University of South Carolina Libraries
Carbon Papers at Thi? Office VOLIJMK axiii. < 'AM!>KN, SOUTH CJAROJLINA. Hkik-ltiHUKH ID! I NtMHKIt ]if. Best Consumers of Printing Always Demand Latest Type Faces. That's the Kind we Have in Our! Print Shop. General Specifications For the hprevemeDt of fa City tf Camden, South Carolina, by The Camden Water and light Company. That the wild Camden Water and lilght Co. or their assigns^ agree to furuigh at all timet* an abundant supply of filtered spring water from the Johnson Springs, so-called, lu Camden, South Carolina. It is Agreed that a general rehabilitation of the water works plant in the City of Camden, substantially an out Wnud in the report of J. S. Lud low, a copy of which Is hereto at tached, shall be done o f caused to bo done wltblu six months from? - , 1911, with the exception ft hat the building of a stand - pipe as ?et forth in Article Six of Lud? lov.s recommendation for rehabilita ting df the plant, shall be left op 'tlMial with the Company for l.wo feart; ? rojn the date of tnls i'.aii ? h , uuUbs the present tank, to gether with the new pump to be in stalled, falls to give satisfaction and is found to be inadequate, in which catu the company shall at once ln etuil a new tank or reservoir at the ?Ur?vtion of the City Couucil,) from the I act that the present equipment, When properly repaired, it is sup po'.tu to bo sufficient for the pre sent needs of the city and the installation as contemplated, it is expected will provide a steady and continous water supply independent of the standplpe, which will safely provide for any accident which may occur to the present water tower. There shall be Installed by the Com pany, in addition to the present pump an- additlonul pump to force -water tinder pressure direct into the tank or mains from the filtered res ervoir. ?' . And It 1b further agreed that the Camden Water & Light Co. will re habilitate the Electric Light Plant in the City of Camden, substantial ly in accordance with the recom mendations* of J. E. Sirrine under date of March 12th, 1910, a copy of which 1b hereunto attached, within six months frpm , 1911. THIS INDENTURE, mado and en tered into this ? day of ? ? ? , * In tis<5~ year oHe thousand nine hundred and eleven. . between the City Council of the City of Camden, in the State of South Carolina, Party of the First Parti and The Camden Water & Light Co., having its principal of-r lice and place of business in the City of Camden. S. C., Party of the Second Part, Witnesseth: 1. That for and in consideration of the oovenants and agreements hereinafter contained and on the part of the said Second Party to be kept and performed, said Par ty of the First Part doth hereby grant- to &aid Party of the Second Part, and to. its successors and as signs. the exclusive right, permissio warrant and authority, for the term land period of Twenty Years from? * ? the date, of the passage of ah ordinance by the City Council of Camden, S. C., for this purpose, and )whlch ordinance was ratified on the <? ? day of ^ .'by the elect brs of 'the said City/of Camden in the manner required* by the Consti tution and Laws of the State of South Carolina, to lay, maintain and Operate a system of water pipes in, over, across unci along the streets, alleys and public places of and with In said city of Camden, for the dis tribution' of water for municipal, do mcatlc, business and personal uses, jand, likewise and for the same pe riod, to build, lay, place operate and maintain all necessary hydrants Service pipes, stop and valve boxes, and other appliances usually em ployed in the operation of a munici pal water works system. t 2. And In consideration of the foregoing, and of the covenants and agreements hereinfter contained and on the part of the First Party to be kvjt and performed, the said party of the Second ParVfor itself, Its successors and assigns, dot& cove nant, promise and agree to and with said Party of the First Part fend ' its successors in the manner, .fend form following, that is to sty. 3. That they will use tfie John son Springs, so-called, near said City as its source" of supply, and that they will furnish from said pourceB and from such other sources as may be hereafter agreed upon^ to the Party of the First ]Part and ita successors and to the inhabitants of said City of Cattjden, an abund ant and sufficient supply of pur*, wholesome and potable water for domestic, business, personal and mu nlclpal purposes and for the ex tinguishing of fires and during the ?full term of this contract. " 4. That they will rehabilitate the present water system in accord an oo , Sv*th the recommendations of J. 8. Ludlow contained In the report hereunto attached under date of Ap~. til 12; 1910, with the eruption that the building of a' standplpe as set forth In Article Six of said Ludlow'B report, shall be left optional with - the' Party of the Second Part for t two year* from date, under the condition* - however^ .herelpbefore jr-tated in the ."General 8peclflca-?. tlons," reference to Which is hereby Thatthe machinery, pipe linos . ? ? ? - . . . . , Mild other work and appliances re quired to be furnished by the Party of the Second Part under thin con tract, shall be so furnished and completed on or before one hundred and eighty days from and after the ?