The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-20
WATER AND LIGHT.
The Way the Debt OF the Town MAY
be Doubled and the People Great.
Nv Benefited.

AS the matter of establishing water works
and OF lighting the town OF Abbeville by elec-
tricity is now being considered by our people
and as the question Of the cost of such an un-
dertaking, in view of the fact that our town Is
already pretty considerably in debt, seems to
be the only difficulty in the way, we desire
TO submit a brief statement for the consldera-
tion of the citizens and taxpayers OF tne
town by which we think we can demonstrate
the fact that a complete system OF water
works and an electric plant OF sufficient ca
pacity to commodate a town OF the size OF
Abbeville can be had without any considera-
BILE increase in the matter Of our taxes.
From reliable information had 1t Is estl-
mated that the total cost of complete sys.
tenn of water works, together with an electrlc
plant capable OF furnishing water and lights
for town of the size OF this, in thoroughly
satisfactory manner, will not exceed, say 49,
Now, the idea is to issue per cent. thirty
wear bonds for this amount, which, together
with $4,000 Of the outstanding bonIe9 uon iu "
debtedness OF the town (si,OOO OF the sozuv VI
school and railroad bonds Issued some turee
years ago having been retired) would MAKE
total debt against the town Of S60,OOO. .,,o
AS the taxable property OF the town AZ tme
present assessment foots up In roune sno 6no
Oers SS0O,OOO, we can create dept o, s1o,ooV 'oT
and vet not 90 counter to the constllulioia'
provision which prohibits any city or Town
from contracting debts exceeding per ceul.
% TaSinS. ak then. the present assessment ms
basis, lei us see what levy will be necessary 10
raise the requisite amount 10 pay inc interest
on and retire l-30 of this proposed DEBT: .o
Interest on 500 600 at per 200
TO retire l3O OF SGD 2,oOo
Total amount to be raised annually. Sc. 200
This will require on an assess
ment of SS0O,OD ..........."..... .......7M mills
AS we are undertak ing to show that 1T Is
possible to get wateI works and TO have the
ly increasing our taxes it is necessary TO state
what are our total town taxes al the present
time, in order to show by how much the same
will be increased.
We pay the present year:
For defraying expenses of graded
For Railroad and School Bonds. ~ !"
For current expenses Of town"".......
Total.
AS appears from the above statement our
town tax proper, that Is for current expenses,
Is 4 mills, but as this levy has sufticed TO pay
the expenses OF the town government, lnclud-
Ing $1,000 paid for lights, which OF ltsell ne
cessitated levy of u mills on the taxable
property Of the town. and still leave d sur
plus of several hundred dollars in the treasu-
ry, we can safely estimate that the levy for
current purposes next year, provided we get
the electric lights and thus save the l,ZoO
now paid for lights, viii not be over 2M mills
To pay interest and retire 1.30 of pro-
posed debi, as above stated. ...... ~ mills
To pay expenses OF graded school,
same as now paid.
TO pay current expenses OF town.. 2I2
..idH y.
Present
Increase.
Thus it will be seen that II Is altogether
practicable for US to have the town supplied
with system OF water works and lighted by
electricity and yet increased our taxes above
what we are now paying only by the small
amount of twenty cents on every hundred
dollars worth of taxable property which we
may own.
But this is not all by any means which can
he legitimately urged on this line, for In the
foregoing statement no account whatever is
taken of the rentals for the use OF water ana
liz hts by private families, and OF the great
saving to property owners In the reduction 10
the matter Of fire insurance, which items, In
the experience Of other towns SO supplied
amount to as much us the interest on the en-
tire cost of the plants.
But aside from the fact which we think we
have clearly demonstrated, that 1t Is possible
for us to have these, which might we'll be
termed necessities in this day Of progress and
improvement, at a very slight increase OF our
present tax, there remains the overshadow-
ing fact that in order to keep pace with other
progressive towns with which we have 10
compete we will be compelled TO provide our
town with all the attractions and conve-
niences which the exigencies OF the times de-
mand.
Wyatt Aiken,
Chm y. NJ. B. l..
c. ID. Brown,
Secretary.
Chairman City Council on Lights and Water
works.