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The Lexington Dispatch Wednesday, February 24, 1904. Free Bridges and Ferries. To the Editor of the Dispatch: ' Daring the last few years we have heard the toll bridge and free bridge cussed und discussed- Every one seems to be agreed that the people of Lexington county are at a great disadvantage financially in marketing their prodnce, attending to their business in general both in and out of the county. Now the people of Dutch Fork, as all know, are peculiarly sit uated, being as it were between two rivers with no outlet to market nor inlet to our county seat without first going down into our pockets and spending about all the Burplus or profit we make to get there. These conditions should not exist. They j are financially unhealthy to us and we cannot grow as a county and develop and enlarge our great re- j sources with such conditions con- ' fronting our commonwealth. In my j judgment it is all a mistaken idea to expect Richland county or the city of Columbia, or any other county or j city coming to our relief and helping us out of the dilemma; and it is worse than folly for us to be always expecting and waiting for somethi^^d ] tars up in the way of electric car lines, etc. What we want is for the citizenship of this gand old county to get their heads, hearts and hands together and devise some means to escape from this constant drain upon our resources. Why, Mr. Editor, I believe we people annually pay as much to the bridge companies and toll ferries than out county taxes amounts to. The charge made by these * bridges and ferry companies are exorbitant. Just think of it! The one horse farmer carries his bale of cotton or load of hay to the market. He gets it weighed for the sum of 10 cent but his bridge toll is 25 cent. He carries his load of wood to the market which brings him only $1.00 out of which he has to pay the bridge company 20 per cent, of his gross sales for crossing. If he has a two horse load of wood it costs him 15 per cent of his gross sales to marVet that. Why, no city ever charged such a license as 20 per cent of the vcnamf onv hllRmtiRS COD- i glUOO AVVWIJ^W V* ?? j j ducted within its limits. If it did it would have ail the merchants in the poor house in a few years. But here comes the one hourse farmer along with bis load of wood. He has worked hard to keep up the public roads leading to these toll bridges, and when he gets there they say 20 per cent j on the sales of that load of wood or swim the river just as you like. Then we see another poor old man who pays his county $2 tax on what little personal property; gets his dimes and nickles together, bitches up old Sor. rell and starts to the village. When he comes to the river we hear the waters murmur as they flow: "Too old to pay poll tax, too old to work the roads, too poor to own real estate, but j if you go to the village today you j will have to plank down your 25 cents I or walk, swim or wade. And again, j these toll bridges and ferries are such a drawback and hinderance to our courting population. When a young sporting baqhelor or widower is forced to pay out 25 cents to some corporation company or individual so as to get to see bis best girl smile. While it is an imposition upon his pocketbook it knocks the young lady out of a box of candy that she might otherwise have gotten. Yes, Mr. Editor, we might well and i truthfully say that toll bridges and j ferries at this day and time are truly j bulworks agaiost civilization, when : we consider the mass and class of ! those who are forced to patronize and support them at such extortionate rates. Now in my humble, honest j judgment such remedy as we want and such relief as we need can easily j be obtained by a comparatively email investment when we consider the ben- j efits to be derived from such. The most feasible plan that suggests itself to my mind to bring about what would be of the most benefit to the majority of the people of our county financially would be for the county to put in a free bridge across Saluda low down in the Fork opposite Brookland, using the old butments and piers of the old bridge which Sherman destroyed at tho close of the war, the foundations of which are still intact and could be easily repaired. Now right here I want to be fully understood. I am in full sympathy with Lexington vil! lage and all the upper portion of the county. They need a bridge and I am heartily in favor of putting