>xocntioi. of tfciir contract. 0. That all excavations made within any public street, alley or public place within said City shall be curefulty and promptly refilled, and that al debris sball be remov ed within- a reasonable time, and that streots, alleys and public wayH shall not be, obstructed to a greater extent than is absolutely necessary and that said Party shall take the usual precautious to prevent injury to persons Or property while carry ing on said work of construction, maintenance and operation, and that it will hold the said Party of the First Part and said City of Cam den, harmless from any and all damages occasioned to persons or property through the negligeuce of the said Party of the Second Part or its servants in carrying on any of said workB, or In the operation of the same; that all new pipe, hy drants and connections shall be of standard weight; that there shall be furnished by said .Party of the Second Part to the party of the fcTlrst Part, a certificate of the manufacturers' of said appliances, Bhowing that the same have been tested at a hydrostatic pressure ot 250 pounds to 1 the square inch; that in addition to, tbef fire hyd flants now set and connected with the pipe system in said City of Cam den, the Party of the Second Part shall set other fire hydrants of modern type, with double delivery, and so arranged as to connect with hose ti&upling of twd and ohe-half Inches In diameter as hereinafter specified. 7. That the mains of said distrib uting syptem. shall be extended from 1 ime to "time as the demand for ser vice warrants. 8. That the fire hydrants shall be kept at all times in good repair and ready for immediate service, and so that when an alarm is giv en and fire pressure Is called for, B?ld hvdrnntB sh?" fnrnt?h effi - cient streams for extinguishing fires In all portions of said City. 9. That the hydrants shall be in charge of the Chief of the fire department, and shall be subject to inspection by him, and in case of any hydrant being found out of re pair he ahall in writing notify the Mayor of 'said City and the Super intendent of the water works plaht; and if the same Is not fully repair ed within a reasonable time after giving such notice in wrltingv the CMty shall have the Tight, to deduct from the hydrant rental hereinafter agreed to be paid, the sum of Ten I^ollars per month until said hyd raht shall be put In working order. 10. No hydrant shall be opened except for purposes of extinguish ing fires or testing hydrants, with out notice being first given to the Party of the Second Part. In case of the opening of a hydrant or fiydrants for the purpose of ex tinguishing fires, or for any other purpose when fire pressures are 6&U ed for and applied, ? said hydrant or hydrants shall not be closed un til notice of the closing therefor Is given to the Water Company. 11. That Bald Party of the Sec ond Part shall furnish, connect, supply and maintain such addition al hydrants from time to time as the Party of the First Part" may require, and at the annual rental hereinafter set forth, provided mains are in the streets where the additional hydrants are wanted, or provided, there ia sufficient do mestic business to warrant extend ing the mains or provided the hy drants shall not be placed more thax? five hundred feet apart. 12. That it will, when said water, plant, when rebuilt as herein pro vided for, is ready for a test, not- 1 ify the Mayor of said City of Cam . den In writing, and that at the ; time agreed upon It will apply fire pressures to such : system and mains, and that It will, throw from three separate hydrants In said City simultaneously, three streams of water through a fifty foot sec tion of fire hose and one Inch nos *le to a height of seventy-five feet, ; or a horizontal distance correspond ' tug thereto, and It will maintain . said pressures and furnish suoh 8treama continuously for the pe-~ Hod of one hour, it being under stood that if such test is made as [aforesaid without interruption* or ( breakage of any kind, and said wa ter plant shall have btfen rehabill liWiiTljjMM i((h . Iljn nrrnla Ions of this contract,- the Mid plant and ita Appliances shall be accept ed aa satisfactory by said City of Camden. It is further agreed that during the continuance of this con* tract, the Chief of the Fire Depart ment or the Mayor shall hare the right, at any time after five min utes notice, to call for said fire test, and that the Company shall, at all times during the continuanee of this contract ba xaad* and able to promptly and - Effectively oomply with thla teet. ??, v- - . . saw. uuurtiu Mid i. called for. the Company In unable to make name without interruption or breakage of any kind, said Com pany shall pay a penalty of Twen ty-Five dollars for every day they ure unable to make said test, pro vided, however, that if it cap bo Hhown that the failure to make same 1m cuased by unavoidable tem porary troubles, and said trouble li remedied immediately, that tali ? nalty shall not be enforced. 