The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-10-29

would be taxed at $4.51 5. This
would result in saving to the Lex
ington tax payer of 1884. The
State Editor may consider this sum
insignificant but to the hardwork-
ing man it is a considerable saving,
lacking but S1.l81 of paying bis
taxes for two years.
The State deals largely in specu-
lative ideas. It reasons that on
account of rapid gain in the wealth
of Richland the tax levy of that
county will be d mills. We are
Glad to know that Richland is gain
ing wealth 81 rapidly and our only
regret is at not being able to state
that it is double what it is, but We
must question the correctness OF our
esteem's reasoning. Richland county
was forced to borrow last year in
round numbers $4,000 Her taxa
bic property is valued at 9.779,5aO
according to the States own state
ment, 81 levy will give a revenue
of S31, 1,783,s72 for county purposes.
Only a few thousand more than is
necessary to pay back the $4,000
and the interest leaving the county
financially defunct. This year we
have every reason to believe that she
has had to borrow a much larger
sum than $4,000 and the outlook
for next year is that even larger
sum will have to be borrowed to
meet the expenditures of next year.
The tendency of wealth is toward
extravaganza rather than toward
economy and the signs of the times
all point to a higher levy and an
increased assessment rather than
lower levy with the same assessment.
Much has been said during the
progress of this controversy of the
wealth of Columbia. We do not
deny that Columbia has made marvel
Gus strides along the road to wealth
in the recent past and none rejoices
in this fact more than do We, but We
submit that the State in pointing
with just pride to the magnifcence
of Columbia has reached its limit.
Richland county covers large area
of country, it has for years enjoyed
railroad facilities, such perhaps as no
other county in the. State has en-
ioye5; all the inducements have been
favorable to the building up of
prosperous towns along her great
system Of highways, yet strange to
say, that outside of Columbia there
is not a thriving and growing town
within her borders. Kingsville and
Gadsden, which have been towns since
the completion Of the South Carolina
railroad have seen their best days
and now in their decrepit old age are
strugs ing for their very existence;
Eastover and Killians are in the
same condition. All their vitality
and energy have been sapped to
increase the wealth of Columbia,
until now they have been literally
sucked to death. Turn to Lexington
and what a pleasing picture she
presents in contrast. Look at the
thriving towns of Batesburg, Lees
vile, Brookland, Swansea, Irmo,
Chaplin, Peak Station and so on.
Lexington G. H., itself is keeping
up with the band wagon in the on
ward march Of progress. Their
prosperity has come to them while
they are yet part and parcel of
grand old Lexington county. Make
them part of Richland and the
same sad tale of desolation and de-
spsir which marks the downward
path of the Riehland towns will also
be theirs. The reason for this con-
dition is plain and logical. Should
the Fork go to Riehlapd, the retail
trade of the back country which nov
goes to support and build up Irmo,
Chspin and other Fork towns would