The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-17
State Affairs in Good Condition and Out
look Hopeful.

and it's different recommendations and
suggestions were appropriately re-
tcrrcd Following is synopsis Of it,:
The message opens with culogistic
references to the death Of Governor
I.llcrbc and congratulations on the
prosperity Of the State and people.
After rcmarking that in cotton man
nfacturinr South Carolina leads all
the Southern State, ami in the
number Of spindle, stands second
only 10 Massachusetts the message
says.
If the progress Of Ike past scar
augurs anything for the future we
shall soon lead all others in this in:
portant inlustry, and instead nf fur
nishing any Of our staple crop for cx-
port to other places for manufacture
we will he large importers Of cotton
from other States to supply the local
demand During the past year eleven
new mills have been organized and are
in process Of construction. rcprcscnt-
ing Il total capital Of =, ,273 ,00o. Six
teen old mills have been enlarged
representing an increase Of their cap
ital stock Of 81, l29 900 This not
only means large addition to the
wealth os the State aud AZ increase Of
the taxable property, but IT mrans
wealth r:t into active services and cu
pl"ymcnt for many Of our people
In railroad building, as have al
ready stated, there has been very de-
cidcd activity; 237 miles have been
construction. This represents an
outlay of at least $25, 900 mile, or
nearly s6, 600, 900, and when completed
and returned for taxation, even at Il
valuation of $40, 200 u mile, will add
$2,370, 600 to the taxable property Of
the State.
"In cotton seed oil mills, the lum-
Der business and other branches of in
dustry, there has been very marked
activity. A study of these figures and
n realization of the material progress
upon which the State has entered,
should be cause Of sincere congratula-
tion to every true Carolinian, and
should move you as representatives of
the people to do all that you can to
foster aud encourage this progress,
and these institutions and indus
tries, which mean so much for our
State
| take pleasure, also, in congratu-
lating you on the condition Of the
finances of the State The State
treasurer has been able to meet all Of
the obligations Of the State promptly,
aid also the interest on the public
debt, without the necessity of having
to borrow any money or ovcrdraw his
account, and still has balance in the
treasury.
PLAN OF LEvYINa TAXES.
The Governor says the present
method of valuing property in the
State for taxation is unfair and un-
satisfactory. lie adds:
81 am persuaded that if some plan
could be devised by which the consti-
tuition could be obcycd and all proper
ty assessed at its actual value the
burden would bear moro easily and
cquitably upon all tax payers. AS
the law now stands the county auditor
is required to go into each township
and take returns of property, and then
the township boards meet and 20 over
these returns and then they are gono
over by the County boards of equaliza-
ton. I submit for your consideration
the advisability Of requiring that the
constitution be carried out and all
property assessed at its actual value,
and that the County auditor take re-
turns only in the townships and that
the township boards be required to at
tend while these returns are being
made, and if any question arises as to
the valuation of the property, it could
be settled by the auditor, the board of
assessors and the owner of the prop
crty. These township boards should
be men Of ability and character, and
should be in position to determine tho
actual value of the property. be-
licvc that some such plan, if proper
ly carried out, would materially in
crease the taxable property of the
State and go far towards equalizing
the burden Of taxation. There is need
for something 70 10 dune aiong Inis
: line.
PENAL AND CHARITABLE.
The management of the asylum for