road would be built
the statement was made in good faith
but the money ran out.
Mr.. Smoak explained that the COM
mission had no sayso in the building
of the two miles Of concrete road
west of the city but that the legisla-
tive delegation appropriated $685.
600 and the state highway commits
sion $4,000 for this special use.
Mr.. Martin asked why a new
bridge should be built now and stat
ed that the people of the city OF
Orangeburg say they would rather
see Branchville get what is due her
than to get the bridge. Mr.. smoak
replied that that would not help as
the money for the bridge comes out
of the bridge bonds.
P. C. Dukes, of Branchyille, told
the commission that they have not
gotten one cent and wanted to know
why.
Mr.. Smoak answered, "1f the state
highway commission had said build
the Branchville road it would have
been built. In giving federal aid
they suggest the road to be built as
comes in their system
"Does not the highway commits
sion of this or other counties say
what roads are to be built?" asked
Mr.. Dukes.
sPossibly so, but we never have =
answered the chairman.
Mr.. Dukes then said it is strange
that bodies in Columbia, Greenvllle
and elsewhere dictate to this county
what roads are to be built. "Why
did the legislative delegation leave
out the most important town, next to
Orangeburg, in the county? We have
been neglected and we come to you
now for justice" Mr.. Dukes con-
cluded.
N. E. Byrd, of Branchville, wanted
to know why road money could be
swapped for bridge money but bridge
| money could not be swapped lor
road money, to which Mr.. Smoak
answered that if the state highWa!
commission gives permission, the
$4,000 federal aid heretofore men
toned can be diverted. "1f this can
be done why don't you do it," asked
Mr.. Byrd.
Mr.. Martin asked the question:
sWhere does the money come from
/ for the road to be built running up
to the river at the Orangeburg city
line?" and answered it himself by
SAYING, "From the taxpayers, and we
are taxpayers. Mr.. Martin told the
commission that "we are not satls-
fed, and we will take further action,
and the meeting adjourned.-Tlmes
and Democrat.
Woodward-Padgett