The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-10-01
Annual Report
OF
The County Commissioners
Of Abbeville County. for the
Fiscal Year beginning
Sept. l, 1872, and
ending Sept. /,
1878.

The large Indebtedness Of the County
calls for an explanation and the County
Commissioners beg leave to preface their
report by plain statement of facts.
The County began its career under
reconstruction, not simply with an
empty treasury, but with large claims
against it. In consequence Of the de-
struction of our books and papers by
fire, it is impossible to give the exact
amount of the old debt. 1t is believed
by those in charge at the time, to have
been between six and seven thousand
dollars. Here was deficiency to begin
with. We are also informed that the
levy of two and a half mills in 1870,
fell short of paying the current expenses
by about five thousand dollars.
In 1871 the treasury was robbed, and
it has never been certainly ascertained
what amount the County lost. Estl-
mates vary from four to eight thousand
dollars. In cash and County checks 1T
may nave UCcn more.
The great fire of January 1872 de-
stroyed the Court House, offices and
furniture. A courtroom and offices had
to be rented for the balance of the year.
The accident happening but a few
weeks before Court, we had no time to
canvas for advantageous purchases, but
were compelled to take whatever we
could get.
BY the fire of November last, all the
furniture, books, papers, and records in
the Offices of the Clerk of Court, the
Sheriff, and the County Commissioners
were destroyed. Not Il vcstigc was left.
TO replace the books, blanks, and sta
tionary cost about 100000. All the
records having been destroyed, it is pos
siblc that some claims may have been
paid twice. TO prevent this, all parties
were required to register their claims.
The policy of the Government, that
the tax levy of one year cannot be used
to pay the debts of another year, was
not enforced until this year; and not i'll
time to save the levy for this year.
Heretofore the old claims have been
paid first, thus leaving the County for a
considerable portion of each year with
out funds to dcfray current expenses.
Supplies had to be furnished, and i'm
provcmcnts made, upon credit basis,
and, OF course, at eXtravagant prices.
Hence the deficiency continued to in
crease each year. The three mills levy
for this year failed to pay the past in
debtcdncss by $l5,0O0.00. The contract
ors refused to allow the new Court
House to be used until it was paid for.
Other creditors bccalue clamorous, and
some threatened to sue. Some of the
citizens, in this dilemma, agreed to ad-
vance the money to pay for and secure
the Ecw Court House. The whole mat
ter was referred to the Grand Jury at
the September Term of the Court. This
body recommended that legal interest
be guaranteed to the bona .fdc creditors
Of the County, and that the County
Commissioners and County Treasurer
cndcavor to borrow money to meet the
current expenses. This proved to be no
easy task. No money could be obtained
at less than twenty per cent. interest,
and not more than half the amount re-
quired at that.
We deem the foregoing facts and cir
cumstances material, and think "a proper
understanding Of the same will throw
some light upon the management of the
County finances.