The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-10-01
Wednesday, October I, 1902.
NO DISBURSEMENT. =.


a portion of the Dutch Fork to Rich
land county is being revived by
few of the citizens of that section
It is rema1 kable coincidens that in
late years this demand (?) for annex
ton comes to the surface after near
ly every primary and from the same
source and from the same cause. The
Dispatch has often exposed the fallacy
of such wild proposition and has
as often clearly demonstrated the
folly of such agitation that it really
seems a wcnton waste of valuable
time to discuss proposition, the un-
wisdom of which, is so generally un-
derstood by large majority of the
people of the Fork.
The greatest complaint which
comes from the small dissatisfied ele-
ment arises from political consid-
Grafton. The assertion that the
"Fork has been Disseminated
against in any particular is as base
less as the fabrication of a dream
and the assertion is hardly deserving
of even passing notice. The home
of the present Congressman from
the Seventh District is in the Fork.
The birthplace of two of the three
recently elected representatives are
in the Fork. The Auditor, the County
Superintendent of Education and
Coroner are natives and residents of
the Fork. There is certainly no dis
elimination against the Fork in the
division of the offices. The fact of
the case is that the only discsimina
5;on at all noticeable was the warm
support given by the editor of the
Carolina News to southside candi-
date against one from the Fork As
to the discrimination in regard to
roads and their workings this COM
plant is equally without foundation
The complaint comes more publicly
from prominent minister, who is a
good man and useful citizen, the
burden of whose complaint comes
from the refusal of the County Corn
m;sioners to work a private rosd
at his request after the owner of TIE
land on which the road is located
declined to give the right of way to
make it a public road. The sane
attention given the roads on the south
side is given to the roads of the F ork
and as to the matter of jurors refer
ence to the records will show that
the Fork is libera'ly represented on
the venires.
The claim that b7 annexation to
Richland the taxes of the Fork pee
pie will be reducsd, is silly. The
tax levy for Lexington county is only
II mills while that of Richland is
144. difference of 24 mills in favor
of Lexington. No matter to what
county the Fork may 60 the three
townships will have to continue to pay
the railroad tax so that if by any
chance they should go to Richland
they will have to pay p mills mo,e
than if they had remained in Lexing-
ton. Besides this Ricbland is in
round numbers 100000 in debt,
which will necessitate higher levy
in the future to meet the interest on
this indebtedness or an increased as
sessment o. the property. Iezing-
ton is practically free of debt.
But to sum the whole matter up.
Good roads, improved schools and
other modern luxuries cost big pile
of money and burdensome taxation
to raise this money. If the people
OF the Fork are willing to subject
themselves to further taxation in Or
der to enjoy these luzuries why not
remain in Lexington where they can
get them at q much reduced cost?
Simply going into Richland will not
give them good roads and improved
schools and this fact is recognized