Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-09-07
New Counties.


New Counties.
When The extra session proposed, among other
things, to pass joint resolution to change tho
constitution go as 10 reduce tho prescribed arca
of counties, We opposed it, alleging the counties
wcre small enough and that such measure
would be another source of division. We are
glad to soy our entire delegation opposed The
measure, and sorry to say our belief has been
verified. 1t would have been better either to
have postponed tho measure, or better still to
Have let each claim stand on its own merits.
Dhere may be counties which arc too large and
should be divided, but this could have been
dono BY special measure.
we see from our exchanges that new counties
are projected already in various sections.
Seneca City wants court house; 80 docs Pom
dleton; then one is proposed at Ninety Six; ono
in upper Grccnville md at various other points
in the State. twill bo readily seen that the
making Of new counties will increase slightly
the State expenses and largely the county cx-
penses, because the expensive county machinery
must bo kept up in oil Of them. The present
shape Of the counties is such in many instances
that the divisions will give no additional con-
venicnce to the people. In most instances the
new counties will bo long slipes leaving most
of the people equally remote from either court
house. Tako tho proposed court house at
Seneca and If carried tho upper part of the
county would bo MS remote as ever, while by
running the line MS proposed in the Jou,,,al the
lower part would be in two or three miles at
some points and as remote rs ever at other
points. Tho upper county would not b. ablo to
support government and build its bridges.
ut present We have about G35 square miles and
population Of about 5000, ono half or moro
Of whom reside below the proposed line Nearly
or quite three fouths of the property lies below
the line, and when our whole area barely gives
support to public officers how could they live
if The counties were reduced? We do not write
in opposition toSencca or Pendleton or to our
own interest," for one half OF more of our pro
perty lies below the line. Wo write in opposi-
tion TO the principle on tho ground that it will
reduce the pay and consequently the competency
of officers in oil small poor counties without
adding to the convenience OF persons in attend
ing court when necessary. Besides, We do not
know the reason, but still il has always been tho
fact that lands in this State have commanded
higher prices than in the great Empire State of
Georgia where small counties exist. The lands
in Georgia are as rich or We think richer, and
yet cross Tugaloo River and they have in tho
past been held lower.
Our people lived without complaint forty years
with Oconee and Pickens as ono county and
really people so seldom have to attend court that
the Inconvenience was small A person by an
early start can now 60 from the remotest part of
this county and attend to business and return
ihe Same day. Will it pay thon to divide and
tacrehse expenses? Even for court house at
Randleton wo would be unwilling to give up
any part ofthe county, unless it bo the small neck
below Seneca River, for al! The lowor part Of the
county can como 10 Walhalla by q short ride and
by rail.
II tho old system of dcfraying county ex-
penses wero restored we would have but little
objection to new counties. Our readers will
remember that jurors, witnesses, public officers
FREQ schools and oil county expenses, except
roads and bridges, public buildings and support
of paupers, were formerly paid by the State and
general tax for that purpose was levied and
went into the Slate treasury where it was dis
burscd, while now ovcry county bears all its
expenses. Our readers also know that now our
county taxes are higher than tho State taxes
and that Oconcc and Pickens have been rarely
able 10 get along without an annual extra levy.
The reason is tho large bridge expenses in the
upper counties, where we have swift mountain
streams with extensive water sheds.
Let us see the fruit Of cutting off tho lower
part of Oconee by running line according to
the old stock fenoo and by extending ii so as tc
run near to or above West Union, 80 as tc
straighten tho line. Our whole county assess
ment amounts 10 $l,806,G07, and of this sun
$l,26l 900 lies below the stock fence, leaving
hut $G86,6 above that line. 1t will be at once
aeen that nearly two thirds in value Of the pro.
pefiy, Of tho county is below the stock fence
uhe population as estimated stands 0,204 below
the proposed line and 7,03l above leaving th
upper part less number than required by tn
proposed amendment Surely then it would no
do to- take tho sock fenoe, nor could it bo don
in the'way proposed.
Another fruit of new county means an in
crease Of officers Which is unnecessary, and i
90. nnwise, for while q proper number Q
efficient officers 10 secure q full administrators
Of the laws. Is necessary, whenever the numbe
goes beyond ibis the excess is engaged in un
productive indasiry. Money spent for unneoes
sary officers ID money burned, up on over
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