another bridge higher up for the accommodation of those people. What I wish U> show is that the ^bridge I suggest would be of untold benefit financially to the county, and to tell the people that if some of them never crossed it does not enter into the consideration of my proposition. Now, by putting in this bridge and opening up a road about two miles above the Broad river bridge which will open into the Bush river and Spring Hill or Newberry roads in such a manner as to allow the people going to Columbia to cross the proposed Saluda bridge and enter the city through the town of Brookland and the Congaree bridge at about the same or a shorter distance than they now cross the Broad river bridge and enter Main street. When this done we hold the key to the situation. * Competition is open between the Broad River Bridge company and the Congaree bridge company and we ask in reason for what we want. Common sense and business judgment both say we will get it. We don't propose to run either * ' ' * ? 1 1 L. J _ Driage out 01 Dusiuese, uui we uu want to cross at reasonable rates and we fully believe tbat 12^ cents for a one bors6 vehicle or 25 cents for a two-korse one will allow tbese companies a fair profit on their investments and leave enough money to the traveling public to doubly pay them for putting in this bridge. But I hear some one say, suppose one company should buy in both these I bridges then in that case there would be no competition. That question I will leave for the wise heads of the members of the Legislature to answer whether or not the State, which grants these companies their charters cannot .regulate and restrict such a monopoly if shown to be detrimental to the financial welfare of her citizenship. And even if we should gain nothing in the way of a reduction in bridge tolls from these bridges there are other reasons?yes, greater reasons for putting in this bridge. Let us for a moment take a bird's eye view of the town of Brookland. What do we see? Well, for one thing, the best taxable property in the county, growing, growing, growing?not only growing but we find the city of Colombia trying to marry her before she has on long skirts and if we don't watch after her close and give her more attention and more room to spread out and better railroad facilities, why we are going to wake up some morning to find that she has eloped with Columbia and gone to Richland. Now, I am of the opinion that Lexington county is small enough as she now stands and I don't think we have any territory to lose, but there seems to be an undercurrent of unrest and a spirit of division throughout her borders, as the old darkey said while describing the ^promise land from Abraham ' to Zebulan; why, if all the slopes and slips were cut off of this county that we have heard about in the last few years I am afraid the village of Lexington would have to stand on its end to remain inBide of what was left, and her county officers would have to in L. * -.1- i.-i.- t 1 *1 vest in statute dooks ana go barefooted in order to pick and scratch with chickens for a living. Now, Mr. Editor, by putting in this bridge we not only give the Fork people the privilege of having an access to their county seat but a market for their produce. Now I have given you my own original ideas, if some one else has formulated or can lay before the public better ones I am ready to fall into line and help all I can. We ask relief, we need relief and we must have relief in some form. Yours for the good of the county. Jargon. Liver spots have spoiled many pretty complexions, and nothing so completely removes them as Ramon's Tonic Regulator. Just a mite of this pleasant vegetable powder on retiring paints the bloom of health onthe cheeks. Large tin box 25c South Fork Items. To the Editor of the Dispatch: Since my last communication then has not been much doing aloDg thi line. J. P Metz has completed the worl of rebuilding another bridge ovei Kennerley's creek, near Leaphart'i station. The displacing of the o!c bridge with a new one was a verj timely piece of work, as the old cdc was getting to be in a very danger ous condition. Ic would be weil for those whose business it is to loot after this department of the county^ interest, such as bridge building and repairing especially, to be more alert, not defer the matter of having these repairs made too long and not have useless and unnecessary bridges erected across the public highways, which