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?tt ?dttjjman at? Sra%?n. "WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, i90f._ Tbe Sumter Watcnman was round ea io 1850 and the True Southron in 1866. Tbe Watchman and Southron now has the combined mretilation and influence of both of the old papers, and is rnani esfcly the best advertising medium in Sumter - AS TO OUR BAD ROADS. The communication of Dr. Dwight in this paper on the subject of bad roads confirms the opinion, that since the chain gang has been in this coun? ty the custom of working the roads has been to a large extent discontin? ued by the people. This should not be. It is impossible for 25 or 30 hands to keep the roads of the entire county in order. The work of the chain gang should be directed to permanent im? provement of the highways, and the roads should be kept in order as here? tofore until a better plan is found. The people themselves are to blame ior the condition of the roads, for they sit down and wait for the chain gang to come around intsead of work? ing them as the road law provides. There is no use to attempt to make the County Supervisor the scape goat. He may not be perfect, he may fail to do many things that he could or should, but even were he absolutely perfect and absolutely tireless he could not keep the roads of Sumter county in good condition, with the people so entirely supine and indifferent to their own duty in the matter. : THE LEE COUNTY MOVEMENT. Some of the Reasons for Establishing the New County. Mr. Editor: All honor and credit and thanks to the Watchman and Southron and The Daily Item for the privilege of their columns to discuss the pros and cons in the matter of dividing the county. Your offer is liberal and generous and the wisest move that has been made in the matter and calculated to accomplish more than contentiousness, slurs and sneers, or strained attempts at witticisms, which only engender bitterness: and the people on this side, at least, will appreciate your broad courage. Now, over this side, it is well known that I- was, abinitio, opposed to any cutting of our old "Game Cock" coun? ty and fought the move, and even up to the initiation of this last move was, to say the least, reluctant. But, upon discovering the wide favor and popu? larity with which it has been received by the greater portion of our people I concluded to give more study and pon? der more seriously upon the '; Why ness" of the "Wherefore" that this was thus, and will attempt to give my conclusions. Prom the day when South Carolina was a Province under the Lords Proprietors even unto this day as pop? ulation and property values have in? creased, the trend has been towards smaller and more compact territorial management, simply as a measure of political economy. Our State, in the writer's own time, was divided into 29 Districts. Some of these were again subdivided by spe? cial act of assembly ; as in the case of Sumter and Clarendon, once forming one district. But, as population and property rapidly increased and values enhanced and prosperity possessed the land and people, and facilities became more grealty needed, and time became mere precious, a special provision was i incorporated into our new constitution for the formation of new counties, upon certain conditions, provisions and stipulations, to meet this growing necessity of the people for greater con? venience and facilities in the manage? ment of their district or county affairs, until there are nov.- nearly double the counties in our State. It has, for some years, been dawn? ing upon many of our people on this side of Sumter county and in the in? cluded sections of Darlington and Ker? shaw, that the time had arrived for them too to "s?t up house keeping" for themselves for the same above rea? sons, and they have become convinced that it is feasible, practical and a ne? cessity. They Lave noted that there Hes, on the undulating and fertile hills at the head cf Black Eiver, a pic- ' turesque growing and prospering town, centrally located and willing and ready to make a fair and handsome donation towards obviating increased taxation in the formation of the new govern? ment if she is made the county seat. ] Who can blame her for so commend- : Srr-\. an ambition. Thu* has the new county id?