The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20
Press and Banner.
BY HUGH WILSON.
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1898.
Twelve Pages.
The County Question.

The County Question.
| By reference 10 the news columns of the
Press and Banner IL will be seen that the
new county Bill was defeated yesterday by a
vote of II to IA.
Although the question had been mooted but
a very short time, yet large proportion OF
our people had become much interested one
way or the other. and In some instances we
believe there was more or less feeling.
AS disiding OF county, or emitting por-
tlons from different counties 10 make a new
county Is public issue In which the Sitizen
sides as seems TO bis Interest, we think, II all
the parties have acted with fairness, that there
Is no room for ill-feeling 10 any one.
It Is not unnatural for any progressive
town to desire 10 become a county seat. and
perfectly natural that those towns and those
citizens OF the county whose interests might
be injuriously affected TO oppose the meas
ure.
1t is foolish for eitheriside 10 charge the
other with selfishness.
The fact is that both parties are prompted
by exactly the same neutrality-suspicious. and
self interest.
The citizens OF the towns are TO be more or
less affected, while to those living In the
county, IT. is a matter Of Indifference. except
as to taxes.
The advantages of Court House to little
village Is generally over.estimated, as may
be proven by the fact that many OF the most
prosperous towns in this State have no Court
House, and on the other hand, some OF the
deadest towns are 10 be found among the
Court House towns.
The prosperity or non. prosperity OF town
Is very little effected either by the presence
or absence of Court House. 1t Is the energy
and push OF the business men of town that
builds up city. A cotton factory, or large
business house Of any kind is worth more
than Court House. Abbeville's banks, her
business men. and her shops make the town
and give employment TO more men than
would half dozen Court Houses.
Again, proximity to Court House is worth
but little. AS a matter OF fact the Auditor
goes to nearly every neighborhood 10 receive
returns, and then the County Treasurer fol .
lows in his footsteps, ready to receive the tax
es, and by far the larger proportion OF the cit
liens never come or have business at the
Court House
IL, however, Inc people Wdut Court l1ousS
established al any new point, they should be
willing to pay for the public buildings. II is
too much TO expect a town to tax itself for
public buildings. A Court House on such
terms IL scarcely worth the cost.
1t wss 10 be expected that the people OF any
old county would object TO It's mutllation'
And as the people Of Abbeville have no un'
kind feeling for those who sought to establish
new county at Greenwood. those who wish
ed to establish 1t should not feel unkindly tc
those who objected.
The severance OF the county was public
question, and as 1t was one which effected the
prejudlces or interests OF us all there is nc
ground for assuming that one side was more
patriotic or more selfish than the other. Re
duced TO tie last annly sis, 1t was either senti
rnent. or supposed interest, that prompted the
action OF each.
The Press and Banner notes with grea
pleasure the total absence from the report o
any statement noting the expression OF IL
feeling on the part Of any one In The whole
Of the discussion In which men on both side
eyinced such great earnestness.