University of South Carolina Libraries
VOL XLVI NO. 59 NEWBERRY, S. 0., TUESDAY. JULY 27. 1909 TWICE A WEEK. $1.50 A YEAR WILdOWBROOK PARK. Delightful Resort Where Large Crowds Find Pleasure and Recreation. Willowbrook park. in West End, is now a delightful resort in the even ings for hundreds of people in West End and in the city generally. Re markable progress has been made in beautifying the park since it was op ened. The grass is green and velvety nd is neatly kept, and the plots are bordered by carefully trimmed hedges. Banks of beautifu I colias and canna lilies and nasturtiums and many other flowers have grown lux uriantly. The willows which were set out along the banks of the stream give every evidence of making large and graceful trees, and the other trees which have been set out are growing well. Of course, the roses and all t-he flowers, and the grass and the trees will be even prettier and more luxuriant next summer than they are now, but the park is now a beautiful place, and a delightful spot to spend a few hours in the after noons and evenings. A rustic bridge made of cedar has reeeptly been built across the stream, just' above the east end of the pa vilion, and other improvements have been made and are being made. There are swings and merry-go rounds for the amusement of the ohil dren and the young people, and the skating rink in the pavilion furnishes pleasure for all those who like this form of recreation. In the evenings when the skating is in progress fine music is furnished by the West End Concert bandl. The park is brilliantly lighted wit,h hundreds of incandescent lights of red, white and blue-the national colors. Willowbrook park is an evidence of what can be accomplished in the mat ter of civic improvement when those who are in charge of it are determined to a6complish results. In the course of a few months the Newberry Cotton Mills has created a park which would be a credit to a town mueh larger than Newberry. President Z. F. 7right. of the mill, and Superintend ut Davis realized the importance of uch a resort, and under their direc tion the place was soon converted into tG3e be.autiful park it is to-day. Super int.endent Davis in the creation of the park was in charge largely of t.be lay ing off of the grounds, and in that ;work he proved himself to be an ex cellent landscape gardener, in addi tion to being a fine mill superintend ent. During the several months the park has been open to the public there has been not a slagle unpleasant incident in connection with it. Poljeeman R. P. Franklin is in charge of the grounds, and he gives tSe:n his constant care and attention. MULE BACKBD BUGCY INTO SALUDA RIVER. Mr. and Mrs. Wessinger Had Narrow' Escape From Drowning but No Damage Was Done. Chapman, July 23.-On returning from Lexington yesterday Mr. and Mrs. Banks Wessinger had a narrow esespe from being d.rowned. While in th.5 fiat, crossing at Wyse's ferry, the mule backed the buggy out of t-be flat, Mr. and Mrs. Wessinger, together with the mule and buggy, all going, into the river. It was fortunate that' tihey were near the bank of the river, and Mr. Wessinger swam out with his wife in one ar-m, and with the aid of Mr. Wyse was able to get the mule and buggy out without any damages at all. B. B. Leitzsey's 'Cue. The barbecue to be given by Mr. B. B. Leitzsey. at his residence on Friday. July 30. promises to be one of the best of the season. Some of the features of the day will be the el;'v pigeon shoot by the va-rious clubs, and a ladies' contest in target rifle shooting. The dinner will be cooked v Messrs. Haynon Kibler and Edwin Mfnero. which is a guarantee that it will be first class. T.hose who have enjoyed Mr. Leitz ey 's hospitality on former occasions. now what to expect. and the attend a neprmises to be largte. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *. * * * THE IDLR.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The editor of The Herald and News has turned over to me the following commun'nication: "Friend Idlee: I herewith claim that enormous- reward of five cents, which you have offered for informa tion concerning the one-man cart. I found it on Wednesday on the corner of College and Friend streets, busy at work. Please ante up at once. "L. 0." -0 The editor told me that lie had al ready paid the reward of tive cents which I had offered, and also advised me to come down street oftener.&Well, I am glad the cart has been at work, even if it did cost me a pretty good sum of money, and I don't regret having had to pay the reward. And I have been down street since, t,) and the streets look better. There never has been any excuse for dirty paved streets and dirty cement walks. -U The editor also told me that one of the ladies of the civic association had phoned him to tell me that the civic association realized that the cemetery was not yet all it ought to be, but that it took time to put through movements of this kind, and that the association was going to continue its work in regard to the cemetery until it was put in that cor .ion which is titting for the city of The dead. Well, I am glad to hear that the ladies are going to keep up the work until they make it what it should be. The ladies also, the editor said, told him to tell me that they were going to lok after the fence, but that the matter of en larging the cemetery was now being agitated, and that they thought it would be best to wait until this mat ter was finally decided