Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GOOD COUNTRY ROADS. TThat They Would Mean to John Smith, V an Ohio Farmer. " To an impartit observer it would seem as if there were no excuse for the bad ness of modern American roads. Neither precept nor example has been withheld from the men who have* their building Tfflg^mn^ftncem charge. Any iatelli can sit down in his bam and out an the clean head of a barrel, minutes, ?be benefit that good "wot&Ct do Mm. Why more farmers / dont do it, and why the few who do dont act in the matter, dont get ~p and rustle for good roads a3 earnestly as they rustle for good government on election day, is as on explainable as the proverbial Chinese puzzle. Take the case of Market Gardener ^ John Smith, who lives ten miles from : the city of Cleveland, for instance. Now ~ Mr. Smith has a farm of fifty acres, on which he raises, almost '-xciusively, veg etables and fruits for the city market. JSe has forcing beds.bythe dozen and his orchards are models in their way. pe is a practical man in the true sense .v.- ;j.?f the word. Consequently ho makes money. Yet it is a very easy matter to pros? to Mr. Smith that he might make * good deal more. In fact it has been - proved to him many times that the bad toads between bis farm and Cleveland . shave fully $2 of profit oS every load of produce which, he sends to market. And yet he does nothing. Do yon suppose that if I should'go to Mr. Smith and show him that his way of raising celery was wrong: that he lost $500 a year by not pruning his trees properly; that there was a waste of a good round sum . in theway he ' polled his onions, he wpnld.go.on wasting and losing money in these ways? Not at all. As. ?-*>n as he found out these mis takes he would correct them, and when hm applied the extra $300 or $300 or ?500 ?-r- to Ks bank account in the fall or used it : toward lifting that mortgage he would be -well satisfied ' a:id would probably ^thaak me for my trouble. Yet, strange " , ?aifc may seo.:n.~, i .can prove to this same - practical, sensible John Smith seven times-a week that by permitting the - roads in his . locality to be rough or sandy or muddy he loses just so much hard cash every year, and Mr. Smith will only smile and go on trusting in Providence to get his goods to market : in good condition. thro.ngh sand and mud ' and over obstacles that would have made the ancient Roman rend his toga or would have caused the old time Aztec to believe that his favorite god, Chac J?qoL had gone back on him, despite the ' juicy human-morsel which had been of fered in sacrifice the day before. ?He re gards the progress of railway building, the election of telephone or telegraph . lines or the dredging of the nearest canal with great interest. He will work him self into a white heat over a discussion of the tariff; but when road improve ment?a subject which has ten times as . great a bearing on his prosperity as any of these?is spoken of he becomes bored at once and goes off to feed the pigs with 'a disgusted look on his face. Mr. Smith from the first day of May onto the last day of October sends at least one wagon heavily loaded with the products of bis farm to the city market. In "order to get the load there early enough he has to start it from the farm as early as 2 o'clock in the morning, for it takes three long hours to travel over the ten miles of intervening mud, sand and stones. After a rain or when from any other cause the roads are in a worse - condition than usual the loads have to start as early as 1 o'clock or even at mid night. When the load finally gets to the city the horses are tired out completely, the driver is weary and disgusted with life, - much of the freshness has been jolted oat of the load, and as likely as not a particularly deer , or two has caused ; some part of ti gon to break under the strain. Ofle^. che farm yields enough for more than one load. Mr. Smith sometimes has'as many as six teams, wagons and drivers on the way to the , city at the same time. In tho latter in stances the evils are multiplied six times, that is alL Now what advantages would Vt?Mr. Smith if the roads between s?s farm and his market wero hard and smooth instead of muddy, sandy and rough? WeB, in the first place, the tem pers of bis men would be saved from a good deal of unnecessary pressure. This would make their lives happier, they would be better citizens, and would bo more apt to vote for Mr. Smith's candi date when November comes along. They would not be so tired when they got back from the trip to the city, for if the roads were good the trip could be made in half the time winch it takes now. If they were