Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-20
respondence of the ,Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.

LETTER FkOM CHESTER.
CHESTER, Jan. II, 1875. 4, e
As the public are generally interested in
the sale of lands, it may be we'll to mention
the prices brought by some lands, lying in this
county, at recent public sale at this place.
There were large number Of persons present
at the sale, and If the prices are any index,
the demand for land is very limited. One
tract, containing 221 acres, was bought BY
Mr.. D. M. Peden, at $370 per acre; another
tract, of 105 acres, was bought by Capt. e..
Barber, at 1886 per acre another TRACK Of
124 acres, was bought by Mr.. Bishop, ct y. 40
per acre another tract, Of 145t acres, by Capt:
o. Barber, at $3O5 per acre, and tract, bon:
tanning 121 acres, was bought BY Mr.; 3,
Kell, at $500 per acre. These various tracts
of land were located on or near the waters Of
Fishing creek. A tract Of land, containing
$40 acres, and lying near to Broad river,'
brought $1.00 per acre. The low prices Of
land are to be attributed to the enormously
high taxes that are depressing and running
the agricultural interests Of the country:
While so great portion Of the proceeds OF
the cultivation of land finds its way into the.
hands of the tax-gatherer, it will continue to
be sold at the present reduced rates
The average rate Of taxation in this county
is about twenty-one mills. In some townships
it may be half mill more, and IN others y
half mill less, owing to difference in thesspes,
cial school tax levied upon the various town.
ships. Our people are paying their taxes with
considerable promptness. This is due u 2
measure to q notice issued by Treasurer 70
cum, requiring taxpayers to settle their
claims with the State by the 10Th instant.
This notice operated harshly in some instan-
ces; for on Wednesday last, when cotton Eas
considerably down, q considerable number
we're selling cotton with the view Of obtaining
money to meet their taxes. / am at loss TO-
know the authority Of the Treasurer for
issuing notice requiring the payment OF
taxes by the 18th instant. i'll mistake not,
the law requires the Treasurer to keep open
his tax books sixty days before the penalty
for non-p. yment Of taxes attaches. In these
hard times it becomes public officer to show
every accommodation to the people, consistent
with his duty. -
On Tuesday, a meeting Of the Masters Of the
vsrious lodges of the, Third Masonic District
WIS held at this place to receive instructions
from the new Deputy Grand Master, Colonel
A. Coward, Of fYorkville The lodges repre-
sented at the meeting were Rock hiil kIch
Hill, Blackstocks, Baskerville and. Wnnsbo-
no. A number of Masonic brethren from this
place and county assembled with the Masters
and we're highly pleased with the interesting
instructions imparted by the Deputy trand
Master. ~.
The annual meeting of the stockholders Of
the National Bank Of Chester was held On
Tuesday. The following gentlemen were ne
elected Directors for the ensuing year: j. ].
Mcclure, James Hemphill, Joseph ,Wyle, ..
L. Agurs, Giles ]. Patterson, W. III. Hardin,
l. L. Clubhouse, G. W. Melton, and Matthew
White. j. j. MeLHre, Esqs was ireslected
President. After the transaction Of business,
the stockholders, with a large number ofinvl-
ted guests, sat down to an excellent and
bountiful collation., furnished BY the officials
of the Bank -. 5.s,;..,,.s
Want Of space prevented me from referring.
in my last letter. to the prominent points OF
the late grand jurys report. As this r!i, B g 9
matter in which the readers Of the ENQUIRER
will be interested, it may not be amiss TO
make, the desired reference at the present
time. In that portion Of the report relating
to the school commissioners department., the
grand jury state that there are eighty public
schools in Chester county, attended BY 4OOO
pupils, Of whom 800 are white and 8,l80sare
colored. There are eighty teachers, Of whom
SO are white and IA 7colored. During the
present year the public schools will be il ses:
sion for eight months, which will be an inn.