before they undertook the 'work of getting a new fence. The civic association can accom plish a great deal for Newberry, and Newberry needs a great deal of work of the kind which the association has for its object. In the matter of rele gating the wagon yard from the heart of the business section of the city they met with opposition, but even the kickers will surely be at least passive, and not activ~ely oppose the work of beautifying the cemetery. And when that wagon yard is finally removed from the public square, as it will be some sweet day, some of these kickers who have kicked loudest are going to be loudest in the shouting which will follow the accomplishment of a great thing for Newberry. That is a great scene around the old court 'house on Saturday for a city of Newery 's size and progress iveness. The square is croiwded with mules and wagons and negroes. The flies swarm around and about the mules, and t'he mules are kept busy trying to fight off the flies with their tails and trying to find straw in the nearest wagon with their heads. The negroes have deserted tibe wagons and sought a shady spot in the protecting shadow of the court house, and are peacefully eating water melons, and when they have departed and the shades of evening are falling the wa ter melon hulls are left as a reminder of the beautiful scene presented to the eye during the day. The Idler used sometimes in his youthful days to desire to go to Rome and to Athens and see some of tihe grand ruins that travelers on the Continent delight to write about. But what's the use, when right here at home, in the public square, in the heart of the business section of the city, we shave a scene which takes us back, back, back through the centu ries, to time immemorial? -0.... Walking through Main street the other day The Idler saw a negro with a ap set jauntily on the back of his head, a cigarette on the back .of his ear, and wit.h eyes that were a pretty fra indication that he had recently imbi-bel a little freely of corn juice. This is not an uncommon sig'ht in any town in the State--even in a pro hiition town like Newberrv. That's where the vagraney law ought to come most of the crime in Sou-. Carolina to-day can be traced to that class of negroes -Who are loafing around the country making a living the Lord knows how. They tell me we have a mighty good vagrancy law on the books. and I believe it was the last circuit judge who presided in New berry who said in his charge to the grand jury, as reported in the papers, that it would be a hard matter for any of us, under that law, to prove that we are not vagrants. Well, there are some negroes loafing around our towns who are vagrants under any vagrancy law which is nut a mis nomner. -0 And habitual loating is not only bad for negroes, but it is bad for any body. I have sometimes seen young white men of bright minds, whom I never saw doing anything in my life but loating. I have often wondered what pleasure a mati could get out of life if he never did any kind of work at all. And, by the way, in tihis day aid time. how does a man who never does anything, and who didn't have anything to start on, make a living? -0 It strikes The Idler that it would be a great thing for this country if we didn't have any habitual loafers at all--white or black. -0 The Idler noticed in going to church yesterday morning that John Mayes has his grass on the Central Methodist *ohureh square nicely cut, and that he has finally secured a very pretty la.wn on these grounds. John worked hard on these grounds, and The Idler hopes that he will receive the thanks which are his due. -U The Idler noticed also that the peas behind the First Baptist chureih are going to make a very good crop of peas. It would be a pity if those geese and Angora goats, which doubtless Mayor Langford will order, should spy these peas. The Idler always told you that Al derman Green, when he went to work at anything in his ward, finally got it. And The Idler was right. That wagon bridge over Scott's creek in College street is a reality. That bridge has been needed a long time. This crossing was used a great deal more frequently than the two crossings lower down, and yet the lowver cross ings have thad wagon. bridges for many years. Here's congratulating you, Alderman Green. -o-. Talking about grass and peas and civic improvement, leads me to ask if the city of Newberry doesn 't t.hink it is about time to follow the lead of West End and to build a park. Why, the people of the city on the east side of the railroad are as much in evi dence at the West End p)ark as are the people of West End. The Idler is glad of it, and the people of West End are very cordial in their welcome of the people from t.he other side of the rail road. But it simply shows the need of another park in the eastern section of the city somewhere. Talking about the West End park, it is a thing of beauty-a credit to the mill autihorities who built it, and a delight to the people of West End, and to the people of the whol-e town generally. You oug6ht to see the young people enjoy themselves skating, and listening to t4he fine music of the New berry Concert band. And you ought to see the old people sit around watching the young ones, and talking, and en joying themselves, too. And, best of all. you ought to see the little cil dren swinging and riding on the merry-go-rounds, and romping around, nd dancing from she?er joy in the flowers and the bright lighits, and