>a grown ."in ^ogalarity and developed into a widespread determination to material? ize at at the polls. So much for the . reasons for voting for Lee county. As . to Dr. Cheyne's communication I . will take it. seriatim, and answer. First, that I too have "been searching 'for k'now<edge among the Lee county" 1 opposers, why they are S<J reluctant ? . th&fi ffg should secede. Sumter once bex&l* approved the right of seees 3.lv& ar.d fought gallantly in its de 3fenee and the only reason given now for resisting that right is identical -nif i that Which influenced thc north in the by gen^ namely, the loss of rich tributary territory and conse? quent Loss of Pellf Pap and Power, i This loss is readily conceded, but is no ? Tai?d reason why ii family, political or j ??osttestic, should not divide and set up ! ".house keeping-' for themselves, when ? thev so decide and demand solely and only what th.*- law assigns then;. wi:!:- ; oui* antagonism or contention by the ? political or domestic parent on mere j selfish grounds. Like my friend, the Hon. Dave Durant, I too Lav.- been | seceded from, domestically. Maugre all argument and disapproval, hat my progeny are flourishing and Fm not starving or dead. Sumter will retain lier numerous railways, radiating and ? reaching to tho uttermost parts of the j land. She will retain her marts -of trade and manufacturing industries and banks. She retains every item of county property and only propor? tionate share of county indebtedness i Lee countv assuming her full quota of same.) "She will have less cour; expenses, less poor and less pris to care for ; less roads and manx causeways to keep up. She r< the position of county seat and also retain all the gentlemen of acumen who haven't the astutene move over to the "Bantam C As to the shape of the old conn may be, in some aspects, procrm but unfortunately neither the cc tution on any statute bearing t on provides for or prescribes any ticular form, shape or picture, leaves those dissatisfied with shape the same privilege of reste themselves. It surely will woi more hardship or inconvenience those who reside in the "handle' go to Sumter or to do as they always done, in all respects, than fore the Lee county lines were Mere surveyor's lines and metes bounds are no obstacle or bar to t and commerce, or other interco! We are not moving off anywhere a: have heard no word inimical to S ter or a single adverse comment n regarding her. With all due deference to Cheyne, who owns a very valu I plantation on the bluff of Black ri f I would ask him if any " wide av, farmer" would give as much for O? go lands today if they were sitm 17 miles from "the largest ma: town," orin other words would "any wide awake farmer" or ol buyer, give more for Dr. Chev] lands today were Bishop vi He, 3 m distant, a market town of size and n< as is Sumter, with a turnpiked r thereto. Does not proximity to n ket affect land values in an increas or decreasing ratio until entirely yond it's influence? Just in the se ratio as might be illustrated by con1 uity and propinquity to and remoter from some heat producer? Is 8 mile: turnpike road sufficient to destroy that influence? Put that question that square cut shape to that "w awake farmer" and hear his answ Turnpiked roads offer -facilities wi out any rails because they overeo distance and friction which comp h ends time and cost, and even withe turnpikes proximity answers the sa: purpose in a measure. All our lar are more valuable than when cott brought 12 and 15c, greatly owing modern commercial facilities. Increa those facilities to the market town a the syllogism is sound that conclue values will increase. If joining the "majority of yo neighbors" is "good ring rule" t definition has been wonderfully chan ed. "'Ring" in South Carolina .po! tical parlance signifies to "cabal," unite in a small party to promo private views by intrigue." If the is any "ring" caballing or intriguii it is not on this side the lines. I don't know who fears that "son little X roads will start up as a conn seat," but there is a very strong te; dency towards small counties and v doubt not but that Dr. Cheyne himse would very complacently regard ar very favorably consider any movemei to establish a county seat contiguoi to his own plantation, say at Gregg X Roads or St. Charles, and pla( higher values on his already fertr acres, and contend for the enhance ment solely upon the grounds of pro: imity to the county seat and a prof pective market town. The Doctor says he hopes "ths Bishcpville may grow and prosper an overflow with milk and honey or an other juice she may prefer." "Bishop ville has her ?full share of milk now as we can testify, and doubtless hone too and other sweets, but it is tha same flow of "juice" that the projectei Lee County furnishes that Sumter i so loth to lose and Bishopville will re ceive her full quota of that (to use ai irishism) is the bone of contentio] and the cause of antagonism righ now. The matter of increased taxa tion in new counties has been dispos?e of by Mr. Durant, in your last issue and doubtless he has the data, anc ei'en should our taxes be somewha* increased it is a simple family ques tion of finance upon