fresh and energetic when they chmbed down off the wagons after the drive home they could do consider able other work for Mr. Smith. They would hare an hour or two more to do It in, moreover, because of the saving of time. It is quite reasonable to sup pose thai this would enable Mr. Smith to carry on the business of his farm with one man less than he hires now?a saving, counting wages and board, of a month at least. Then again over a smooth, dry road horses can draw more than a quarter larger load than over a wet, rough road. Tins has been proved time and time again. Thus, if the roads between Mr. Smith's farm and the city were good instead of bad the saving of time would enable him to get along with one man less. The lightened draft would enable him to get along with one team less. Much of the damage to wagons would be avoided. Bis men would be happier and his horses would last longer. It is diffi cult to put this down in dollars and cents. The following table somewhat approximates it: Wages, etc., of oco man six months at $30. ..$180 Wear and tear on wagons, etc. 50 Saving m horseflesh. 50 Total.$280 ; Besides these would be the added comfort when Mr. Smith takes his fami ly out driving for pleasure, as he does occasionally, and the better prices which his fresher, less jolted produce would bring when it was placed on sale. Agitating for Good Roods. The objects of the New York State Roads Improvement association are set forth below. It is a pity that there is not a similar organization in every state of the Union: To encourag>?%? legislation (for road improvement) ant? to unite ail good citizens in its support is one of the prime objects of the New York State Roads Improvement association. Its member ship is growing, and it already includes many prominent men in different parts of the state. It invites to its memberslnp every citizen who believes that the com mon roads should be improved, and so licits the fullest and frankest discussion on ail points germane to the general subject. It is in every sense a liberal organization?more moral than pious, more righteous than religious, too prac tical to be political, and a stranger to creeds, sects and rings. It invites the aid and co-operation of all citizens, and especially of those agri cultural and industrial organizations which have been formed in the interest of the farmers and the business men of the state. It will publish from time to time practical information upon the general subject of road construction, and will, through its officers and mem bers, agitate the question of good roads at such public gatherings in the various counties as would be likely to take an interest in this important movement, its work and object are f onnded in phil anthropy and it deserves the aid and good will of all mankind. If the reader is not already a member let him consider whether he can- in any moderate way perform a more patriotic dnty than to join this association and invite his neighbor to do likewise.?Isaac B. Pot ter, Secretary. MANY WORKER'S IN THE FIELD. Earnest Men Who Propose to Reform American Country Heads. The proposition to generally improve the country roads seems to meet with little favor among those who would be most benefited and who must therefore be most depended upon to do the work viz., the country people! Yet tho agi tation which is being so generally car ried on all over the United States seems likely to bear fruit. The comparatively few men who see the necessity for action, and are willing to do their share toward bringing good roads about, will not, yon may be sure, labor in vain. Their efforts will probably result in the building in New York state, in Penn sylvania, in Ohio, in Indiana, in Illinois, in southern Michigan, in Minnesota, in Massachusetts and in California of one or two great thoroughfares which will be under the control cf the state in most instances, under control of private cor porations in other cases. The agitators are mostly working on an ingenious theory. They figure that if they can compass the construction of one or two good broken stone thorough fares through the rural districts the in habitants, by driving upon them, will be made to appreciate their advantages and the result will be a revolution of popular feeling in favor of good country roads. Said one of tho enthusiasts who lives near Utica, N. Y.: "I spend on an average nearly twenty-four hours a week in working for reform in the country roads of this state. Why, do you know that within twenty-five miles of the beautiful city of Utica there are public roads over which it is dangerous to drive an ordinary lightly construct ed buggy? And they