The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-09-28

raised by taxation IN the county tnere
has been paid into the hahds Of the
County Treasurer the sum OF $685.
so from the State Dispeosary fund
under a special act passed at our
last Legislature, which will, in a
measure, help to extend the term OF
our public schools to at least four
and one half months. r. further
stating that after the three years for
setting aside The one third part OF
the school fund, the schools will be
able to run at least FIVE months.
2 We have made examination OF
the County Supervisors Office and
we fud that it cost the county to
maintain and support The chain gang
from April, 1897, to April 1898, the
sum of S1,737.23 in actual cash, be-
sides the provisions raised by the
Supervisor for them upon the
county's land at the poor house.
which he tells US was great deal.
While we think the chain gaug has
benefited our county to certain ex-
tent, in building bridges and repair
ing roads, still we are compelled to
believe that as much and Of sub
stantial work could have been done
by paid labor at a much less expense
to the county, We, therefore, sug-
gest that it be recommended TO either
abandon the chain gang or work 1t
upon a much less expensive basis.
We find upon an examination that
it cost the county $61225 in actual
cash for 1897, to take care OF the
poor at the county aims house; and
further, that the inn ates only average
between five and six for the year,
making it cost the county over slCo.-
90 per capita, which we submit is too
much. We, therefore, suggest that
it be recommended that this matter
be looked into and expenses curtalled.
We are glad to be able to say that
under a recent act of the Legislature
the present system of County Com
missioners has been abandoned; for
we find that the actual expense OF
maintaining the present board for
the year 1897, cost the county
$l,O65 21, while under the old sys-
tenn of three County. Commissioners,
the highest for any year was only
$7S7.S3, and medium only being
1868 IS.
We have examined into the Dis
pensary matter and we are sorry to
be compelled to make the following
as our report upon the same.
While we find both the books Of
the Dispenser and his dispensary
kept in good condition, the showing
of sales and net profit for Town and
County benefit are excruciating.
For the quarter ending June 30th,
1898, we find the sales amounting to
$l,465 10, with profit to be divided
between County and Town of $9.0l.
And for a year as follows:
Quarter ending:
June 80. 1898, sales ST 465 ~, profit 5 9.0l
Dec 81, 1897, &" 1.60S 60 " 1857
Sept 80, 1897, g l,4Si IS " 54 81
Total. l............S DO iiU. ~ S'f''''
This profit of $145.79 having been
divided in half, as the law directs,
gives the County and Town each
the sum of s72 9sa. This we
must submit is certainly a hardship,
for it is certainly forcing upon the
County and To~n an evil of the
worst kind without remuneration or
without sufficient furds with which
to furnish protection from a great
and unpreventable evil.
We, therefore, suggest that it be
recommended to our Representatives
to devise some means by which to
remedy this evil, not only upon the
Town but upon the County.
We have care fully examined into
the official bonds of the county; end
after getting from the records IN the
Clerk of Courts Office the names Of
each officer with the amount of his
bond and the names of each surety
thereon. we have taken as basis Of
valuation of each, the property re-
turned for taxation, upon the Au-
e. 81
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