tihe music. and each other's~ company. An'd you ought to see the f.owers-I don 't know their names-c.ad the grass, and the rustic bridge. And it is all the result of a. few short mnonths. -o When The Idler says yojA ought to see them, it means yot all-every body who can-hut especially thecse in who'se power it is to bring about the creation of yet r.other park ini Newberry-city couneii. and the chamber of commeree. a~d the civic :isociation. and others. The Idler hais something he wants to sa and he is him a little more room this time, Mr. Editor. Walking up Johnstone street the other day. T'he Idler was thinking along these lines when lie came to Joiistone's woods. and the thought was suggested to his mind that no prettier place could be chosen for a park for Newberry than these woods. The trees are there--o thick that lots of t1hem would have to be felled. But it would be so much easier to make a park where you have trees already than where you would have to grow the trees. A little work, and you would have your park, and a park which would do credit to any city any where. -0 And then The Idler could not resist the thought of what a ,handsome thing it would be if the Jolinstone family should give these woods to the city of Newberry for the pur poses of a park. And we could name the park the Job Johnstone park, in honor of Chancellor Job Johnstone, the distinguished father of Col. Geo. Johnstone, and of Senator and Chair man of the Board of Trustees of Clemson College Alan Johnstone. To name the park for Chancellor John stone would be a fitting tribute to the memory of one of the State's most distinguished jurists. --- Now, wouldn't that be a handsome .thing Chancellor Job Jo'hnstone was honored by his State, and he adorned the State. Col. George Johnstone, his son, has served Newberry .county in the State legislattire, and in the national congress from this district. Senator Alan Johnstone has served Newberry county in the State legis lature, and is a:t present State Sena tor from this county. In addition to this, !be is now chairman of the board of trustees of Clemson college, which is the farmers' college-and the build ing of a park is only giving the city a touch of rural life, for the health and the enjoyment of the city. In ad dition to this, at the time of his elec tion as State senator, he was cotton statistician for Newberry county. The late lamented Mr. Malcolm Johnstone, another son of Chancellor Job John stone, served Newberry county in the State legislature, and was later con sul from this country to one of the South American countries. And the late lamented Silas Johnstone, an other son, also served this county in the State legislature and later as Master. -o They have all been honored, and signally honored by the-ir people. And wouldn't it be, as The Idler just re marked, a very handsom'e thing, for them to give these woods to New berry for tihe purposes of a park, to be perpetuated as the Job Johnstone park, in memory of one of South- Car olina 's most brill1iant and just chan elors-their father. -o Possibly The Idler has written enough for one time. This thing of a park, though, is something that ought to appeal to hiewberry. The Idler. HON. COLE L. BLEASE. Talks About Indebtednuess of this County.-Still Against Bonds. July 26th, 1909. Mr. Editor :-The Herald and News of the 23rd inst. says under the head lines "The Roads Commission" "The men were selected on account of their business capacity and finan cial standing and their character and without any reference to politics or Bank conn.eetions. These questions of banks and politics and locality should have nothing -to do with the merits of the cquestion." Exactly, then why should one town ship have a majority of the board ? Ae the other townships and banks without men of "Business capacity and financial standing?-" Again under the same article it says: '"The bank must pay five per cent. and any first class bank ean borrow :nner for less t.han that rate, besides the Act prohibits one bank having all The Act itself reads as follows, Section 4. paze 411. line 9: "Said f:unds are to be deposited in one or more of the banks of the coun ty of Newberry at interest not less than four per cent. per annum.'" -Thus it is seen that "The bank must not pay five per cent." as stated and the rate is fixed at four per cent. and it is further seen that "the act does not prohbibit one bank having all the money" because the words are very plain One or More. Hence, under 'the act the money can go at four per cent. and every cent can be placed in one bank as I have before shown. And in connection with this ques tion I desire tp call the taxpayers at tention to the present financial condi tion of our county and let them re flect on the situation before th'ey vote any more taxes or bonds for any pur pose. Taxes. State levy 5 1-4 mills. Ordinary County 3 1-2 mills. Special 1-2 mills. Roads 1 mill School 3 mills No. 1 Township R. R. bonds 2 mills No. 8 Township R. R. bonds 3 mills No. 9 Township R. R. bonds * 2 mills and the city of Newberry in addition to the above has her opera house, graded school and electric l-ight and water works bonds. County Finances. Indebtedness for ordinary county purposes $ 20000 00 Indebtedness for roads and bridges 5000 00 Cash on hand for Ordinary purposes between three and four hundred dol lars. Cash on hand for roads and bridges about $250.00. There was no money on -hand July 1st, 1909, to pay