The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-29
- q. 3
STIIL Oh GOOD 3
ROADS MEETING
Report of Discussion at Mass
Meeting Held November
27th
Tine meeting of the shilot1 Cit:

manent road commission as to what
their plans were in regard to the
distribution Of the hard surface on
the several roads of the county,
especially to find out if it was their
intention to, build paved road
through Shiloh section 70 Hudson's
bridge, desiring such information
because it has been rumored chat
we viii probably get the Shiloh
road paved from Sumter to or near
Black River only. For this reason
the chairman of the Permanent
Road Commission. Mr.. L. d. Jen-
nings,. was. invited. The Sumter
County delegation was also re-
auested to be present; and Mr.. T..
h. Reardon, secretary Sumter Cham
Der OF Commerce: The meeting
was wen attended, and all OF the
gentlemen above referred to Were
kind enough to be present. The.
meeting was called to order by Afr.
". w. Green. Mr.. q. w. Dabbs,
Jr., was selected to preside. The
chairman called on Mr.. w. w.
Green to state the purpose Of the
meeting, which he undertook to do.
Mr.. q. w. Dabbs stated that mas
much as the chairman of the Per-
nlanent Road Commission was
present he thought it was in order
to hear from him first, as he could
state what has been done. what was
being done and what their plans
were as to continuing the building.
Iof The paved roads throughout the
county. and afterwards we would
hear from the delegation and any
others.
Mr. Jennings spoke at length,
stating how he had worked in sea-
son and out of season to get the
lconmission TO begin the building
as the roads Of the county and.
of his efforts to get the commits
sion to rush the building program.
to contract for long mileage Of
roads, etc. as. it was his opinion
THAT it was an opportune time to
I sell bonds and also to build roads
economically as material for build
ling was reasonable and labor WIS
reasonable. He told Of TIL e
mileage of paving that had been
completed and what had been con-
tracted to be built and telling Of
how delighted the people were
where the roads had been built,
stating that one gentleman told
him that he had hauled to his
home over the paved road a load Of
| lime with his team, that it would
have taken FIVE trips. to have
hauled on the old road. and that
with heavier wagons and four horse
team a farmer could haul what fer
tilizer he would use on his farm
at one trip over the paved roads.
He stated in regard TO the rumor
THAT the Shiloh road would be
sighted that the statement was
made by some. member of the
board zthat.th would let out con-
tract. on the Shiloh road to Black
River and they would stop. that the
roads on the other side OF the riv-
er was good enough and that they
iwere not travelled much any way,
| that the grass was growing up over
| the roads, but he was sure that
no such thing was ever meant.
and that he spoke up at the time
and stated We will build the road
on through Shiloh to Hudson's
bridge as we'll as all the roads to
| t.,e county line and that the rea-
son that grass. grew on. the roads
on the other side Of Black river is
that the land is rich over there.
EIe stated that we could count on
him to work in season and out of
season to pave the road through
Shiloh to Hudson's bridge and all
OF the other roads on the program
! to the county line. and he was
convinced that practically all of
the commissioners, a majority of
them at least. were with him on
this issue. He also stated that he
| had attended all OF the meetings of
the State Highway Commission at
! his own expense. which was more
| Than some OF the other comnais-
sioners could stand. One member
had presented an expense account
for one trip over there but was
not paid as there was no provision
| for such pay. He said they had
secured over two hundred thou
sand dollars federal aid already,
THAT he expected to stay on the
/ job and he believed that they
iwould be able to get around seven
hundred and fifty thousand from
federal aid before they were
Through and that he believed all
fof the roads could be completed to
the county lines at an additional
cost of two to three hundred thor
sand dollars, certainly not over half
million dollars. He also stated
that it was an important matter
/ for the county delegation to pass
an act empowering the commits
sion to issue bonds to complete the
system of, hard surface roads
throughout the county and that
The hoped that the meeting would
go on record approving such an
TACT. -
Senator Noise told of educational
advantage Of paved roads through
! the interminglfng of the city and
county folks. etc. as we'll as the
savings on wear and tear of ve-
ihicles. cars. gas bills. etc. stating