Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-09

ng- Mr. J. l.. Simmons is our authorized agent
for receiving subscriptions and advertisements IN
the town Of Chester.
THE NEW COUNTY AMENDMENT.
Although the vote has been taken on the
new county amendment, yet the following edi-
torial in last Saturdays Columbia Register
contains some facts which may be of impor-
tance hereafter. While the result of the vote
cannot yet be known, we are fully persuaded
that had the people been given fair opportu-
nity to express their preference at the ballot
box the proposition would have been voted
down by large majority. Owing to the
manner in which the tickets on this ques-
tion were furnished, it is not probable that
full expression of public opinion through
out the State can or will he had through the
ballot-box /; but even if the manipulators OF
the scheme should declare the vote in favor OF
the amendment the question will not have
been finally determined. 1t would have to
pass the ordeal of the General Assembly, and
by that body the following facts and figures
could be studied with profit
The area of the State of South Carolina as
stated by the present census QS80) is 3O,51O
square miles, which shows an average area to
each of the present thirty-four counties of
$780, square miles. The present Constitution,
then, permits the erection of at least forty-fve
counties with 625 miles square of area, exclu-
! Sive of the five small counties of Marlboro,
! Newberry, Union, Pickens and Oconee, hav-
| ing about an average area of 450 square miles
EACH This shows the possibility of the erec-
tion of sixteen new counties in addition to the
thirty-four now organized. The reduction of
the possible area of counties to 400 square
miles would render possible the erection of 7G
counties in the State, involving, therefore, a.
new counties, AZ more senators, AZ more court
houses with AZ more jails, AZ more sheriffs,
| AZ more clerks of Courts, AZ more county treas
| urers, AZ more county Auditors, AZ more coun-
ty boards of commissioners, AZ more probate
Judges, AZ more coroners, AZ more school COM
missioners, AZ more jury commissioners, AZ
more jury panels, consisting of "a grand jurors
each and 36 petit juries for each term of court.
Take the county offices of sheriff, clerk, au-
ditor, county treasurer, probate judge, coro-
ner school commissioner, eight in all, we find
336 new officers, averaging say $500 each,
which involves an increased expenditure of
S26S, 800 year to The people for the county
governments, besides the increased expendi-
ture of jures and Boards and what not. The
96S grand jurors to the 42 new counties at ten
days. service in the year would involve Sl5
each or ST., ,520 year. The 1,5l2 petit jurors
for AZ new counties ut an average OF twenty
days. service would involve $50 each, or S45,
800 annually.
The AZ boards of county commissioners
would not cost less than 81 900 to each board
in pay and mileage, showing $42, 1000 more OF
annual expenditure, and making with the
above jury expenses not less than 500, 1000 a
year, which carried to above $268, 900 for
county officers named, shows S36S, 600 increas-
ed annual expenditure, exclusive of other mat
ters necessarily omitted in our hasty state
ment.
The cost of AZ new court houses and jails
would not involve less than $1,000 to county
or $4,000 of permanent expenditure.
1t is seen that there will be AZ new senators
involving $500 each year for an average of
60 days. SERVICE or an enhanced expense to
the people of $4,000, not looking to any in
crease of representation in the lower house.
Now, to what end is all this Are not the
people reasonably we'll served by the present
county organizations ? If there be any incon-
venence in some of the large counties what
does it amount to ? If man leaves his home
and business, does it make really any differ
ence to him whether he goes 10 or ID or more
miles further to the court house
But it may be claimed that the Legislature
need not organize all these new counties.
Very true. But look at the inducements to it
in the patches of new offices and salaries, &C.,
arising in the premises. DO we not see that
we would soon have ''JOona' of new-county
movements all over the State ? Are not the IL
new counties now possible under the present
constitutional limitation sufficient relief for
the Inconvenience in certain large counties =?
Unquestionably they are.
Besides all this, the small-county movement
goes to the driveling out of our present county
seats in parceling out the patronage they now
enjoy among host of new fiedged county
towns
We jealously watch the interests of our
present county towns as of growing interest to
the State, as important centres Of opinion, ed
ucation and capital bidding fair to perform a
function in the State which they never did be-
fore the war. Les us 60 slowly in this matter,
then, and wait for the wagon.
South Cardinals present county organiza-
tion gives S99.1 square miles to the county
with an average of %, ,S69.9 of population to
each county.
Georgia's area to county is 1900 square
miles with All average population of II ,175i to
the county.
North Carolina has 5G0.S square miles to the
county and IL, 1863 population to each county.
Ours is altogether the best system every
way. So we say to our people "HOld fast to
that which is good' and vote No ; be sure you
vote No to this amendment and let us see to
it that the State Executive Committee furnish
votes enough for the voters in the negative or
know the reason why.
From Tuesdays Register it would seem that
the Executive Committee furnished Richland
county with tickets printed only in tie affirm
ative on thisquestion. They were little more
condescending towards York, and instead of
debating the way our people should vote fur
nshed tickets in blank, after having been no
titled by the County Chairman that an equal
number of negative tickets would be wanted
as those in the affirmative. This, however,
necessitated the writing, nith ink, of the vo-
ter's preference, which, in numbers of cases,
we suppose, was not done. So what with the
tickets bearing the word Yes, and those en-
tirely blank, which many voters could not or
would not 60 to the trouble Of writing, we
doubt not the Executive Committee will rem
der it possible for the Board of Canvassers to
declare it the wish of majority of the voters
of the State to increase public expenses by the
formation of forty-two new counties. BY
adroit juggling the people of the State, we
fear, have been prevented from expressing
their preference on an important question.