are. not 3>y ways in sparsely inhabited^ districts either. They are the main -"thorough fares in one of the most prosperous and richest agricultural regions in the world. And yet for tho biggest part of the year these roads are in a frightful condition. | A xain will make them almost impass- > able from mud; in dry seasons the wagons have to bo dragged through six inches of yielding sand and the dust is enough to suffocate a person. "Arent they repaired occasionally? Yes, of course they are, and therein Les the greatest aggravation. It's an actual fact that the roads are not made better by the so called repairs, but are really made worse. Load after load of gravel is dragged into their center by the farm ers who are 'working out their taxes' and dumped there. And there it stays ?an ugly heap of little stones and soil, which is seldom leveled by anything but traffic. It not only makes the roads un comfortable to ride over, but it makes them absolutely dangerous. Anybody, no matter how good a driver he may be, is apt to be overturned by it and perhaps have his neck broken on some dark night. No one w?l drive on it until increased traffic at the sides has rendered them im passable. I have known one of these long, irregular mountains of gravel to lay on a much traveled road, occupying the center of the thoroughfare and practically un marked by wheels, for two months. A ad the number of loads of hay, etc., which I have known to have been npset by such attempts at repairing I couldn't count on my fingers and toes. "The root of the opposition to road improvement in tho rural districts, ac cording to my theory, lies right here. Tho farmer ?ses that if the country roads were to be macadamized orielford ized he would have to pay his road taxes in money instead of 'working them Out.' I don't knowhowmany states have adopt ed this pernicious plan of working ont road taxes, but I presume it is general. I behove that it Las done the farmers more real damage in this state than all the storms that evor were known here put together. Tho thing that the farm er won't believe is that if the roads in his county were good nis farm would be enough more profitable so that he could af ford to pay his road ^ixes in money a dozen times over if necessary. And yet it's as plain as the nose on his face that if the roads were good his horses could pull more over them, and that if each horse could pull more he wouldn't have to keep so many horses, and if he had few er horses he would need fewer men to care for them. Why, there would be a saving in a thousand ways, sotting aside tie fact that life would be more beara ble in the country if communication be tween different parts were made easy. "And then again suppose he wants to sell his farm some time? Do you sup pose that a sensible man will pay as much for a farm that ?3 separated from the city and the markets by fivo miles of mud and misery as he would if those five miles were smoothly paved with broken stone or even traversed by good dirt roads? Well, I guess not! Take the case of New Jersey, for instance. There are many miles of Telf ord roads in that state and what do tho farmers say of it? Why, they say that it has in creased the profits of their farms by 23 per cent., and they say that it has in creased the cash value of their farms by 35 per cent., and they say that it has made life on a farm pleasant instead of irksome. "I propose to keep hammering away on the subject until something breaks. May be it will be my pocketbook and may be it will be the wall of intolerance and nonsense which so many otherwise sensible men have built around them selves. I hoj>e and believe that it will be the latter." There are a good many men like the man quoted, and their words and acts will leave their impression. Isaac B. Potter, a prominent New Yorker, one of the officers of the New York State Roads Improvement association, and an official of the League of American Wheel men, is preparing a book on roads im provement. He will have it published and copyrighted, and give the League of American Wheelmen the privilege of distributing as many copies as they choose free. Afterward it will be placed on sale. In it he will deal with the sub ject in a commonsense way, avoiding technicalities and making everything plain. As Mr. Potter is a sensible man and a good writer his book will be inter esting and to the point. Cost of the Olii -? Road System. Now what would be the cost under the Ohio system to the owner of a hun dred acres square upon the improvement for a road costing $1,000 per mile? There would be ten lineal acres for one hun dred acres, which, at $2 per acre, would produce