which we are re? ceiving some of the cheapest lega! advice we ever got from Sumter. There areno "wild surmising" as to what Bishopville will become, "solid, substantial growth" is there now in the shape of brand new, solid brick and moratar and wood buildings filled with substantial merchandise, a bank with substantial "demintion cash" in it, large new livery stables with substantial live stock, more lots being sold at substantial figures: more stores and residences to be built, more merchants and more population and more business attracted. We don't need any teaching about "booms" in Sumter County, as the Doctor would know had he been living some years ago, just where he is now. If there is any collapse it won't hurt Sumter this time as she is 22 miles distant: L-oilapses don't hurt the country any? way. Money only changes hands. Yes, we will relieve Sumter of very many of her causeways and bridges, but we have superior highways and will try and select superior highway? men and will make the "good roads movement'' a specialty and make our roads an object lesson, and if Sumter will spare us some sand we'll swap her some clay for road building and she j :-an extend our pikes from our lines j to her city and automobilecommunica- j {?ion can be established between the I 'Gamecock City'' and the "bantam ? to*vn" and all will be cairn and serene* between us. Yes, a number of us re? gret to "leave old Sumter, known so favorably, all over the United States," (?) Many of us are stili living who-i helped to make her well known and j very favorably too-in the South, but the time has arrived when even the sentimental South must cause mere sentiment to stand aside and patriot? ism must vield to Pelf and Pap. J. Merrick Reid. St. Charles, Sept. 23, 1901. GUVS AMENDE HONORABLE. In Re the Ice Cream Festival at Si. Charles. i)e;ir Editor: Will you please allow I me? iiy some sheer miserable inadver? tence we omitted a name in the list. <>f Elfs and Fairies. Miss Xela Marion Shaw's pretty face als:? beamed under \ the immaculate white cap as a wai? tress, and this little lady would have been more conspicuous but for indis? position which caused her ..arly retire? ment from servir?. Sile is the daugh? ter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam E. Shaw, who were contributors to the feast and ?iatrons of the school. Our omission das been called to our attention by entirely disinterested parties and we feel like kicking-ourself. Guv. Wee Nee, Sept. 23, 1001. DISCUSSING LEE COUNTY. Mr. DuPre Favors the New County, but Would Not Injure the Old. Mr. Editor: I have read the two communications in your issue of the 18th inst, for and against the forma? tion of Lee county. That by Dr. Cheyne is the same ar? gument "that was used against the formation of all new counties in the State, with the exception of Hampton county and that was a political neces? sity at that time, in order to give the whites now in that county some show? ing over the black horde that so large? ly predominated in Beaufort county. Mr. Durant simply begs the ques? tion. Like him, I can say that Sum? ter county is very dear to me, the bones of my kindred lie in Sumter city, and at Bishopville, at which place I spent a number of my boyhood years. But this is a mere statement that does not weigh an atom in deciding a ques? tion, that I believe is best for my fel? low man. No man has the right to defeat a public measure that would be of benefit to his friends where he is not injured in doing so. If he lets such sentiments govern him, he is not a safe man with the ballot. The people around Bishopville need a new county. Some of them above there live thirty miles from Sumter, That is a long trip to take to attend to their public and private duties, let alone the ex? pense incident thereto and fatigue of travel by private conveyance. Mr. ! Durant has shown that the tax rate of new counties is less than the old coun? ties, and the town of Bishopville has given the new opera house (a very sub? stantial building) for a court house. Now where is the bug-a-boo of high taxes. The statement that ic would leave Sumter county irregular, is a wasted argument. AU the States and counties are irregular in form, with a few exceptions, as well as the Congres? sional Districts. But what has that got to do .with the prosperity of either county? It is almost an insult to say that Sumter city would be injured by the new county. Her merchants are broad and liberal, and can extend the lines of their business into several counties just as she is doing today. County and State lines, don't keep down a city's prosperity. Columbia is on a rock with poor water facilities, yet we see how fast she is growing and extending her trade. So it is with Atlanta