The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-11

. LIN
| 18. All other property y............. 8 8169, ,899
Total value Observation-Disclosures. .$Ss, 1928 A46
The average value Of each article of per
sonal property, where it can be shown, is
as follows: Horses $7s 40; cattle So IS;
mules and asses $92; sheep and goats 81 20;
hogs $3 %; piano fortes and melodeons
500 81; carriages $47 66; dogs So OF.
The system of taxation under which the
foregoing assessments are made being alto
gether new in this State, we have no de-
tailed returns Of former years with which
to compare the results. Some few inter-
estiDg points may, however, be made. 4
According to the census 81 1850, the total
value Of personal property IN South Caro-
lima was, at that time, $3.50, SAG, ,444 De-
Quoting from the amount thus shown the
estimated value of the slaves, the remain
ing personal property was worth $19S, 1884,
O44, in 1860, as against $38, 1928, 446 at this
time. Making all due allowance for exces-
sive estimates in 1850, and undue depreci-
tlon at this moment, as well as for the fact
that there are now included in the tax list
many values which were not included be-
fore, we have still the striking fact that the
personal property in the State is now worth
from $125, 200. 900 to $3.50, 600, 600 less than
it was worth before the war. We NAV also
notice that we have now only so. OF horses,
against LIPS in 1860, and only a9.257
mules and asses, against Sc, 456 in 1860.
These figures show the fearful loss in live
stock caused by the war; and while they ac-
count for many ofthe difficulties under which
our farmers have labored, will also indicate
our great deficiency in animals required for
agricultural purposes. Much Of the falling
off In ths number Of horses may be acooun-
ted for by the general inability Of our peo-
pie to keep animals for purposes Of pleas
ure; bat this has had no effect in reducing
the number Of work animals OF other kinds.
OF hogs, in 1850, We had 965, ,779. We have
now but 468. 373 It is wellsknown that in
many parts of the State the predatory
habits Of the freedmen made It almost i'm
possible to raise hogs in large numbers.
But for this We might now have as many
hogs ss in 1860. our people being fully
awakened to the necessity Of making meat
Sor heme consumption. I'm the face Of thees
unpleasant results, It is gratifying to no.e
that We have 341 900 pianos aud mslod eons
in the State, and that Notwithstanding the
ravsges Of General Sherman, we have still
nearly $1,000 pleasure carriages. In
Charleston County there are but 396 pleas.
ure carriages oil told. Before the war.
nearly every family had carriage Of some
kind.
One very surprising feature In the return
for the State, is the amount set down as the
value Of all credits. Under the present
system, the term credits means the remain
der due, or to become due to person, after
deducting from all debts and obligations
due him the amount Of oil debts and de-
mands due by him. 1t does, then, seem
passing strange that the total value Of
credits in the State should be only So, 2,174,- !
32l. But 1t is even more strange that the
| average monthly value Of che stocks Of oil
the merchants Ia the State should be no
more than So, ,89l. 1888.
As we have had occasion to say before,
the tax law is so intricate in its machinery.
and 80 tediously confusing in it's language,
that it was very difficult to make returns
which would be striotly correct. Every
taxpayer had, moro Or less, % put his own
construction upon the law, and IL is only
natural that every one should have taken 10
himself the benefit Of the ambi ignesls clauses
or which the tax law is full. It's still ceptain
that our personal property has deprecated
to terrible extent since 1850; but we may
confidently hope that the returns Of next
year will show, on account Of the improves
ment in the value Of property and greater
familiarity with the laws far more srssi.