an annual tax of $20. There are twenty-five lineal acres i>er mile. This, multiplied by $6 as tax received from both sides of the road, would produce an annual sum of $150 per mile. In seven j years the amount of these sums would equal the price of tho road, or $1,050. The owner of a hundred acres within one mile, paying $20 annually, would pay in seven years $140 as his share for the building of the mile of road. This product is $20 lower than our estimate, based upon average valuation. ? Ex change, AN OBJEdt LESSON. State Senator Richardson Built Half a Mile of Good Road. Senator Richardson said that for ten years he had been pathmaster at his home, where he had a farm of 200 acres, and he knew something of the workings of the present road system. He spoke of the difficulties of getting farmers to work on the road. "Some eighteen months ago,** said he, "I built half a mile of road as an object lesson. We have a clay loam so?. I dug down several inches, put in stone, then put on four inches of gravel, keep ing a hog back form all the while. For the past eighteen months I have had the only dry road in the county. People go cut of their way to drive over that piece of road. I resolved when I was elected li?t I would try and do something for good roads. I determined to prepare a bill which will reduce to a minrmnm the expense of building good roads. The farmer feels that he can work out his tax cheaper than he can pay it. "I believe the cities are interested and will cheerfully aid in the construction of the roads. The people from the cit ies go into the country in summer and ride on the country roads, which they all at present condemn. I believe that everyone in the cities w?l cheerfully a measure that wdl give us good There are many cities along the canal, and the farmers away from it have helped to maintain it year after year. Is it not of as much interest to the state to have the road highways across the country, enabling our farmers to get their produce to the cities, as it is to have a water highway which enables farmers to bring their produce here? "I believe the losses to business men in cities during the last twelve months on account of bad roads would build the roads we ask for, and I believe the losses sustained by the farmers in being un able to get their produce to market would do the same thing. Build good roads and the farmer four miles from the city will be worth as much as one only one mile away now. It would, per haps cost $300,000 a year to maintain the roads after constructed. I have had a map .made of the state with roads ex tending from one county seat to another, and there are about 2,800 miles of road.** ?Report of Meeting of the New York Stats Roads Improvement Association. The Roads of Europe. Says a gentleman now traveling in Europe: "After nearly a week on the roads of Norway I want to pay a tribute to the country roads of Europe, if I haven't done it before. Everywhere in the backwoods of this northern country, where its inhabitants wrench a scanty living from hostile soil and climate, down to southern Italy, where the pov- ' erty stricken people have but one shirt to an entire family, or in Greece, where they are so poor that they haven't any at all, the roads are almost perfect?as smooth and hard and fine as those of Grand boulevard or any park in America. "These roads make carriage riding a luxury anywhere instead of a torture, as is often the case with us, and they are an institution that deserves unstinted praise. These foolish people, instead of in every county voting $500,000 bonds to be given to some adventurers who build a rotten railway without putting in a dollar themselves and retire with a fort une, spend their money in building good wagon roads, and when they want to go to town they have a road to travel on that at any and every season is fit for a royal procession.**?New York Tribune. Fitted by Experience. A Massachusetts avenue lady wanted a coachman, and one was recommended whom she interviewed. "I want a very safe and careful driver,** she said. "That's me, mum," responded the ap plicant, confidently. *Tm nervous about horses and I don*t want to drive fast, and i don't want to go 'round the corners with a whirl.** "I know, mum, jest what yon wants. .Them was my orders before, mum." "Where were you engaged last?" "Drivin' a hearse, mum.