Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-09-02
Saturday, September 2, 1899.

lie improvement which is more impor-
tant than good roads, and he realizes
fully that the only way the people can
expect to get good roads, is to go down
into their pockets and pay for them.
His special business on Tuesday was
to find out how it would be necessary
to proceed in order to secure an issu-
ance of township bonds for road build
ing purposes.
"I'll tell you what it is" he said, "if
we are going to get good roads, we've
got to pay for them, and do not know
of any better way than by the issuance
of township bonds. Whether our people
are willing for this, of course, cannot
say. 1 belieye that Bethel is abont
ready, and there are lots of people in
Kings Mountain who would take hold.
Of course, there are some who are
afraid to death of taxes but there are
not many who mind taxes much when
they know they are going to get value
received, and in this it is safe propo'
sition. The crop failures have brought
hard times on our farmers, and this
winter it is going to be a great deal
harder. Not only will there be no
money much; but there will be little
for them to do. 1t strikes me that it
would be a good idea for the township
to borrow $4,000 on township bonds
and spend the money on the roads. |
believe we can borrow the money at
S per cent, and that amount of money
spent during the winter and spring
will not only help the people to live
comfortably but it will give US more
than value received in roads that will
be of lasting benefit. Altogether we
have about As miles of roads in the
township. Some of these roads don't
need much work, of course, and $780,
900 will be ample to macadamize all
that need matchmaking"
During the conversation, Mr.. Hall
requested the reporter to find out
about the taxable property in Kings
Mountain township, what size tax levy
would be required to pay 5 per cent.
interest on $5O,O00, and how much
that would be on the hundred, etc.
From the auditor, the reporter learned
that the total taxable values of Kings
Mountain township amounted to S461, )
$50, and the treasurer calculated that
a levy of 5 2.5 mills on this, or 81
cents on the $10O worth of property,
would pay per cent. interest on $780,
900. He calculated further, that with
the above amount of taxable property,
a levy of 10 4-5 mills would pay inter-
est on and retire $4,000 worth of 5
per cent. bonds in 90 years. The retire.
ment of the bonds would require tax
rate of S1.OS on the $100.
Further investigation developed a
serious obstacle in the way of any i'm
mediate movement on the subject.
Although the constitution permits the
issuance of township bonds for road
building purposes, the general assem-
bly, has not yet provided the machinery
by which a township may do thing
of this kind even if it desires. The
ordinary method is to call an election
on petition signed by majority OF
the freeholders; but Mr.. Brice, Major
Hart and other lawyers whom the re-
porter has consulted on the subject,
advise him that the statutes do not
provide the necessary machinery for
such an enterprise. Nothing can be
done, therefore, until the general as
sembly passes an act to carry out the
provisions of the constitution.