Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-11-30
Grand total

Which shows n deficiency for the last fiscal
year Of 81, ,OG4 %. This deficiency would have
been much larger had it not been for the unu-
sually largo amount received for fines, &c.
These fines cannot reasonably be expected TO be
so large in the future; hence, if our expenses
continue TO be large The deficiency must BE-
raised by taxation.
We propose to take UP for consideration the
various items of expenditure aud will commence
with that of bridges. This amount, 50, 73o .27,
Is larger this year than usual. a larger num-
Der Of bridges have been re built than ever be-
fore in one year, with the usual amount Of re-
pairing. Was this large expenditure necessary?
The people of the county know and we leave 1t
for them 10 sny. We have no means of ascer.
tainirg for ourselves. The only suggestion We
have 10 make Is, that when bridge is re built
1t should be done in permanent manner. This
will in the course of time make our annual ex-
penses less for this item. Probably number
Of bridges, over small streams might also be
dispensed with entirely.
The cost Of the poor farm and paupcrs has
been $7l995. Not large sum certainly For
these purposes tho cost has averaged yearly
about $1,000 Can they be lesscncd? We
farm could be made almost self sustaining. If
this could be done il would be economy to sell
the present farm and buy larger and better
one. The payment out of $1,000 on an average
annually with interest would amount in ten
years TO $l3.8i4. This amount with that
which the present firm would bring if sold
would buy place which could be made self.
sustaining at least.
The fees of the Sheriff arc incidental and
accrue almost entirely from dieting prisoners in
Jail. If we had no prisoners we should not be
troubled with an item as largo rs this. rs
long rs human nature remains as il is wc know
OF no remedy for this expenditure.
Court expenses are like Jail fees, incidental,
and are governed in amount by tho kind and
number of criminals to be tried. Probably if
We had only two terms Of the court year this
amount might be lessencd. The matter is worth
investigation at least.
The costs of Trial Justices and Constables
amount to $8l4.34. This amount is considera.
bic, but we cannot say it is Too large for The
services rendered We prefer the law rs it
exists in Anderson to ours The Trial Justices
ut the court house there receive $50 each in lieu
OF oil charges against the county, with $25 to
one Trial Justice in ench Of the other Townships
This would make our expenses for Trial Justices
$2T5, q saving this year of $93.70. In crim
nal GASES the jurisdiction of Trinl Justices
should be confined 10 their Township This
course would enable each officer 10 consider and
act on only such cases ought to bo tried.
Cases arc sometimes brought into court that
ought not to be considered at all. Where the
tod fror Tovn vnahn n nj nj hor
ii largely increases the costs of constables. The
people might petition tho Legislature at this
session to grant salaries to Trial Justices
instead Of paying them costs. This course, If
successful, would save the county few hun
dred dollars.
TIE cost Of lunaics is $548.50. This is
large, but may not occun again in number of
years. The costs in these proceedings (paupcr
lunacy) is too large
The salaries o! the commissioners and
their o)e~k is $G53.l0 and was itemized 10
the report. The sum of $G22 83 is for miscel"
laueous expenses and includes assessment Of
of property. printing, stationery, &C.
we have thus called attention in hurried
manner to the most prominent and larges.
expenditures in the report Of the County
Commissioners. Regrets aro unavailiDg
The future alone has n practical side for us.
Can these large annual county expenses be
curtailed and materially lessencd2 This is
Che practical question.
A new Board Of County Commissioners are
about TO be inducted into Office. To them
and the grand Jury we mus. look for aota and
5reconm enda,ions which, If persssered in and
carried out, will Tighten the burdens OF tho
tax.payer and redound to tho prosperity Of
The people.