The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-26
information Wanted.

Mr. Editor: Will you get your enterprislng
reporter to obtain and publish the following
information pro bono pubz;eo?
How much in. excess of the $40, 900 author
lied by the yote of the people has the new
opera house building cost?
How much has been paid and how much is
yet due on it?
What proportion of the total cost OF the
building did the theatre part of it cost with
the fixtures, and what rent does it pay
What do the interest, taxes and insurance
amount to annually?
How much income does the city get from
the building?
This information will be much appreciated
by the taxpayers of the city, who would
also like to know for what purpose city
council wishes TO increase the taxes.
INQUIRER.
P. S. Another thing How many private
horses and carts are in the service Of the
city, to whom do they belong and how much
per day do they cost?
Mr. W. A.. Tribble, Street Commissioner,
was seen, and the following is his statement,
which is gratifying and entirely satisfactory:
ssThe horses, mules and carts referred to-,
are the property of Mayor B. G. Pierson and
Alderman r. p. Monaghan, and were rendered
to the city for use free of charge, for the
purpose of assisting the city to complete at
as small cost as possible, a large and much
needed Improvement. When / started to
FIJI in the low places in front Of Col. I. V.
Walsh's place, these two city officials, who
always manifest great interest in all city
work and improvements, knowing that ad-
ditional stock, carts and harness from
citizens, free to the city, would hasten the
completion of the work, thereby decreasing
the expense, volunteered their stock and
carts, which deemed it my duty to accept.
"Alderman Monaghan loaned me about the
first of this month two mules, one cart and
two sets of harness, and ! used his two mules
for four days, at the end of which Mr.. Mooa-
CHAN finding use for them, toek them back,
but his cart and harness have been in the SER
vice Of the city ever since, free of charge.
ssThree horses Of Mayor Pierson, one cart
aud harness have been in the service Of this
city for three weeks free of charge. Two Of
his animals, and his cart and harness have been
used in filing up the low place in front of
Col. Walsh's place, and the third horse the
Mayor loaned me to ride, because the street
force was divided, and about one mile apart,
and to save time and walking on my part, so
that could more closely superintend the
work. As the free use Of the city officials,
stock, cart and harness saved the city con-
siderable money, ! decided that it would be
but right that the city should feed them, at
least portion Of the fine, but I found it
necessary to feed the stock of Mayor
Pierson attached to the carts, only eight days
out Of the three weeks that they were in the
citr's service. The horse that Mayor Pierson
has given me to ride has been fed at my own
expense, out offorage and corn, paid for oHt of
my personal income. The work accomplish
ed BY the regular street force with the assist
ance Of the Pierson and Monaghan stock is
estimated to have been worth fully Eve hun
dred dollars, 80 that you can see what benefit
the city has derived from these officials in
terest and generosity. Their stock, carts and
harness will be returned to them Friday
night, having cost the city nothing for the
Is days. uee except the. nominal cost of
about twelve days feeding.''