** He got the place and is giving excel lent satisfaction.?Washington Star. Two Paris Weddings. Mile. Jeanne Hug?, granddaughter of the celebrated poet, is betrothed to M. Leon Daudet, son of the novelist, Al phonse Daudet. The fiancee, who is very handsome?her dowry also?is just 20, and the young man is three years her senior and a promising member of the medical profession. For a long time the youthful Leon, whose wonderful mon key tricks made him the talk of Paris, was the boon companion of M. Georges Hugo, and both have been sketched in Daudetr*s recent books?pranks, talk, appearance and alL Another projected union in the world of letters is that of M. Paul Bourget, whose "Coeur de Femme** is having such an immense sale, and who is affianced to Mile. Min nie David, the daughter of an American merchant residing in Paris.?Exchange. About Sneezing. "Bless you!*1 some one says on hearing a companion sneeze. "Bless youl" was just the exclamation made for the same reason in other tongues by several na tions hundreds of years ago. More than one ancient Greek writer speaks of this custom, but cannot say certainly whence it came. The man who sneezed when offering sacrifice was thought fortunate and sure to obtain his object. We all know how sneezing may be caused. But it is curious to notice that some people sneeze on coming into the sunshine. It is well to remember that repeated or violent sneezing has its dangers. So the unseasoned must beware of snuff!?Ex change. Naked Children. Little Egyptians of both sexes trot around without any clothes on, and the poorer classes of the Chinese children are often without clothes. I have seen quite large boys and girls naked in Ha vana, Cuba, and in southern California, or rather on the California peninsula, the mother puts the child at the age of a few months arstraddle of her neck, and with his legs hanging down in front thus carries him from place to place Washington Letter. A Georgia Negro's Shoes. The largest pair of shoes ever seen in Dawson were received the othr?- day by Mr. L. C. Durham for a negro by the name of Alex White. The shoes wero numbered fifteen and weighed four pounds and five ounces. White can nev ->r find any shoes in stock that will fit him, and always has to put in a special order for them.?Macon Telegraph. A Method in His WUdness. During a hunt a lieutenant fifed at a rabbit, but missed it and narrowly missed the major of his regiment, who was in front of him. "Donnerwetter!" exclaimed the ma jor. "I say, lieutenant, are you shoot ing at rabbits or for promotion?*'?Texas Siftings. The Rise and Fall. Briggs?They say a watch keeps better time when it is kept at a certain distance from the ground. That must be why yours is so irregular. Griggs?I don't see the point. Bi iggs?Because it is put up so often. ?Clothier and Furnisher. How a Man Can be His Own Grandfather. I married a widow who had a daugh ter. My father visited our house fre quently, fell io love aod married my step-daughter. Thus my father became my son-in-law, aod my stop daughter my mother, because she was my father's wife. My step daughter had also sou ; be was of course my brother and at the same time my grandchild, for he was the son of my daughter My wife was my grandmother, because she was my mother's mother I was my wife's husband and grandchild at the same time ; and as the husband of a person's grandmother is his grandfather, I was my own grandfather. ????mmwm>- *++"4mmw^-*? ? ? If yon feel "out of sorts," cross aod peevish?take Dr. J. H. McLean's Sarsa parilla; cheerfulness will return and life will acquire new zest. vloct Don't irritate vour lungs with a stubborn cough when a pleasant Rnd effective remedy may be found in Dr. J. H. McLean's Tar Wine Lung Balm 1 vloct If you are all ruo down?have no strength, no energy, and feel very tired all the time? take Dr. J. H. Mclean's Sarsaparilla. It will impart strength aod vitality to your system. vloct If yon are suffering with weak or inflamed eyes, or granulated eyelids, you can be cured by using Dr. J. H. McLean's Strengthening Eye Salve. vloct The blood must be pure for the body to be in perfect condition. Dr. J. H. McLean's Sarsaparilla makes pure blood and imparts the rich bloom of health and vigor to the whole body. vloct On Wine. Dry wine is the only healthful wine from the fact of its containing no sugar and little alchol. Claret should be drank at a temperature of from 65 to 75 degrees. The decrease of drunkenness in California is due to the use of wine. Physicians in this city are recommending A. P. Levy's claret. Cheap wine with French labels is no wine at all, simply coloring matter, acids, tannin and water. Drink home production which is pure, at A. P. Levy's. Always drink claret with meat. TAX NOTICE. TTE TREASURER OF SUMTERCOUNTY gives notice that bis books will be open fn.m the FIFTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1890 to the FIFTEENTH DAY OF DECEM BER, 1890, for the collection of Taxes for the Fiscal year commencing November 1st, 1889, in Sumter County. The following are the rates per centum of the levy : 1. For State purposes?five and one fourth mills on every dollar of the value of all taxable property. 