Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-07-19
BACK AT CITIZEN.
Taxpayer has Something to Say in Reply
Still Wants Bonds.


ments in the town Of Yorkville, pub
lished in THE ENQUIRER of the 10th.
l would suggest that the next time
citizen has occasion to warn the people
against a "jobber," he signs himself
"Typical Citizen of Yorkville," instead
of plain "citizen," and then it will be
an easier matter to locate him in case
anybody desires to do so.
In the first place will say that l
will stake 10 cents against ginger
cake that "Citizen" was one of the
few who so strenuously opposed the
passage of the act by the legislature
five or six years ago, authorizing the
establishment of the Yorkville Graded
schools and the levy of a two mill tax
for their support, and deep down in his
gizzard is still nursing that old time
opposition. In other words he is per-
fectly content to allow the helpless
and penniless children Of the commu-
nifty grow up in ignorance so long as he
has plenty and is able to educate his
own children? Am I on the right
track?
With your permission, Mr.. Editor, 1
will make an explanation for the bene-
fit of "Citizen." am not in favor of
expending $500 or $1,000 on the
graded school building. Reference to
the original manuscript of my first
communication will show. that said &:
II understand, or am informed, u did
not keep a copy) that the property
can be bought for s2,5OO." BY some
means the was dropped out and a
cipher dropped in after the remaining
ciphers, and when the communication
appeared, was surprised to see that
was made to say that ~ had been
informed that the property could be
bought for s5,OOO" 1 would not be
in favor of buying the property at any
such price, as believe that building
that would answer the purpose, al
though it would not be equal to the
college building after it was repaired,
could be erected in a more desirable
location, at cost not exceeding S., 900,
all told.
Now as to his next point. He says
" AS to electric lights, some
people are bowling about the darkness
of our streets. If any company will
contract to light our streets, and give
good light, without injuring our
shade trees, at a reasonable price
something the council can pay within
the present levy of two mills-I am in
favor of it," The trouble with your
scheme, my dear, is that the demands
on our "present levy" are too great
already. I presume you want to pre-
serve the shade trees for the benefit OF
the chronic loafer. 1t would be a
great misfortune to deprive him OF
their friendly protection, because, if
you did, he might be forced to either
stay at home, off the streets, or 60 to
work and make something.
The shade on our streets, in my
opinion, has a tendency to encourage
the natives weakness to rest. In fact
it seems to be irresistible. I want
more lights and better lights, both in
day time and at night, even though
such condition would render neces-
sary the sacrifice of few of the shade
trees.
"Citizen's" remarks about improving
the streets are especially tiresome, and
could only eminate from one who is
hopelessly behind the times. l said all
that considered necessary along this
line in my former communication as to
doing the work NOW, and shall not
go over the ground again at this time.
will now say something about the
tax business. I would remind "Citi-
zen" that it is possible for the taxes to
increase without having an additional
levy voted on us by the "brother in
black" In order to illustrate my
point I'll relate a true story. He,
doubtless, remembers that about the
year 1887, the townships of Catawba
and York in the county of York, State
of South Carolina, did, with the help of
the aforementioned "brother in black, "
subscribe bonds to the amount of $75, )
900 each, to aid in the construction of
what was then known as the Charles
ton, Cincinnati and Chicago railroad.
At the time the bonds were voted, it
was said, and I suppose it was true,
that Catawba township had subscribed
every dollar she was allowed to under
the constitutional limitation, and that
York township still had margin of
$4,000. If "Citizen" will examine
the auditors books he will find that at
the time the first levy was made to
meet the interest, Catawba's was great
er than York's, and if he will also
examine the last one he will find, l
think, that Catawba taxpayers payed
from u to 2 mills less than those of
York, and he will also find that the
reduction in Catawba is due to the
APPRECIATION in the value of proper
ty, and that the increase in York is due
to its depreciation. verify believe
that the Three C's railroad tax in
Catawba township will not exceed 81
to mills in the year 1900, and unless
Yorkville gets a move on her, her tax
will be not less than s. We have
either got to 90 forward or backward,
as there is no middle ground to stand
on.
l firmly believe that with the i'm
provements suggested and which have