The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-16


so arranged as to be of easy reference.
We looked closely into all funds passing
through his hands-those coming to him
as public guardian seem to have been
carefully and safely invested-as to all
other moneys he produced his Bank ac-'
count; and both investments and cash
correspond with the amounts called for
by his books. The Index to Will Book
No. is so much worn that we consider
it important that new book be supplied
and new Index made.
The circumstance that the annual, set
tlement of the Auditor and Treasurer
was made on the day of our inspections
greatly facilitated our labors. These off,
fees, which are checks on each other and
are properly considered together, were,
found to be in very satisfactory condi- 4,
tion as to books, papers and accounts.
The Treasurer had funds on hand to meet
all balances: =.
AS large amounts of money are han ;
died ny the Master we deemed it due,
alike to him and to the public, to give
his accounts a thorough examination !
the MANY balances called for by our cal-yl
culations were found to correspond with
those of his books. and their sum ,tetal'
with hfs Bank account. +.
We were gratified to observe the neat
and business like appearance of the,
School Commissioners office, and the
cafe and system with which It was con-
Quoted. We examined his books and pa
pers, and our report on them must be fa--
vorable, as we anticipated 1t would be. ::
AS we had given the Office of the Coun-
ty Commissioners careful examination :,
in February, and no member of the
Board being present while we were en-: >
gagged n'this work, tie did not 60 mi +:
nutely into the management. of its i'm. T.
portant affairs. The Board, through its, ::
Clerk, has prepared and'had published a,
compend of the road law, which we think
will prove of material advantage to those l..
for whom it was intended. We would
call attention to the large amount of mot1-1
ey expended in the publication of tho
Reports of the Treasurer. the School :
Commissioner and the County Commits :
sioners aggregating about $4,000 for the :.
past year, and this doss not include the ,
considerable sums paid out by these Of.
icers for general advertising. We can !,
see inadequate good resulting therefrom.
For example, the cost of publishing the =.
School Commissioners Report of lasts
year amounted to nearly $2s0.O0; now i.
this sum would be sufficient to run [.
fourteen public schools for one month. 4.
Which would be of greater benefit to the i.
public? We would respectfully recon- !;
mend that our members of the Legisla- -,
ture take steps to have the law altered as
to do away with the necessity for such ::
publication. The thorough examinations +,
of these offices required by law to be |,
made by tho Grand Jury, at least once a
year, is amply sufficient as check en- :
their incumbents. - -.
In examining the accounts filed in the
office of the County Commissioners, we :
find an item charged for the publication
Of the Presentment Of the Grand JuEy for
last February term. Whilst this, init !
self, Is small matter. yet regarding itas
bad precedent, we would recommend .
that hereafter no such claims be ap-
proved, unless the publication be made ,
by the order of Court. =. :: =,
We find that there is no insurance cdr !
ried on either Court House or Jail AS 4 ,
purely business transaction, and because
the County has suffered greatly from fire '
in times past, we would urgently recon- :
mend that the County Com missioners be-
instructed to take out policies. of insur- ,
ance on both these buildings. i,
We would further recommend to the .
consideration of the County Comnis- 4.
sioners, in view of the great damage done E
to the bridges Of the County by:freshets ;
during past few yesrs, aud especially by :
the one of recent date, q. change in the
plan which seems to have been heretofore /,
pursued. Instead of replacing bridges Of :
like kind, which will probably. be, soon ,
again, swept away, would it not be better
to discontinue the less important bridges,
to establish, wherever practicable, tords, =
and to build short bridges, extending {;
merely from bank to bank and securely .
fastened down. Avoiding, thus, this ,
source. Of great expense, the Commission ;
ers would be. able from year to year. to ;
put up bridges, of superior kind, on.the
more important highways, which when
constructed would survive the high, wa
ters which haye, of late, proved so de-
structive. A great evil which results
from the inferior character of bridges
now built is the effect on the County fl .
nances. The fact that they. may be wash
ed Oft so easily, and thereby tho indebt-
edness of the County suddenly increas-
ed, largely beyond the. levy made for .
the year, tends greatly to depreciate the I,
value of County paper, and consequent-' ..
ly tho cost of'swork contracted for. In :
this connection we would call general at
tenton to the fact that all the timbers Of ,
bridge washed away are the property of
the County, wherever found, and that the
Commissioners have full right to carry :.
back end use these timbers again.
This being the day on which Trial JUS ..
tices were required to present their books .
before the Grand Jury much Of our time
has been given to an inspection of same.
" % tI,,t