2. For County purposes?three and one half mills on every dollar of such value, of which the proceeds of three mills are to be applied to ordinary County expenses, and one half of one mill to paying the d?ficiences of the fiscal year ending October 31, 1889. 3. For tbe support of public schools?two mills on every dollar of such value. 4. One dollar on each taxable poll, (to wit, between the ages of 21 and 50 years ) 5. Mayesville, two mills extra levy for school purposes in the town of Mayesville 6. Swimming Penns 2 mills extra levy for school purposes in the township. P. P. GAILLARD, County Treasurer. Sept. 13._ TAX NOTICE. Tbe Treasurer of Sumter County, hereby gives notice that bis Books will be open at his office, in the city of Sumter from the 15th day of October to the 15ih day of December, 1890, except on the following named days, when he will attend at the places named, either in person or by deputy, for the collec tion of Taxes for tbe fiscai year 1889 aod 1890: On Wednesday, Oct. 15. at Shiloh. On Thursday, Oct. 16, at Lynchburg, from 8 o'clock a. m. until 1 o'clock p. m.t and at Magnolia from 2 until 6 o'clock p. m. On Friday, Oct. 17. at Bishopville. On Monday, Oct. 20, at Stateburg. On Tuesday. Oct. 21, at Rembert^ Btore, Rafting Creek. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Spring Hill. On Thursday, Oct. 23, at Scarbor ough's store, Providence township. Ou Friday, Oct. 24. at Wedgefield. On Monday, Oct. 27, at Tindal, on C S. & N. R. R. On Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Bossard postoffice. On Wadnesday, Oct. 29, at Manville. Oo Thursday, Oct. 30, at Reid's store, Mt. Clio. On Friday, Oct. 31, at Mayesville. On Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Gordon's Mill. P. P. GAILLARD, Sept. 17?Nov. 5_County Treasurer. SHERIFF'S SALES. BY virtue of Sundry Tax Executious, to me directed, will be sold at Sumter C. H., on th? first MONDA Y and day following in October next, 1890, and as many days thereafter as may be necessary, within the legal hours of sale, to the highest bidder, for cash, the following property : George Myers, 153 acres land and 2 build ing? in Lynchburg Township, adjoining lands of W.O. & A. R. R.3 Horace Wilson, Mrs. T. J. Joye and others. B. Wallttce Jones, (Shiloh Township) 91 acres land, adjoining lands of Stephen Han cock, Nelson Davis, Joseph McElveen and others. J. S. Folk, (Providence Township) 41 acres land, adjoining lands of estate of J. F. Baliard, Mr3. J. D. Graham, J. J. Myers and others. E. SCOTT CARSON, S. S. C. Sheriff's Office, Sept. 13, 1890. GLENNSPRINGS" 1NERAL WATER, A Safe, Pleasant and Effective Remedy FOR ALL DISEASES Of the Kidneys, Liver, STOMACH ANO SKIN. It Acts on the Bowels, Cleanses the System, AND Regulates the Lirer, And is a specific for most FEMALE DISORDERS. For sale by Dr. A. J. China, and Dr. J. F. VV. DeLorme. SIMPSON & SIMPSON, Preps., CLENN SPRINGS, S. C. April 10. "RUBBER STAMPS" NAME SIAMPS FOR MARKING SLOTHING with imlsllible ink, or fur printing veiling cards, and STAMPS OF AX Y KIND lor stamping BUSINESS CARDS, ENVEL OPES or anything elfe. Specimen? of variou? rtylea on hand, whioh will he shown with pleas ure. The LOWEST PRICES p- esible, and r>rders filled promptly. Call on C. P. OSTEKN, At the Watchman n il SoJthron '*ti?e vjuiut?r S. C, We desire to call the attention of all Parents to the fact that we will, within the next ten days, have over 50? Boys and Children^ Suits which we bought at a sacrifice, and they will he sold at prices impossible to duplicate anywhere else in the State. Bear in mind this lot of Clothing is composed of Choice Styles. Ho shoddy goods or old stock in the lot. They range in price from $2.0? to $10.00 per Suit. We also have a large lot of Sample Hats from 25c. to $2.00 each. Respectfully, BROWN & CHANDLER. Sept. 3, 18??. -,- r **? I h mm m' m ?..^^^.itL^.U7M?^.wui<mm?aBi??wm^^aMMM PUT YOUR WHERE IT WILL I will give you the full lirait in Quantity, Quality and Value for It. have Style, Variety and Merit to choose from. The usual stock of the season Guaranteed reasonable* Come right in and you will find You shall MEN'S, YOUTH'S, BOYS AND CHILDREN'S FMI mm til U Mil Umbrellas Piece Goods, &c., it very Low Prices*. Job Lofs of Coats and Vests. Big line Extra Pants, very cheap. Special Bargains in Underwear and Children's Clothing. Don't Forget the iPlace/ -MU f ffflffi M A IN STREET, S?MTER, S, C, Set tauter J7?i.