Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-22
OLD. LINES.

OLD LINES.
The line between Greenville and Spar
tanburg counties has recently been re-
surveyed and it is reported in The News
that Greenville has gained consider
able territory, the assessed value ofwhose
property is about $3.50, 700 being added to
the county. And yet there are people in
South Carolina and in York county who
will say that the old surveys must be &C
cepted as final and infallible. The sur
vey of the line between the two counties
referred to was authorized by the legisla-
ture and the outcome shows that Spartan
burg is the loser.-Rock Hill Herald.
In the light of current gossip, the above
paragraph, however innocent it may ap-
pear, is interesting interesting, in fact
that we feel constrained to make few
comments upon it.
We are told in the first place, that by
this survey Greenville county has gained
considerable territory, the assessed value
of whose property is about $3.50, ,0O0," and
in the second place we are reminded that
some people even in york county who
will say that old surveys must be accepted
as final and infalible." These remarks
were not intended for anybody in partic-
ular, of course. Because we have some
facts, however, we shall undertake to
answer them.
Though we are not familiar with the
history of the contention between Spar
tanburg and Greenville, from what The
News says, we infer that there was no
dispute until after the building of the
Pelham Cotton mill. This mill was locat-
ed very near the line between Spartan
burg and Greenville. There had been no
survey since that made under the direc-
ton of Robert Mills in 1920, and as many
of the old marks had been obliterated,
and there were few people who could
swear to the exact location Of the line
the manner served as nice bone of con-
tention between the two counties, espec-
tally since the prize was the taxes on a
500, 900 cotton mill. In 1893 the conten-
ton appears to have been compromised
temporarily by agreement between the
county commissioners until authority
could be gotten from the legislature for
re-survey.
Greenville, it seems, was contending
for the old line surveyed under the di-
rection of Robert Mills and recognized by
the constitution of 1868, and Spartanburg
was contending principally for Pelham
Cotton mill, which she claimed was just a
few yards on her side of the line. The
legislature directed re-survey Of the dis
puted line, distance of something like
% miles. The survey was made by one
man from Greenville, one from Spartan
burg and third from Abbeville. 1t was
apparently rather light job. 1t would so
be considered by some surveyors we
know; but if we are not mistaken, the
work required longer time for compile
ton than any one line on the recent "sur-
vey" of York county. And the result
was to verify the "old" survey almost
down to gnat's heel, and fully sustain
the contention of Greenville.
The "considerable' territory referred to
by The Herald did not materialize. 1t
was merely long lane, just how long is
not stated; but it was not more than few
feets wider than Pelham Mills, and we
doubt exceedingly if the whole area was
as great as the incorporate limits of the
town of Tirzah. And this territory it
must remember, was not ''gained."
Greenville had claimed it all the while by
virtue of an "old" survey, and this survey
was proven to be correct.
Before concluding, it might be we'll to
remark that the same Mills who surveyed
Gree nville correctly also had charge of
the first survey of York. Time and veri-
fications have shown that he not only
knew his business but gave it close at
tention. But even had this not been the
case, with river on either side, and a
State line on the other, we are at loss to
see how any other surveyor, either now
or hereafter, will be able to give US any
more territory than We now have unless
be happens to be well up on figures.
Dispensary Failure.
News and Courier: The following
bit of information from the Edgefield