and other regressive cities. Charleston is a dead place comparative with her abiltiy. There should be no false sentiment about this matter. We all love the old county but in this day of progress changes must take place. Family ties are strong, but separation has to come however painful it is. It is so decreed. The advocates of Lee county are good and true men. In ? seeking to better their condition they i are not trying to injure others, an? all should look at it in that way. County lines can make no difference between those who love and respect ?ach other. No more than different creeds can do. The people of Lee county would be just as good friends to Sumter, as they are now. Nothing svould be changed except their public luties. Then why fight them when they are trying fco help themselves. The ties already formed between us ill will last till death. They would ?o to Sumter in distress as freely, as she would go to them. Let each man in the prescribed limits of Lee coun? ty study this question well, and cast ais ballot for or against the measure is he thinks best for his public inter? est, then when the ballots are counted m the 22d day of October, it is found ;hat the county has won or lost in a 'ree untrammelled fight, let all inter? ested accept the result in good faith. Jas. E. DuPre. Pisgah, S.C Sept. 23. i;I wish to truthfully state to you and the .eaders of these few lines that your Kodol Dyspepsia Care is without question, the jest and only cure for dyspepsia that I :ave ever come in contact with and I have ised many other preparations. John Beam, West Middlesex. Pa." No prepara? ron equals Kodol Dyspepsia Cure as it contains all the natural digestants. It will iigest all kinds of food and can't help but lo you good.-J. S. Hughson <fc Co. Weekly Orop Bulletin. Columbia,, S. C., September 24. The first of the week ending 8 a. m., Vlonday, September 23d, was warmer, ;he latter portion decidedly cooler ;han usual, with a maximum tempera :ure of 93 degrees at Blackville, and a ninimum of 47 degrees at Greenville. The winds were generally northeaster y, and were high during a part of the veek. The sunshine was generally de icient during the first of the week, vb i le the last three days were, almost rloudless. The rasnfalll ranged from 0.21 at Charleston to 8.10 at Anderson, with excessive amounts over all but the ioutheaste-rn portion of the State. The ttins were damaging to open cotton, ind caused floods in all the "up coun? ty" streams, submerging low lands to i greater depth than any previous Tesbet this season. The ?ains were beneficial to growing and immature ?rops. A drought of considerable sev? erity prevails in the southeastern conn ;ies, along the imm?diat?' coast, to the njury of fall truck' crops; there also :he ground lacks sufficient moisture to luickly germinate recently planted ?.eds. Cotton picking was delayed, and 5pen cotton beaten out bf the bolls, by the heavy rains and winds. Tin- re jent cool weather checked the rapid and premature Opening, and decreased rust and shedding. In SOUK- sections a large portion of the crop is open, in other places but little has as yet open- , i'd. The crop is furthest advanced, ! and poorest over the eastern half of the State, while over the western half! it is unusually late, with many young j bulls that will require at least a month j longer to mature. S<-a island con I ti nues to bloom freelv and has improv '. ed. Corn is being gathered, and thc poor : yields confirm previous estimates. Rice is not so good as it appeared to ; be before harvest: in the Georgetown district the crop is short: harvest is: nearing completion. The hay crop is the largest in years, and much of it. : has already been secured in line condi? tion. Sweet potatoes are very good. Peas are good. Oats are being sown, and some have come up to good stands. Minor crops as a rule promise excel? lent yields. Looks Like Lever in the Seventh. From Reported Figures Lever Has 700 More Votes Than Brantley. Columbia. Sept. 2-1.-It looks very much as if Mr. A. F. Lever of Lexing I ton has won the race for congress in ! the final primary in the Seventh Con ! gressional district, defeating Mr. j Thomas F. Brantley of Orangeburg. I The figures obtainable, considering those points from which the missing votes are to come, indicate that Mr. Lever will hold the lead he now has or not fall back more than 200 from that lead. The figures available now account for a total vote of 6,086, which lacks 2,888 of coming up to the total vote cast in the first primary, the total vote therein being 8,974. Of the vote reported last night Mr. Brantley has received 2,691 and Mr. Lever 3,395, giving the latter a lead of 704. Absolutely nothing has yet been heard from Berkeley county and only one box in Colleton county, has been reported. More than half of Orange burg's vote has been accounted for and half of that cf Lexington. All of the Dorchester vote save four boxes is in and there are only ten boxes to hear from in Sumter. The missing vote from Orangeburg and Lexington counties is in the rural districts and Mr. Lever's county has more of this rural vote to report than Mr. Brant? ley's. Berkeley, it is thought, will be carried by Mr. Brantley and Colleton is the debatable and uncertain ground. The vote as reported thus far is as follows : Brantlev. Lever. Richland, 39* 32 Lexington, (12 out of 29) 299 1,305 Orangeb'g (30 out of 52) 1,535 . 