Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-05-19

Countys AudltOf OF increase III assesses
ment by the Township Assessors and
the Special Assessors we're about 480,
the number outside oftho towns being
343. Only Cd appearances were
made before the County Board of
Equalization, the remaining 416 per-
sons making no objection to the
increase in their assessments by the
Township Assessors and Special
Assessors. The County Board of
Equalization sat three days and did
earnest work in reviewing the action
of the lower boards. For this work
neither charged Eor received cent
of pay; and, besides, the assessment
on my property was also raised by
the Township Board of Wagener
Township, as was also that of the
Clcrk OF the County Board of Com
missioners by the Township Assess
ors for Center Township.
SO far no mention has been made
of more than two contemplated ap-
peals to the State Board of Equali-
zation. This shows with what care
and circumspection the County Board
discharged its duties. OF course
there were some high-kickers-some
persons who would kick anyhow
and these it was impossible to please,
| provided the members of the Board
did anything like their duty in equal
izing tho assessments in accordance
with the rules prescribed in the
Statute. One of these chronic kick
crs was ga much travelled man." who
has lately assumed the role of
"Scribc" and "Taxpaycr" in one of
the county papers. We did not
know what may have been tho extent
of his travels in foreign parts, but
the Township Board Of Assessors
for Tugaloo Township happened to
know something of the extent of his
property, and, though he chanced to
be an eminent "Em Dce," they did
their duty foarlessly, and proceeded
to raise him "cool thousand" This
"much-travcled man." "Em Dee"
"Scribe," Pharisee and "Taxpayer''
is none other than James A. Johns,
who resides three miles Southwest of
Westminster. Everybody at all
acquainted with him knows that he
owns considerable valuable property.
His return as made by himself this
year was as follows:
-Four horses, 800; 10 cattle, 800;
mules, $40; 10 hogs, $40; Q carts
and buggies, 1926; 2 dogs, 50; house
hold furniture and all other personal
property, $23-total personal, $500
One thousand two hundred and forty
nine acres Of land, $500; S build
ings, $300-total, $4,100. This
assessment was raised by tho Town
ship Board of Assessors by adding
$500 to land and 5000 to buildings
thus making the total assessment on
his land and buildings 100 instead
of 81, 100. Total real and personal
assessment this year, $1,000. But
even this increased assessment was
not as high as the assessment Of the
prior year. Last year his assessment
stood 1900 acres of land, $4,000
4 buildings, 1882; personally, $330-
total, &5,818. Thus it will be seen
that the "Gm Dee's" assessment this
year, including the increase by the
Township Board, which was affirmed
by the County Board, lacks $4l8 OF
being as much as it was last year
Why, then, so much "fuss and feath,
ers?" AS tho assessment now stands
he has been raised until he is nearly
on an equality with his neighbors
Tie had returned it away below. As
it now stands, who doubts but. that
the property is really worth double its
present assessment. 1t will be remem
bercd that one Of the five buildings
returned at an aggregate of $500 is {
valuable mill and ginncry, and alone
worth double that assessment. Ano
thor is his two-story dwelling house
which il worth much more than tho
assessment. And what about his
household and all other personal pro
perty, except that enumerated above
returned for only $z3? Whert
are the distinguished "Em Dce's'
medical library and instruments
and farming implements? What
are they worth? Can his home
be comfortless and chcerlcss
There are colorcd men, not few
who return more as the value OF
their household property. Samue
Frasier Maxwell, p. C, returns his
household property at $1,000; Mel
son Brown, p. c., $4,000; Joseph
Sharp, p. c., $1,000. These colorcd
taxpayers follow no learned profcs
sion. They arc plain, hard working
citizens, who live at home, and dc