is of no benefit at all to any one execpt the lumber dealer and i i i _ i i i __ J _ 1 toe Driage ounaer anu eomw ui which ere net only of any service in the world to the county, but on the other hand i6 a nuisance to traveling public. I think the legislature has a good bill under consideration now in reference to "Autos" on public highways. If they will just, go a little farther, so 88 to exclude them from traveling on the public roads altogether, say not any further than the suburbs of a city or town. Not a great while since one "Auto" made a trip in this section, which resulted in two accidents?one of which proved very serious. Mr. S. J. Melz, Sr's., mule was made to runaway, throwing him violently to the ground, bruising him considerably and injuring him seriously. He was confined to his bed for several weeks. He is able to be up and about, but still feels the effects of the catastrophe aDd is doubtful whether he ever will fully recover from the accident. Some of our young men have been trading and buying horses. I cannot cipher out exactly what is their object, unless it is to make life's sailing with the gentler sex easier, smoother and pleasanter. Mr. S. A . Meiz and family have moved into their new quarters, recently purchased cf Mr. J. C. Metz. Arthur is a hustler and evidences of bis pluck and energy are seen on every side. J. H. Shealy with the aid of the paint brush is adorniDg and beautifying his residence. Mr. J. H. Price will operate the turpentine business in this section again this year. Mr. Price giveB employment to many persons in many ways and we are always glad to have such men of enterprise and business tact in the community. Mr. Perry Goodwin, of Gaston, S. C., is connected with Mr. Price and will assist him in his duties here this year. The chain cans is coneDicioug bv r? c? i its absence in this vicinity. A visit at tbis time, even though of not such a long duration, would be very much appreciated. Y. Escaped an Awful Fate. Mr. H. Hsgginp, of Melborne, Fla., writes, "My doctor told me I had Consumption and nothing could be done for me. I was given up to die. The offer of a free trial bottle of Dr. King's New Discovery for Consump tion, induced me to try it. Results were startling. I am now ou the road to recovery and owe all to Dr. King's New Discovery. It surely saved my life."' This great cure is guaranteed for all throat and lung diseases by The Kaufmann Drug Co , Druggists.* Price 50c and &1.G0. Trial bottles free. Obituary. Jasper M. Sligh was born November 17, 1827, and departed this trans itory life December 15,1903. Brother Sligh leaves five children, a widow, two brothers, one sister and a host # # * 1 . A _ _ 1. ' . .1 I oi irienas io mourn bis Gepariure, one child having preceded him to the spirit land. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and we trust that when the dark waters gathered around him as he entered the valley of the shadow of death, his rod and his staff will support him. May he who has all power over all things on earth and in heaven bind up the broken heart of the widow and heal the afflictions of the children. W. D. Quick. BMW?me | A Golden Rule a I of Agriculture: 3 fl Be good to your land and your crop L I v.-ill be good. Plenty of I B inthefertilizerspelisqualiiyJ Favorable to Crum. Washington, D. C , Feb. 18 ?The senate committee on commerce today authorized a favorable report on the Domination of W. D. Crum, a negro, aa collector of customs at Charleston, S. C A ILTight Alarm. Worse than an alarm of fire at eight is the brassy cough of croup, which sounds like the children's death koell and it means death unless something is done quickly. Foley's Honey and Tar never fails to give instant relief and quickly cures the worst forms of croup. Mrs. P. L. Cordier, of Mannington, Ky., writes: "My three year old girl had a severe case of croup; the doctor said she could not live. I got a bottle of Foley's Honey and Tar, the first dose gave quick relief and saved her life." Refuse substitutes. The Kaufmann Drug Co. Death. Adam Perry RieiDger, son of Jacob Risinger, deceased, and wife, Debby, departed this life February 12, 1904, at the age of 20 years, 4 months and 1 day. He was a promising youDg man. He was also a pious and virtuous young man who took an active part in church wcrk. He leaves to mourn his departure a mother, 1 brother, 6 sisters and many relatives and f iends. The funeral services were conducted in Cedar Grove E. L church by his pastor, Rev. W. H. Roof, aud bis body laid to rest in Cfdar Grove cemetery in the presence of a very great concourse of people. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family. W. H. R. in i hiii> r FEMALE 1 WEAKNESS I M. 6421-2 Congress St. 1| POBTLAXD, MAIJTE, Oct. 17, 1902. m, I consider Wine of Cardui superior H |jf to any doctor's medicine I ever used u !|1 and I know whereof I speak. I suf- fl fered for nine months with suppressed menstruation which completely pros tratedme. Pains would shoot through my back and sides and 1 would have Eg ^ 1 blinding headaches. My limbs would B K swell up and I would feel so weak I B Sfl could not stand up. I naturally felt ||i discouraged for I seemed to be beyond B H the help of physicians, but Wine of B KM Cardui came as a God-send to me. I R$ fla felt a change for the better within a B week. After nineteen days treatment |9 I menstruated without suffering the Eg Kg agonies I usually did and soon became tvl regular and without pain. Wine of EE Cardui is simply wonderful and I wish |S| that all suffering women knew of its Ira ?.1 good qualities. aS il I !*..] Treasurer, Portland Economic League Kg P| Periodical headaches tell of fe- m H male weakness. Wine of Cardui || Es cures permanently nineteen out of H B| every twenty cases of irregular SS B menses, bearing down pains or 9 g? any female weakness. If you are B ffijl discouraged and doctors have fl || failed, that is the best reason in B 1$ the world you should try Wine of |& i Cardui now. Remember that jji headaches mean female weakness. pj? m Secure a 81 -UL) bottle of Wine of || j& Cardui today. Parlor It estaurant 1336 main street. COLUMBIA, - S. C.5 The only up-to-date eating Hou.^e ot its kind in tko City of Columbia. It is well kept?clean linen, prompt and polite service and get it quickly. Quiet and order always prevail. You get what you order and pay only for what you get. Within easy reach oi desirable sleep- i ing apartments. OPEN ALL NIGHT. B. DAVID, Proprietor. "W HE ^ IE IE O-L^-ID TO INFORM OUR PATRONS OF LEXINGTON COUNTY THAT WE NOW OCCUPY OUR NEW QUARTERS 1427 Main St., Columbia, where they will find one of the largest stocks of CLOTHING, GENT'S FINISHINGS, NOTIONS, ETC,, smith of "Raitimnrp. This is thfi rTistrihntinc nnint, nf ;onp nf tho larapst wholflSftl? houses in the East. We have two departments, separate ?nd distinct, Wholesale and Retail. The Retail Department is supplied from our Wholesale Department, giving vou the opportunity of bnyitg your Clothing, Etc at retail at wholesale prices. Don't f rget tha number, 1427 Main St., where you will liud an old Lexington friend to serve ^ou? John M. Stuart: Yours ^erv respectfully, FRANK'S JGSBIN6 ROUSE. * & I Harness id Saddlery. J <X 1 X> 8 = = | 8 8 # We have in stock a full line of Plantation x> <K x> $ Gear, bought before the advance. When $ $ in need you can find everything in the g <x >o 1 Saddle and Harness Linel <X X> ? X> <X at reasonable prices. Any single part of v> harness supplied on call. )j> $ a) * /V | Repairing Done ' | 1 While Yon Wait. S I , 3 1 DAVIS 8c CO, | 1 1517 MAIN STREET, | | COLUMBIA, S. C. | $ June 14 1903?ly, $ <X >0 ? GOOD FOOD What Everybody fats. Nice Dress Goods Makes Everybody Look Well. Low Prices Are Popular. Honest Dealing Is What Everybody Needs. Ail of these you get when you go to the store of T. HAYNE WILLIAMS, Irene, S. C. He carries a stock of General Merchandise embracing t verytniDg usually fonod in a first-class store. No trouble to show goods. An inspection of stock is invited and the prices will do the rest. Country Produce Bought and Sold. Everything Positively On Cash System. I SEABOARD | | AIR LTIVE RAILWAY. I NORTH-SOUTH-EAST- WEST.I Two Daily Pullman Vestibule Limited Trams Between SOUTH AND NEW YORK. First-f-lass Dinte Car Service ? The Best Rates and Route to all Eastern Cities Via i [Richmond and "Washing-ton, or via Norfolk and Steamers to Atlanta, IN ash. ville, Memphis. Loxxisville, S*t. g Louis, Chicago, New Orleans, and All Points South and Southwest?to Savannah and .Tacksonville and all points in Florida and Cuba. Positively the Shortest Line Between NORTH AND SOUTH. loTFor detailed information, rates, schedules, Pullman p. i_ ? i _i m . ? i "ij I reservation?, <xc., appiy to any agent 01 me oeaDOara Air Line Railway or to Jos. W. Stewart, Travelling! Passenger Agent, Columbia, S. C. | CHARLES F. STEWART, Asst. G. Pass. Agt.j SAVANNAH, GA. |