13. It is expressly understood i hat the Party of the Second Part, reserves the right to furnish through its distributing system with in the City of Camden and continu ations thereof, water for domestic and other uses, to the territory ad jacent to any lying outside of tho limits of said City of Camden, such right to bo exercised at all tlmeB, subject, however, to the following ux^ress conditions, a. That the Mource of supply, pumping and distributing system, whall be of sufficient capacity to furnish such outside territory, with water without detriment to said City of Camden, or to tho inhabi tants thereof. b. That any and all mains con necting iha distributing system within said City of Camden with said outlying territory, shall be bur nished With swing valves, set with in the boundaries of said City, and so fashioned and constructed as to prevent any back-flow of water from Bald outlying mains Into the pipe system within said City-r- such valves to be so constructed and pro tected as to permit of free access thereto by the officers .of said City at all times. c. Said valvoH to be securely closed by the Party of the Second Part whenever, for any reason, the amount of water pumped and fur nished by said Party of the Second Part is insufficient to supply all of.j the municipal aud personal needs of said City of Camden, and to be] kept closed so dong as any such Insufficiency continues. 14. That 'the said City shall* have the free use of so much water -a?? 4# -reasonably r?q u Ireil f or ? the purpose of sprinkling Broad and De Kalb Streets, and Rutledge Street, between Market and Church street, In dry weather, through the aid of water carts, and shall further be entitled to water free of charge for all necessary uses in the public schools and City buildings for two public drinking fountains for man and beast, for the flushing of sew ers through the aid of pull-tanks (or such other tanks as are now In UBS ' Il? WSWTll ??-? den.) and tor tire department ex^ hibitlons and drills ? it being under stood however, that the Party -of the First Part will protect the Par ty of the Second Paifc from any ; misuse of wfater for the purpdse de signated, and against the carrying away of water' from any of Bald openings by the general public, ? 15. That it: is also agreed by and between the Parties hereto, tha the' Party of the Second Part, Its successors and assigns, shall not charge or demand of consumers of water during the continuance of the franchise hereby granted, com pensation exceeding the following maximum rates," to- w|t: Private houses, one faucet, per * annum . . ... . . . ... . . $6.00 | Private houses, each additional faucet, per annum .... . . 6.00 Private houses, wash bowl, each per annum . . .... 1.60 Private houses, water closet, one (1) per annum .. .. 4.00 Private houses, water closet, each additional, per annum . 3.00 Private houses, bath tub, one (1) per annum .. 4.00 Private houses, bath tub, each additional, per annum . . 2.00 Urinals,, for domestic use, each per annum . 3.00 Hose, (or lawn and window use, ? per annum 6.00 Horses, cows, mules, etc., each animal ,per annum 1.60 Hotels and pther public uses to be supplied through meters and at the meter rates specified herein. 16. All persons using water may require a standard water meter, and pay for water actually used at rates not exceeding the following maximum rates, to wit: ? First 1,000 gallons or less, per day, ,30 per .1,000 gallons, __ Over 1,000 to 2,000 gallons per day, .25 per 1,000 gallpns. Over 2,000 to 4,000 gallons per day, .10 per 1,000. *P Over 4,000 gallon* per day, .16 per 1.000 gallons. Mtn!mq,m |*r month. ?60 The^ Party of the Second Part shall have the right to attach me ters in any case where It deems ?uoh course advisable, and to charge to and oolject from any oonsumer the meter rates above specified. Any water user shall hare the right In case of complaint as to hlsi water bills, to require a test of hts meter by the Company In or der that It may be ascertained that the same Is registering properly, tet 17. The Party of the WfSjfcPftrt shall hare the right to ohaage the, location of any hydrant furnished under this contract at any tlm?. and tho Party of the Second Part aHall ciange tWnuuaUyn of any auch bydranr upon the request of toe Par*, of the Flrgt Part? it be 4 - mm'*--. ' ' in | "i, ffljr "? i |i j lt?e understood that th? Party of | the First Hurt Khali bear the neces sary expense of making such a ?hang*. 