The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-12-03

sXN0PstS OF THE EEsUG&EsrtoRs OF
OUR CHIEF SIAGIsTRATI. |t

An, Exhaustive Review osy the Financial,
SENSATIONAL and Industrial Condition OF
the stato--An Able and Interesting Paper.
On the first day,of the present ses.
siop of the Legislature Governor
Thompson submitted tho customary
message to the General. Assembly.
The first matter considered Is =.
S. THE PUBLIC DEBT, -s
which is now sc, ,522, 1885, 81, consisting
OF Brown consols, valid Green consols,
deficiency bonds, and agricultural land
scrip, .. IS
rs y. THE REVENUES OF TIE STATE.
The fetal revenues. of the State and
counties for the fiscal year commence
ing November ] 1883, was about S2.-
0S9, 900, of which about ST. .936 .OOJ was
raised by taxation, and $153, 900 from
phosphate royalty. The collection of
the taxes was unusually full and salts
factory, nearly 90 per cent. of the
assessed State tax having been collect
cd, and nearly sc per cent. having been
PAID into the treasury. The net re-
ceipt for each mill levied was $l45, 900,
being an Increase OF $4,000 over the
preceding year, and $25,O0O over the
year 1S7S:79. The taxes for the fiscal
yenr lSS4-35 arc now being collected,
ana the result cannot, therefore, be
reported. The levy amounts to 31,-
Syl ,49l, divided as follows: For State,
/$94l ,626; for counties, $G77, ,14S, and
for, schools, $3l2,S20, not including
polls. s'
Itis estimated that it will require
S403.O0O TO meet the ordinary OK
n fnunrr,rn,,t q
year l8SS5-80, and 1891 900 to pay the
interest OH the public debt. These
amounts will be increased by such
additional appropriations rs may be
required by legislation, and will be
decreased by the phosphate royalty
ana any surplus that may remain in
the treasury. IA these amounts are
contingent, and consequently unknown
he necessary levy can only be DETER
mined when tho General Assembly
prepares the annual supply bill.
THE PHOSPHATE ROYALTY.
Tho phosphate royalty for the year
ending 80 September, 1885, amount
ing to Sl76, ,244.4l, has been collected
III full-bcing the largest sum yet cov-
cred into the treasury from this source
The yield for the year ending 80 Sep
tenhcr, 1886, will probably not exceed
$l50,O00.
DISABLED SOLDIERS
Commenting upon the recommends
ton ofthe Comptroller, that $50, 900 an
huaily be appropriated for pension
or $50 each TO disabled soldiers, the
Governor says: "rhc State can never
tully discharge her obligations to the
brave men who, in obedience to her
call, have suffered permanent injury in
health or in limb; but she should con
tribute, If possible, to the alienation
or the wants of such of them as arc
without the means of support, and are
lhcapacltAtcd for manual labor bv
reason OF disabilities incurred in the
discharge of duty. While those who
s. can claim this recognition of services
to the State diminish in number roch
year, the infirmtics OF the survivors.
and their need for help, constantly in.
crease"
THE TAX LAWS.
The Governor recommends a careful
revision OF the tax laws, with a view
10 greater simplicity and efficiency.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
continue to improve. The number of
pupils enrolled in tho public schools
during the year just closed was 49,
O23, OF which 7S,45S were white and
$4,000 were colOred; the average at
tendance was 122 ,093. of which IS .GG4
were white, and 6G,429 were coIored.
The number of teachers cmLloved was
'3,H3, being an increase or Cghly-nine
over the number employed during the
preceding year; and the number of
schools was 1862, being an increase of
eighty over the number in operation
during the year 1893-S4. The length
of the school term was three and a
half months, decrease of half a
mohth. The total amount of funds
available for school purposes during
the year l003-S4, The latest period for
winch reports are attainable, was
$5l5, ,390.38, of which SAL, 500 81 was
collected during the year, and S73,-
9Sl.01 consisted Of unexpcndcd BAL
ances brought forward from previous
years. Tho. total amount expended
was 1928, S,419.3l.
81 Inc Governor urges the adoption of
some measure by which the school
tund may "catch up" f.. tic "lost
- year., and teachers be paid.
D." The various educational institutions
- OF the State are in u 1lourishing con-
ton. 0'
The State Military Academy, now
mas FOUR classes, the full number pro-
Vlded for in the course of instruction,
and during the coming year it will
send forth its first class Of graduates
sliloe its reorganization in October.
1852. There arc now 206 students mt
the South Carolina College, and it is
likely that the number will reach $50 |
shortly. The presep attendance is the
largest since the war. In concluding |
his remarks on tho College, the Gov
erhor says: "rhc leading States of |
the Northwest and our sister Common |
weaiths of the South are rapidly build |
,lng up thoir institutions OF higher
| earning. North Carolina has recently |
strengthened her university by largely |
increased appropriations and bv the |
L Suultlon U OF several new chairs, aud
Virginia has within the Inst three vnars
given over 800, 900 to her chief scat T" Of
learning Mississippi hos otro,,,oJ i