salaries of county officers or any other indebtedness, not even to pay the old soldiers or others the small amount of four dollars per month that is allowed as a pension to keep them out of the county home. The county is badly in debt and is now doing business on credit and al ready twenty five thousand has been borowed this year whieh is to be paid out ef the taxes to be collected this fall and it has been spent, therefore, we are not only in debt but have used this amount of what we are to get to pay running expenses, in other words the county is now in the lien business up to its neck. These matters are bad and we dis like to mention them in the public prints but it seems to me that some one sho,uld l-et the voters know the condition of affairs and a.s no one else has done so I take t-he. responsibility upon myself and if it hurts me, as have been advised that it would do, I can only say that the honors that the people of my county have .conferred upon me in my .opinion make it ob ligatory upon me 'to give them any information that I may possess that will be beneficial to th:em and this I s hall continue to do so long as I am a citizen of thbe county which will be un til death us do part. Respectfully. Cole 'L. Blease. tP. S.: Please publish th:e enclosed letters as they give some light as to the different prices that bonds sell for in South Carolina. July 16th, 1909. Hon. Foster Newton Martin, Chairman Board of Tr,ustees,. Graded Schools, Newberry, S. C. Honored Sir :-Will you please in form me if your board has sold the bonds recently voted by tihe people for school purposies? To whom were t,hey sold and at what price? I desire to publish your answer and will thank you for a prompt reply. Respectfully, Cole L. Blease. Ne wberry. S. C., July 17th, 1909. Hon. Cole L. Blease, Newberry, S. C. Dear Sir :-Yours of the 16th has been received. In reply, would say, that the Boa?rd of 'Trustees accepted the bid of the S'ecurity Trust Co., of Spartanburg, S. C., for the i.ssue of bonds at par less $800, at 4 1-2 per cent. Mv ab)sence from town this morning p)rev'entedl an earlier reply. Trust-ing that the above covers the information you desire, I am ' Yours truly. F. N. Martin, Chairman, Board of Trustees, N. S. D. July 16th, 1909. Hon. Marcus Lafayette Spearman. Ohirman board of commissioners electric lights and water works, Newberry, S. C. Honored Sir:-Will you please in form me if your board has sold the bonds recently voted by the people for sewerage purposes? To whom they were sold and at what price? I de sire to publish your answer and will thank you for a prompt reply. Respectfully, Cole L. Blease. Newberry, S. C., July 17th, 1909. Hon. Cole L. Blease, Newberry, S. C. Dear Sir:-Replying to yours of the 16th inst.. addressed to me as Chair man of the Com. of Public Works, you ask if the board had sold the recently voted $40,000.00 bonds? To whom sold? and what price? To all of the above questions, we herewith hand you a copy of the bid and our acceptance. Glad to give you this, and any- other information we have regarding our ,duties as your Com. of Public Works. Very respectfully, M. L. Spearman, Chairman. Newiberry, S. C., June 29th, 1909. Copy. When legally issued we offer to take $40,000.00 Newberry, S. C. Water and Sewer bonds 4 1-2 per cent. bonds, date4 July 1, 1909, due July 1, 1949, denominations $1,000.00 principal and semi-annual interest payable at some bank in New York city, and pay you par and acerued interest, provid 'ed we are allowed $800.00 to pay at torney's fees, bond blanks and our commission. You to furnish us in certified form all necessary papers to establish le gality. Cheek for $1,000.00 herewith de posited. (Signed) Security Trust Co., Spartanburg, S. C. By W. S. Glean, President. Accepted. (Signed.) M. L. Spearman, Chairman. C. E. Summer, W. F. Ewart, Com. Pub. Works, Newberry, S. C. July 16th, 1909. Hon. Arthur L. Gaston, Chester, S. C. Dear Gaston:-Please answer the following questions for me: Has Ches ter recently voted bonds and for what purpose? Have the bonds been sold; to whom and at what price? I desire .o publish your gnswer and will thank ~ou_very much for this information. Very respectfully, Cole L. Blease. My dear Sir :-Chester City issued and sold $2600 4 1-2 per cent. bonds ~for street improvement and extension lof water works at 101 1-4 to W. S. Lewis, as Cashier National Exchange Bank, Chester, S. C., making a total bonded debt today, on the city, of IYours very truly, A. L Gaston. July 19th, 1909. Hon. T. B. Butler, Gaffney, S. C. *Dear Both:-Please answer the fol lowing questions for me: Has Gaff ney recently voted bonds and for what purpose? Have the bonds been sold, to whom, and atw hat prie? I de sire to publish your answer and will thank you very much for thisinfor 'mation. I Very respeethilly, Cole L. Blease. Yes, we voted $125,000.00 for ex tension of water works and thse es tablishment of a sewerage system with only six votes against in the enti-re .town. The bonds were sold to Rob inson-Humphrey Co., of Atlanta, Ga., for $102.50 with accru'ed interest. Of course these were the Constitutional 20-40 year bonds. I Yours truly, 1 Thos. B. Butler. COL. BACON AS "A SWEBXT GIEL GRADUATB." Col. Bacon's "Pinkie Rosebud" letter in the last Charleston Sunday News is a gem, a master piece. Its wit is very brilliant, while its satire is very amiable. Everybydy who loves a good hearty, innocent iaagh, should read Col. Bacon's "Pinkie Rosebud"