The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-02
TIE ROADS TO RUN.
Strange Freaks of County oRcinls.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.
To all whom it may concern: First, as to
the conduct of the county assessors and auditors
OF Colleton.
There have been the most glaring and daring
preferences and partialities shown III the valua-
zion of property In real estate, according TO
their prejudiccs and preferences. In some cases
putting some mems property much below Its
value. In other cases it is known, and can be
proved, taking the value OF the property before
the war, or afterwards. There are cases where
some have been taxed more than ten times as
much as others, and the money collected. When
complaint has been made to the county auditors,
insult has been added to injury. Is there no re-
dress from this state OF things?
Secondly. AS to the county commissioners OF
public roads, they have introduced new system
of improving roads and bridges. In some cases
for work not worth two dollars they have paid
TWENTY-FIVE. In other cases for work not worth
nine hundred they have paid over two thousand
dollars. In another case they havcpaid for work
over two thousand eight hundred dollars, when
the full value of the work done was not worth cx-
cecding eight hundred dollars.
Last, but not least, a notion was conceived by
of the property .holdcrs Of this township, especial
ly those whose property had been put and taxed
so much beyond its value. They advertised for
bidders TO build road through the Horseshoe
country After their specification. which was
certainly very gigantic undertaking, 1t would
and did necessarily require more than ten times
the amount of labor that the two thousand eight
hundred dollar job did. Every practical man In
the community could hut know, when this last
lob was Completed q public nuisance had been
fixed to stand for the next twenty years. Tile
only remedy, an additional enormous expense or
new road This work has been completed with
in the time allowed, and. before Christmas the
commissioners summoned and Invited to visit
the same for the purpose OF receiving or reject
ing as the conditions OF the contract required
them to do and as every principle OF Justice 10
the parties building the road and the travelling
community compelled them to. One month has
elapsed, and no commissioners yet. The travel
ling community are outraged and injured, ana
nothing being done.
The condition of the road from Hunters Hill to
Six mile post. beyond the Horseshoe bridge, de-
les tile passing over with loaded vehicle OF any
kind. When it has been attempted. the persons
so attempting have been compelled TO bridge the
dtches prize up their wagon, take the swamp
and cut their way as best they could.
Now, word as to the chairman's acknowledged
ability for his task lie assigns his reasons for NOT
visiting the work, that he does not Know one loot
from three feet, and for this reason must have his
surveyor. The other commissioner Is a cOored
man, think, OF character. but think in this mat
ter he has been controlled by the chairman
against his own conviction and Judgment. There
are other matters of interest TO the public and to
which shall call attention In my next communl-
cation. TAXrAYER.