The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-06-27
The New

SOnle Oh our lTltlilS az -luSty ShA "a
urging the Importance of forming q new
county from portions OF Laurens, Able
vile and Edgeield counties, with the
Court House located in that town.
All subjects of public concern should
DO thoroughly discussed in the newspa-
pers in order that the general reader
may be the better able to form a correct
opinion for himself. No man will arro-
gate to himself the right to think for 9TH
ors, and whilc the public are the jurors
to Judge of the case, they should be will
ing listeners to any who may bring facts
to their notice pro or con. For these and
other reasons we offer tho following
thoughts. While we express u W
views, we will be glad to hear from any
of our friends holding opposite convic-
victions. Nothing can be lost to q good
cause by a little friendly discussion.
We can readily see where a few indi-
viduals may be benefited, but we are at
a loss to see where the people are to be
benefited by the change. Thereis ne dis
guising the fact that it takes more money
to support four county governments than
it takes to run three, and there is no get
ting around that other fact that the cost Of
erecting the public buildings will add
largely to the taxes of the people living
within the lines Of the new county. The
court house and furniture at Abbeville
cost $50, 900. The Jail, we presume, cost
at least $4,000, while the poor house and
Door farm cost a handsome sum. The
new county in addition to public build
ings would have to build and keep up
various expensive bridges across the sa-
luda.
II it cost on the whole property Of the
large old county of Abbeville within a
fraction of four mills to build the court
house alone, is it reasonable to suppose
that a court house, Jail and poor house
cun be built, and poor farm purchased,
without taxing all the property in the
small new county to something like from
six to eight mills.
In addition to this tax and outlay Of
public money paid into the treasury by
the farmers and laboring classes, the pro-
posed act authorizing the formation OF
the new county requires the transfer Of
all old records to the new county. Every
title decd and mortgage will have to be
recorded anew, costing the owner Of eve
nv tract of land III the county SIPS in
cash, and the holder of mortgage deeds,
about S1.75, besides the trouble of attend
ing to such transfer. All judgments,
cases in suit, &c, are to be transferred.
Does anybody suppose that the lawyers
work for nothing?
Are the people Of Greenwood willing to
be taxed thus at the start, with the GER
tain knowledge that all future taxation
will be higher than if they remained in
the old county, and retained the use OF
the old public buildings? Will the poo
pie of the neighborhoods Of Phoenix and
Winter Seat be willing to incur this addi-
tional expense? Will somebody be pleas
ed to show US how tho people beyond the
Saluda are to be benefited as long as q
big river rolls between them and the
court house. We are equally Mt a loss to
know what benefit the people living on
either side of the river near Smiths
bridge are to receive for the increased tax
es to be levied on them.
These are days Of retrenchment and re-
form and it seems contrary to the estab-
lished principles of economy to inaugn-
rate additional counties in this hour Of
financial distress, with q full quota Of
new officers to live on the taxes drawn
from the people.
We are Of opinion that we deceive our
solves if we think that court houses can
be built and officers maintained without
heavy expense. Except tho officers Of
tho new county, and perhaps some lot
owners in town, we cannot see where
anybody is to be much benefited. We
are not sure that convenient facilities for
going to law is a benefit to the farmer
but think the facts will warrantthe asser-
ton that those living at the greatest dis
lance spend less in litigation. When
mon live far from the court house they
are more disposed to compromise any lit
tie differences with their neighbor.
A court house is an expensive luxury
to the farmer.