16. The Party of the Secoud Part Khali protect the source of ?upply from sewage and Kurface contamination and in the manner directed by the report of J. 8. !?ud 4ow and with the approval of t]?e Engineer representing the City of Camden. And that the condition t and purity of the water may be de termined from timo to time, there ahall be made during each year 12 chemical and bacteriological analy ses of eaid water, the expenae of which Khali be divided equally be tween the Parties to thiH contract, and either Party to thiK contract shall have the right and privilege of making such further analyats and examination of Bald water at ltit own expoiiKe. ltf. The Party of the Flr?l Part, including all police officers, health officers, any membera of the Board ofl Health and all conaumera of water under this franchise who may have a permit from the Mayor, ahall have the right to inspect the source of supply and all machinery and other appliances employed by the Party of the Second Part In con flection with the filteratlon, stor age, pumping and distribution - of water, at all t tinea during ordinary buHlneHK hours- auch inHpectlon to be made In good faith and* not for the purpose of haniBalng or aunoy Ing .the Party of the Second Part, or In any wise Interfering with the peroforman.ee by it of Its pub lic duties under this franchise. zu. 'me J'arty. of the Second Part shall have the right to adopt and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations as may be required in the prosecution of its business, and In the protection of its rightS7 and property under thiB franchise. a. The Party of the Second Part shall have the right to charge the Bum of Five Dollars for tapp ing its ntalns for service connections with thp same, and Twenty- Five cents per lineal foot for Running service from the mains to coMum-^ era' lot lines. k**?0' b. No person or persons, compan or corporation, shall have the right to contract for or to do plumbing or piping work In connec tion f . with the v ? water mainB or distributing system of the Party of the Second Part without first having secured permission from said Second Party and fur nishing a good and sufficient bond sons lntorcr^d fr<-m any damn^e /hut may arise, caused by poor workmanship or defective material. c. Within sixty days after the completion and acceptance of said water works system, the Party of the Second Part shall prepare and furnish to the Party of the First Part a map drawn to scale show ing the location of all its mains within and without the City of Cam den, and shall thereafter, as exten sions are made, cause similar maps of such extensions to be furnished as aforesaid. ? 21. It shall be the duty of the Party of the First Part to Bass, adopt and enforce all necessary or dinanceB and laws for the protec tion of the ^plant and property and water works system of the Party of the Second Part, and for the punishment of persons unlawfully injuring the same or In any man ner Interfering with the construc tion, maintenance and operation of the same, or with the water fur nished by the Party of the Second Part to the . Party of the First Part hereunder. 22. And the Party of the First Part for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained, and on the part of the Second Party to be well and truly kept and performed, doth hereby agree and bind Itself for and during the term of this franchise, (unless it shall sooner purchase the water and light system contemplated here under In accordance with the provls ions of this franohlse and contract) to pay, otj cause to be paid to said Party of the Second Part, Its suc cessors or assigns, as rented, the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) each, p?r annum, for the first Sixty-five (66) paid hydrants Installed and maintained and . Forty Dollars ($40.00) each, per annum for all additional hydrants installed and maintained by said Second Part hereunder, it being understood that there are at this date six (6) free hydrants ? such payments to be made In monthly Installments at the end of each oalendar month from and' after the date of the acceptance of said water work* system; provided however, that In oonaifteratlon of the foregoing, it Is understood and agreed that the Party of the First Part shall have the right to provide additional hy drants at Its own expense, to be set M such places as the City C6vncil may direct on the PRBS BNT DISTRIBUTING 8Y8THM within or without said City, (and on any pipe lines hereafter put down, provided there are not to he put on any new pipe line here after more than one free hydrant to every five paid hydrants.) and that the said Party of the Second Part wiUr *t the request of the said Party of the First Part, set and Connect such hydrants with the mains at the plaoes designated, and thereafter furnish such hyd rante wit* water, under the terms of this franchise, and without ooat l or ekpens* to the said Party of the Flrnt Part other than the actual expense of setting and connecting (he same, which shall be borne hy the en > or Camden. ? Hecond Party shall keep itri tank aud reservoir at the I'ower Station at ail times full of prOporly filtered water, which Bald tank and reservoir shall |m drained and cleaned from time to time an may be reasonably re quired by Bald party of the First Part, or the Health Officers of the City of Camden. 