Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-05
NEW COUNTY FIGHT.

| NEW COUNTY FIGHT.
Mr.. ]. S. Brice returned on yesterday
morning from Blacksburg, where he
went on. Wednesday afternoon at the
invitation of number of citizens of that
place to make some speeches against the
new county craze.
Although, on account Of the weather.
he was unable to get out among the
people according to the original pro.
gramme, Mr.. Brice reports that he dis
cussed the matter with quite a number
of Observation-Disclosures men and 9TH
ers-and he finds that public interest is
literally boiling. Many of the business
men will leave a customer to discuss new
county, and everywhere it is the all
absorbing topic.
There was big delegation from Gaff-
ney to meet Mr.. Brice and try to coun-
teract any impression that he might make ;
but, as already stated, on account of the
weather, there was no opportunity for
speechmaking. One of the strong argu-
ments of this delegation was the assertion
that taxes would be lower in small
county, and to prove it, the Al mill levy
in the new county of Florence was quoted.
Against this Mr.. Brice cited the mill
levy in Chester and Lancaster, and the Al
mill levy in Union, while the levy in
York was only 81 mills. He also called
attention to the fact that under the new
constitution, sections going into a new
county, will have to pay their proportion
ate share of the valid-not "bonded"-
valid Indebtedness of the county from
which they 60. This will require the
Cherokee people to pay in addition to the
new county, their share of the valid
Indebtedness of York.
One of the most taking lodges being
used by the advocates of the new county,
says Mr.. Brice, is an assertion to the
effect that Rock Hill people have emissa-
ries in the township working to keep the
people from voting for the new county.
The alleged reason is that Rock Hill
hopes to form new county some day,
and if the Cherokee people go off, they
will never be able to carry out their
desire. Stories have been circulated
through. the township to the effect that
Rock Hill is even trying to buy votes /;
but if Rock Hill is even interested in the
matter, Mr.. Brice. has no knowledge of
the fact, and he is satisfied that all such
stories are manufactured out of the whole
cloth-delberate Notwithstanding
contrived to work upon the fears of the
ignorant and incredulous.
By way of illustration of the extent to
which public feeling has gone in the
town of Blacksburg, Mr.. Brice repeats
good story that was told him by shoe
drummer. "When I struck this town."
said the drummer, II at once saw that
there was something in the wind ; and,
although of course I had no personal
interest in the question, I set out to find
what it was. Learning that the people
were wrought up on the county question,
I began to try ind find. the popular side.
It was not long before I came to the con-
clusion that most of the people in my
line of business were in favor of the new
county, and Immediately began to talk
new county for all I was worth. And,
by George" the drummer concluded, Il
sold over $500 worth of Shoes"
But it is not exactly all one way, Mr..
Brice thinks. In addition to a great
many thoughtful town people, there are
quite a. number of country people who
are at loss to see how Blacksburg or
Cherokee township is to be benefited by
the change. They look upon that Sl5,OOO
guaranteed by the Gaf!ney people with
which to build a court house as only
drop in the bucket. They know that the
Jail, poor house and farm will also cost
something, and that a suitable bridge
across the river will amount to as much
as all the other expenses that have been
mentioned put together. And this is
only for starter. There are quite num-
ber of these people that won't be hum
bugged.
The new county people are making
great preparations for registration next
Monday. Mr.. Brice overheard one of
them say that they had arranged for free
TRANSFORMATION to Yorkville, and that each
voter would be given so cents with which
to buy his dinner. If this is true, 1t would
appear that the new county people are
using some money also.
When asked bis opinion as to how the
election would probably 60 in Cherokee,
Mr.. Brice said that he was not especially
encouraged. The new county advocates
are doing the most talking and making
the most fuss generally; but as to wheth-
er they would be able to poll the neces-
sary two-third vote, he was not prepared
to say.
Mr.. w. B. deLoach, who was to have
gone up to Blacksburg with Mr.. Brice,
was detained by business engagements.
LOCAL LACONICS.