The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-06
SUMMER. ROADS.
Supervisor Nickles Tells Why VIC
Can't Have BETTER Roads.

Mr.. President and Gentleman, County Good
Roads Association
l have no set speech to mnke on the
question of good roads, It Ia useless for me
to say, however, that am with you and Will
render NIL the assistance In my power MS the
County Supervisor Of this County to further
improve The public highways OF AbheviIIe
County. ] regret exceedingly that the
necessary means are not available to give 10
the people Suca roads az the necessity OF the
travelling public demands. We can, however,
put tie roads In the County In good condition
for summer travel only. but 1t is the winter
mon this when the people are dissatisfied and
lay In complaints every day AS to the i'm
pnssahle condition OF the public roads. and
freely admit these complaints are not made
without cause.
Now Gentlemen, IL Ia during the winter
months. as rule the farmers especially If the
roads are In passahle condition, prefer TO use
the roads for marketing surplus products of
the farm and returning with loads of ferti-
lizers apd other farm supplies, but quite fire.
quenly the roads are IN such condition during
winter and early spring that the farmers are
forced 10 postpone this kind OF WORK until
late in the Spring until the roads become dry
and hard. He Is therefore compelled by force
OF circumstances to do this hauling when per-
haps the ground Is in good condition for his
plows to run.
1t is useless. however, for me TO take up your
time with such statements as this when
every man present understau ds this perhaps
better than l can tell 1t, but az the County
Supervisor and member Of County Board Of
Commissioners, / desire to make few re-
marks on the financial condition of the Coun-
ty In order to give you an idea as TO the
amount OF funds available the current year
for public road Improvement. 1t seems that
the expenditures OF the County government
have exceeded the appropriations during the
past years by about S8S,OOO.OO. In 1896
S25, 10000 was borrowed from the Sinking
Fund Commission. 1t was thought at that
time that sl3,OOO.0O would pay up all de-
ticiences which would leave S2000.00 in the
hands of the County, Treasurer, which was
thought would about equal the levy for Or
dinary County purposes that year. but when
the past debts Of the county we're all paid II
was found that little more than S6000.00 was
left, and when 1 assumed charge this bal.
ance seems to have been entirely absorbed
by deficiencies previous to my adminlstra-
tion. During the past two years further de
flciency was made amounting to something
over Sl3.0O0.O0 making a total OF S3S 100000 for
the past years.
Now Gentlemen, the appropriation for the
present year is the same tnat 1t has been for
past several years, 2 1-2 mills for ordinary
County purposes and IL mill special for
roads and bridges. So you can readily see 1t
Ia simply out OF the question for the County
pie of the Inconvenience Of having bad roads
during the winter and spring, as we have not
the funds for the purpose OF maxi Ing per-
manent improvements. We can give you
can promise you. AS have said awhile ago,
the County Commissioners have resolved TO
run the County this year on the appropria-
ton If possible so to do, as believe that 1t Is
wrong even II 1t was not a flagrant violation
of the laws of the State to spend so much
more money than is appropriated 1t is rum
ming the County in debt every year thus
forcing the County TO borrow money to pay
past Indebtedness. when the County levy for
Abteville County for County purposes is
among the lowest of any County In the State.
will also state that the books in my Office
will show that the current expenses of the
County not including roads and bridges
amounted TO last year about the entire
County levy less about sl,O0O00. These ex-
pendtures include salaries, Court expenses
Poor House and other items which the law
| prescribes shall be paid, and over which the
County Board OF Commissioners have no
control.