Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-01-09

a,
people Xilv III Al fsrs condisiou md h rs.
qaireds sssSsa de- win % more able to paygsuohg
taxes as @ may DO necessary TO meet in!erest and
current expenses. We do not think the Leglsla.
ture has passed many laws Of public interest,
but tho work has been wiso and salutary, and
Tar better than too much legislation. y
ASSESSMENT.
The increase Of the valuation Of lands In
towns and counties, mado by the State Board
OF Equalisation for taxation, was set aside and
law passed for re-assessuleut Of the real
estate Of the State next year. The great diIi-
GUILTY in assessing lands lies In equalising tho
valuation in different counties and in different
parts of the State. The value Of lands depends
upon their quality as to fertility their being
brokon or Lowell; tho character and value of
their products rs depending on climate, and
their couvenienoes to schools, churches and
market. In view Of these elements Of valuation
we think the lands of this county have been
relatively ovcrcstimatcd in value. A largo por-
tion of our county is very broken and unfit for
cultivation, while worry much of tho table lands
are poor and unproduotivo. Cotton oan only be
grown by process Of nursing and stimulating,
which takos away all tho profit, while corn can
hardly be sold for money and is costly Of trans.
portation to market. We think our valuation
should either be lowered or that of more favored
counties raised.
THE DIVORCE LAW
Has been repealed and the law now stands as
| II did in South Carolina for nearly one hundred
years Of her history. We approve of this act.
We know no law more demoralizing to society
| than the divorce Inv and mono more likely to
| create family disturbances aud separations than
such law. It offered premium for immo-
rality and family squabbies as means TO secure
q divorce. The opportunity offered caused pco.
pie to think they could not live together, and
after two years separation divorce was sought.
In our last court there were four or Gve applica.
tons for divorce, and from year to year since
| the passage Of the law these applications hayo
been on the increase. Gradually they were
becoming less odious aud were reaching up into
tho higher circles of society, and in few years
wc might have reasonably expected tho evil
would have destroyed tho sacred character of
the family and urrooted society During
hundred years wc have read Of but few cases of
hardship resulting from having no divorce law
| in South Carolina, while on the contrary, our
social standing has been high among our sister
States IL the Legislature had passed but this
public act VIC would have commended their work
rs wise and salutary. This odious law no longer
dc6es our statutes, and wo bid it goodby with
real pleasure.
THE ANDERSON
Fence law has been cxten,lcd TO the counties
of Abbcyille, Newberry, Union and Laurcns
The law in Anderson has given satisfaction to
majority of tho people and is growing in popu-
arity Many Of its bitterest opponents have
been agreeably disappointed and are now earnest
advocates of the law We find q strong scnti.
mcnt in favor of such n law springing up in the
lower part of this county, while the upper por-
lion is to man opposed to it, In fact, il
would never suit the upper part Of this county,
where there is only sprnkling of small farms
and thousands Of acres arc in the woods yield
ing quantities of wild grasses. We believe
wherever three -fourths of the land is open in
any county fence law would be beneficial.
With us this state Of hings does not now exist
Tho amount Of milk and butter produced in
Anderson has been largely increased and their
stock of oil kinds is being improved. Our pco-
pie are not yet ready for the law. but the day
will doubtless adopt it.
BANK BILLS.
The editor of the Anderson h.telligcmcsr ia
his letter of the 23d of December says: Gan
net has been passed which WILL it is thought, in
future prevent the tender of the bills of the
Bank of tho State or coupons for taxes Us it
imposes very stringent regulations for the use of
thcm which will virtually amount 10 prohibi
ton, and thus vcxed question is likely to be
settled The holders Of bank bills will most
probably fund them into bonds at fifty cents on
the dollar" Tho same writer says "a law has
been passed 10 accelerate partition, which will,
in a considerable measure, remedy the evils
likely to result from the decision Of the Supreme
Court IN reference 10 The jur9diction Of me
Prohhte Courts" We ilnve not seen this act,
but wo regard tho decision referred TO, the
most unfortunate ono for the people of this
State. that was ever rendered by any court.
We believe the decision correct and we'll sue
tanned in law, bat it unscttes the lille to three.
ionrths Of oil the estate property sold in NIL our
counties since the war. We are anxious to see
tho act and hopo the Legislature has been able
TO remedy or moderate the evil consequences
following from the decision.
DRAINAGE.
law was passed requiring land owners on
the streams in Anderson county, once in each
year, to clear out tho logs and brush which arc
washed down by frcshes. AS an aid to agri-
culture and health this law should havo been
general, and especially do we wish 1t had been
extended to our county.
on THE WHOLE
The Legislature in short session has accom-.