The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-01-10
"A FINE SHOWING.

levy WAS raised by The City Coutcit
to l5 mills. Ir did seem somewhs;
burdensolne, but we call attention "f
unr readers to The report OF the town
clerk .nd treasurer published in an.
other c"luInp in this issue, aud The
resui, viii show that the action WAS
fathers. 1t was u strong pull ard II
pail ultoge, her that pulled tho Town
out uI the mire Into which 1t was
gradually sinking, deeper and de.p"r,
as the years rolled by.
When the Rodger council went in
hey Encountered an outstanding
debt against the town of some twenty
lid thousand dollars. The town
uegan to grow faster and faster, the
,i- munds for further expenditures by
rhe city council for additional streets,
Increase of police force and other
necessary work increased accordingly
The council hesitated to increase the
,evy, .nowing that u kick would r.,
'ult. The funds accessible were not
uffisient to meet the demands upon
the council for improvements, a con
stant borrowing Of funds was thy
natural consequence, and the towu
got deeper in debt, and interest was
accumulating. When the present
council came in charge they hmd to
lace an Indebtedness of some 500 900
1t was gloomy looking prospect,
with the collection of tuxes some
time in the future. 1t was soon
found that some heroic measures hau
to be adopted. 1t was first suggest
ell that the taxes be raised slightly
for 3 years aud thus get the town on
a firm financial basis. After discus.
sion it was finally decided to make Il
break and put on Il sufficient levy at
Dnce to pull the town out of the rut
he council reuiizod the fact tn T.
there would be kicks coming and the
cry of oppressive taxation would be
heard on every side. But they hai
the interest vi the town at heart, and
kuew that when the result was shown
up every one would be glad of their
action. The levy was raised TO is
mills. To make this apparent bur
den as easy to bear as possible they
decided to divide the collection into
two payments, "A mills was there
fore called for in May and "a in the
fall. While it necessitated great
amount OF explanation having 10 be
gone over to the taxpayers, when
it was explained that it was much
better to pay heavy tax one year
and thus get rid Hf the burden Oh the
town, the taxpayer was satisfied
This has been done and the state
ment of the town treasurer must
make every patriotic citizen of the
town feel proud of Union, feeling
for the fine showing his city row
makes to the world. or the several
cities that have been heard from
Unions showing, comparatively
speaking, Is the finest Of them ali
She has liquidated her outstanding
debt, paid the interest on her bonds
and now shows surplus on hand OF
~, ,6s5 .OC.
This will 60 a long way toward the
running expenses Of the town, and
the taxes for this year are yet TO be
collected. While we cannot make any
Immediate promise, the tendency is
toward lower rate of taxation, with
the town on cash basis.
We think the action of the city
council in the matter was eminentlv
proper as We have remarked before
And we believe when our renders see
the fine showing now made, thev
will agree with us that it was better
to swallow the medicine at one dose
and be done with it than string H.
out into several years, while interest
on the borrowed money continued to
pile up.
Did you know that Union is looked
upon by the outside world as one of
the most solid towns in the S,ate9
Well 1t is go. While several years
ago some people, not a thousand miles
away, did not seem TO know tina.
Union was down on the map, this is
Ill changed now, and Union is g.