The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-10-12
PREsENTMENT OF THE GRAND JURY.
TIE STATE OF SpUrn CARoLNA,
County OF UNION.


The Grand Jury in the discharge of the du-
ties required of them by the law, and in con-
formiy with the instructions and advice en-
braced in the charge of your Honor, beg leave
to present as follows:
We have examined the various public Offices
of the County and find
The Shci iff's Office presents neat appearance,
and upon examination Of the various Books kept
in his Office we find them neatly and accurately
kept, and are glad to say that the duties of this
Officer discharged with fidelity, zeal and
ability.
The Office of Clerk of the Court is in excellent
condition.
The Office of the Probate Judge we find in
good condition, and we believe we'll and proper
ly attended to.
The Treasurers Office is in much better con-
ditt n than for some years, and we beg leave TO
congratulate the County upon having Jealous
and faithful an Officer in its employ, as is the
present Treasurer of Union County.
The office of County Auditor seems to be we'll
kept and its duties faithfully and fully dis
charged We would however suggest, that the
present Auditor be furnished Room in the Court
House building, as greater safety will there
by be secured for the records of his office. We
would suggest to the Members of the Legislature
the propriety of abolishing the Office of Audi
tor and adding its duties to those already per-
formed by the County Treasurer.
There is another point to which we would re-
spcctfully call the attention of the members of
the Legislature, which is as follows: The
County Auditor in n letter of Oct. ID addressed
to the Grand Jury, complains Of the very defec-
tive plan of making assessments of the value Of
the property of the County-the burhen of tax
alton being very uncqually distributed. As a
remedy for this evil the Grand Jury would sug
gcst the passage of an act by the Legislature
classifying the Ia Ids in the various counties of
this State and attaching to each fixed value.
In reference to the Office of School Commits
sioner, the Grand Jury beg leave to call the at
| tention of the Court to the report of that eff
cient Officer, Rev \. A. James, School Commis-
sioner of Union County, dated Oct. 2l 1877,
and herewith filed.
We have Investigated the Office of the Coun-
ty Commissioners. The Books present neat
appearance and the vouchers all appear to be in
their proper order.
Upon examination, we find that there is bal
ance for the fiscal year 1875, against II. II. ID.
| Byron, lato Treasurer of Union County, amount
ing to 81 ,5OS SS. This balance was reported
by Mr.. Byron being deposte ed in Hardy Sol
| omons Bank in Columbia, S. c., and rs having
| been lost by the failure of said Bank. We would
recommend that inquiry be made into this mat
ter, and that necessary steps be taken to recover
the same.
The Roads and Bridges arc not in as good
condition as we would like to see them. Yet up
on inquiry we find that oyersecrs and hands have
| rendered the services for the number Of days in
each year required by the law. The necessary
implements are wanting to work the roads prop
erly, and Land, liable to work duty do not seem
to be willing to furnish them. Some provisions
should be made whereby tools could be secured
upon the road. We recommend that fewer
Bridges be built during each fiscal year and
those that are built be of more substantial
character than any that have been built in this
County heretofore.
AS to the financial condition Of the County.
we herewith file report made by the Chairman
of the Board of County Commissioners. to which
we respectfully call attention and request the
advice of your Honor as t. instructions asked.
The Poor house hns been visited by us and
found to be in good condition. The inmates are
carefully and properly provided for There are at
present 2s inmates-2 having died and l hay
ing been discharged since the last report The
Superintendent seems to manage the farm we'll
and the probabilities that the farm will yield
the present year about 500 Bushels Corn and
about or 10 Bales of Cotton, lesides Potatoes
and vegetables, which 60 to the support of the
| Institution.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
We find that the Jail has been neatly white
washed. We would recommend that the sugges-
tions of the former prcsentmcnt be carried out
AS the Jail is not safe, and some prisoners
have escaped thcrcfrom since last Court We
are glad to see so few prisoners in the Jail-not
white man being confined in it.
We have examined the Books of the different
Trial Justices of the County, and find them We II
kept. We pleased TO note the fact that NuL-
la Bona costs are much less than in former years.
The Fines collected by c. b. Bobo, ID. johnson.
Jr., S. s. Stokes, T. NJ. Littlejohn and j. II.
Jeter have been turned over TO the proper au-
thorities.
Thanking your Honor for the courtesy shown
us, we beg leave to submit the foregoing Pre-
sentiment. Respectfully,