1)3. That In connection with tint electric power plant, pole linos anil electric lighting appura'UH now in that'll)* ol" Camden, it will within a period of nix months from aud af ter Its due execution and delivery in t ho mar ner atui I'orm required by !hw, rehal ">tau? substantially In accordance with the rccomineuda V loiib of J. E. Sirrine, u copy of which 1b hereunto attached, and put into operation a modern and complete eleotric- lighting plant with the machinery, wires, conduc tor*, poles and appurtenances us ually erected aud omployed In con nection with an electric plant, and thereafter and for the full term of this franchise and contract (unlosH the Party of the First Part Bhull sooner exercise its ppMon to pur chase said water and electric sys tem as hereinafter set forth) to operute and maintain at and with in said City of Camden, said elec tric lighting plant, and for and dur ing said period to furnish and pro vide to said City aud the Inhabi tants thereof, subject to the con ditions hereinafter set forth, elec tric current for light, heat und powqf- purposes. AH night current shall be provided for the inhabi tants of said City every night of the year. 'or Ha'd period in ??, rn'*b, provide and maintain iV -fr^'FS Hv/?^ ttst & c S ?r over? forty candle power L *firl9s street lamps, jlght n?,.at the Power and efficiency afore SW8S "'8W dur,n? "he "a" except that Bame shall be on what le i commonly known aH the PhliaHni PM? moonlight schedule, (a oolfv ??" ST^SS-; ann ?rVi V ? ByBtem In a PXod r ::f'rot,?ir ? ?? H?n 4 ? . f,t and proper condl tornjHh .iftQ^ern and efflclont ?? If will likewise, pr0. ny RddC i -?nd ma,nta,n a? ma Pamps ,n f>L U?gaUm *?rlca aLrtJ^ ?amps, m the streets and Dublin paces of and within said City as from Hn ?f the Flrat Part m time, to time dl?flct__nli 0f "1h"?tr"0,t ''e^T^S^imalned the rate and for the comDensa on per light hereinafter set forth PowT SSf 8haU ma,ntaln ^ "s rower Station an alarm for the the^Comn' R c?,mectlon between ^Pany and the Flre Depart ment, in case of fire. The kind and construction of said alarm to Plriep?w7 a5reed upon ^tween rlrst Party and Second Party. ?r JIm Th.at al! P?,efl used Iti. the alirhM ?. d p,ant 8ha" be sightly poles, satisfactory to Partv *5 if.?F,rflt Part' 8ha11 b? Paint ed white to within six feet of the 5fro"n,d' an.d fr?m that point down of a dark lead color; that all poles ???? wires to be placed under this contract Bhall be placed in thr manner directed by the proper Ci ty ?ffjcers having charge and con of thi % P 5 Btreet? and places work ..nH h doing of all and. erectlon. maintenance or. repair under this franchise and con tract, care shall be taken that no Unnecessary lnJury lB done to any "S?, or ornamental tree, whether standing upon public or private ?rieri\V bUAany ^uS in writing addressod . to the Partv authne. F!,r8t Part' by the Properly authorized agent of the Party of the Second Part, setting forth the f lee!? I! y of /rimming trees or de llJhV irv.5! ,h? gecure efficient Ii5 service, will receive due con sideration; that no undue or un snhean ba?yn10?bH8trUCtl0n ?f the streets snail be made or caused to be made by said Second Party in the doing bi f W,?,rk authorlzed here aZhii u ' excavations mad ?n i k .? carefully refilled, and all debris shall be removed within a reasonable time, and that the 0? 1h2!t? of don and the pvty of the Seoond Part shall be at all aj2ean!ieid|harm,eM fr?m any dam* age and injury to persons and prop ti.l? La ?.?y raann*r occasioned, el i hi con*tru<;tioii ci through the operation of aald electric light ing plant. First Party .hall, If it o^T?r!!T'vhaI6 the fre* u-e ?f poles alarnf PWt*?>r ,u *Lhen IMl,d P!w?t la fully and ready for operation ;f? may b? tested for the pe n,*ht? under the su , V wp,rt electrl 1? *>e selected and paid for bv eSd thit ?i th* F1?t Part' to th6 ?