903 ft T* Iv ft 1 v _, Colleton'("vValterboro) 43 1S7 Dorchester (all but 4) ?34 224 Sumter, (23 out of 33) 441 744 Total, 2,691 13,395 mig - The Hague. September 21.-Baron Van Lynden, the minister of foreign affairs has forwarded to the legations and members of the counsel of the Court of Aroitration, a copy of the Boer appeal for arbitration with a notification that he intends to bring up the appeal for consideration at the first meeting of the council. The date of the meeting is not fixed. This popular remedy never fails to effectually cure Dyspepsia, Constipation, Sick Headache, Biliousness And ALL DISEASES arising from a Torpid Liver and Bad Digestion The natural result is good appetite and solid flesh. Dose small; elegant? ly sugar coated and easy to swallow. Take No Substitute. Some Reasons Why You Should Insist on Having EUREKA HARNESS OIL Unequaled by any other. Renders hard leather soft. Especially prepared. Keeps out water. A heavy bodied oil. HARNESS excellent preservative. Reduces cost of your harness. Never burns the leather ; its Efficiency is increased. Secures best sendee. Stitches kept from breaking. OIL I s sold in all Localities Manufactured hy Standard Oil Company. THE LARGEST STOCK IX THE WORLD Nearly loo Varieties. All the choice, luscious kinds for the Gar? len and Fancy Market. Also Shipping Varieties. Also Dewberries. Asparagus, Rhubard, Grape Vines, etc., etc. Cur 120 pag3 Manual, fros to buy? ers, enables everybody to grow them -srith success and pront. All plants packed to carry across the continent fresh as when dug. Illustrated catalogue free. Specify if you want cata? logue of Shipping Varieties or Fancy Gar? den kinds. CONTINENTAL PLANT CO., Strawberry Specialists, SittTOil, 27. C. Sept 25-4 MCI TO TAXPAYERS. C??F*CE or COUNTY TREASURER SUMTER CO. SUMTER, S. C.. Sept. 24. 1901. NOTICE is hereby given that I will be in my office in the County Court House at Sumter from October 15th to December 31st, 1901, inclusive, for the collection of taxes for tiie ti?cal year 1901. The levy is as follows: For State purposes. ."> mills. For County purposes, 3 mills. For School purposes. '.'< mills. Total levy. ll Also the following special school levies: School District No. 1. - mills. School District No. l<5, 2 mills. School District No. ls. 2 mills. School District No. 2*?. 3 mills. Mt. Clio. 2 mills. Concord, 2 mills. Privateer. 2 mills. No. .". 1 mill. N<>. 17. 1 mill. School Dist nc: No. 2.".. 1 mills. School District No. 22. 4 mills. Commutation Road Tax for 1902 ?1.00. payable from Oct. 15th, 1901. to Feb. 1-t. 11)02. H. h. S('AK1>( Uv? ?ron. sept 24 Treasurer Sumter Co. ? ANNOUNCEMENT L^OCOCC 3f5??? 5c3??? : Z. 3 CC CC CC CC BS cc cc cc cc cc cc cc ec OP umter y ry floods Jjo. We have purchased more largely of li I?JJ? 1 bi Silks, Suitings, Novelties and High Class Dress Goods than ever before. The goods are all in, have been opened, and await your in? spection. Never before in the history of The Sumter Dry Goods Company has the assortment been so complete, and never before have we exhibited such a variety of new styles and new ideas. This is the Day When Ready Money Talks As it Never Talked Before in This City. Cash with its mighty power of buying and selling has its hand on the helm and the result is money saving for you. Come and see our Goods, Get our Prices, And we will leave the rest with you. We have the best line of Ladies' and Children's Shoes to be had. We carry Drew-Selby, DottenhofFer, and the American Girl Shoe, and Hill and Green's Children's Shoes-every pair guaranteed. Another pair or your money back if not satisfactory. Respectfully, The Sumter Dry Goods Co. FALL Announcement CALL AND SEE OUR NEW LINE OF Waisting^ Tricots, Alba" tross, etc., plain and striped? ALSO NEW LINE OF Embroidered Pattern Waists, all the new colorings. These are just the materials for early fall waists, and the newest things shown. Take a look at our line of BL. J CK GOODS. Everything that is new you will find here. We are opening new goods every day. Soliciting a share of your trade, Yours, ?sr m