^d tbftt It may be determined whether aald street lamps are of ?tr#n*th *nd efflclen cy. and that thereafter and for the full term and period of this fria the*Parti J51??1 a?d e^n^ment of *^y ot Becond Part, main 1?'n.end hwjrtuider, shall at all times, ?r 4nary bu8,ne?? hours, be City of Camden, and by any consumer of elect rkj current furnish ed hereunder- such inspection to bo made In good faith and lu u care ful and prudent mauuer so ho not to endanger the person maUiug the sam? or the property of the Party of the Second Part. 28. It Is expressly understood unit agreed that the 1'uriy of tho Second Part Hhall huve the right to utilise mid employ the poleti, wires ahd appurtenances erected hereunder within tho City of Caiu don, for the transmission of electric current for the purpose hereinbe fore stated to the territory adjacent to and ouUlde of ?uld City It bo 1 1 hk understood and agreed however, that the rendering of service to resident** of the territory referred to Hhall not in any uianuer interfere with the efflcleucy of the set'vlCu within said City?and that In con* Htderatton of this privilege und of the other rights and privileges here by granted, Bald Second . Party agree* at all times during the period and term of this franchise and contract, to furnlBh all persons either within or without said City of Camden whose houses or places of huslnes.i may be convenient to Its lines, elec tric current for the purposes here in enumerated and at the rates hereinafter sot forth, and within a reasonable time after application in made therefor. - Second Party Khali also have tho right to furnlHli power from Its plant for tliu period of th's contract, but this right iihalt uot bo oxcluslve. ' , 4 2U. And for the forogolng pur* poses and In consideration of tho covenants and agreements hereinbe fore contained and on tho part of said Second Party to bo . well and truly kept and performed, and In consideration of tho further cove nants and agreements hereinafter contained, said Party =of tho First Part, with the approval of tiro elect ors of said City of Camden afore - said first had and obtaiuou in iho manner required by tho Constitu tion and laws of tho State of South Carolina, does hereby grant unto the said Party of tho Second I'art, Mk successors and assigns, the Ox- .. elusive right warrant and authority "' for tho term and period of twenty (20) years from tho ? ? ? day of * ? 19H( to erect, construct, build, maintain and operate an elec tric lighting plant within said" City of Camden for the purpose of fur nishing electric current for light und to said ends for said purposes u*.v iOr satu lorm use ~>-o?Us Ive rign-j warrant and authority to &nti *hs successors, the streets, alleys and public places of tho said City for . the purpose of erecting and main taining therein poleB, wires, lamps guy and bracing wires and the oth er appliances and appurtenances us ually constructed, maintained and employed with an electric lighting plant constructed and maintained for the purpose of furnlBhlng elec tric current for municipal and do mestic ubo, provided however, that such grant Bhall be at all times subject to tho right of the City of Camden to aoqulre said eloptrlc, light lng plant and appurtenances by ap praisal and purchase as In the next following paragraph herein set forth. .! It li 'urther expreaBty agreed by and between the Parties here to and made a condition of the grant herein oontalned that the Party of the First Part and its suc cessors shall havo the right at the end of any three years hereafter, to acquire by purchase the, water and electric plants with all of the rights and property thereto con nected, whether the same be with in or without the City of Caihden, and In the manner following,- that is to say, a. If the Parties hereto shall be unable, for tho space of forty, days next following the receipt by the Second Party of Notice from the said City of Camden of Its de sire to exercise tho right and op tion hereby secured and reserved then and In event, the value of such plant and property shall be fixed and determined by three com petent and disinterested engineers, none of whom shall be residents of Kershaw County, one of whom shall be selected by the Party of tho Klrst Part and one by the Party of the second Part and the third by the'htwo thus chosen. b. Such appraisers shall be first sworn to faithfully and Impartially value and appraise all of the prop erty of the Party of tho Second Part referred to herein, It being expressly understood that In ap praising the said property of the said Party of the Second Part no value Is to be placed upon the franchise granted by the Party of the First Part to the Party of the Second Part, but the said property of the Party of the JFirst Part 18 to be appraised and valued accord ing to its physical condition at the time of said appraisement, and Irrespective of lte earning power, and shall appoint a convenient time and place when and where they will hear the parties interested, and they shall receive and consider all competent evidence offered by , either party, whether through wit nesses called and examined he fork them, or through deposi tions taken in acoordance with thti laws of the. State of 8outh Car olina, ahd they shall reduce their determination and appraisal to writ ing which ma y be signed by all, or a majority of such appraisers and (Continued an last tag#/) ,