Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-02-24
THE TAX LEVY.


sontatives Doyle and Brown respectively
on the tax levy for this year anent our
remarks last week on this important
subject. 1t is true at that writing we
did not reckon with the IL mills in the
acts mentioned. In fact we presumed
these acts had been either repealed or
the levy provided by them would be
covered into the county treasury for next
year, after payment of debts for
which it was pledged. There was
no reference to these special levics
in the newspaper reports of the
supply bill, and we naturally took
1t for granted that tho mills was all
that was provided for ordinary county
expenses this year. In this respect we
are pleased 10 find we were mistaken.
But we are glad that we wrote when
and how we did, if for no other reason
that we thereby drew their fire ana fur
nished them an opportunity to write in
teresting letters, giving the Information
desired by the taxpayers on these nat
ters. We esteem it a unique privilege
that we can lay before our readers letters
they have to write on the ever recurring
theme of taxation.
Still we think it will be hard for the
County Commissioners to make "buckle
and tongue meet" on the small appropri-
alton made for this year. AS we said
last week it will require at II cOnscrva-
tive estimate $4,000 to work the roads
ronoir ~ hriIrnS This war avon
should we be so fortunate as to escape
loss from fire and flood. To the levy of
d. mills, given by tho Legislature last
year, the County Commissioners bad to
add special levy Of mill for special
roads, and then they came out behind
on this score.
Now, as the year begins with tho pur-
chase of Ravenel's bridge and the re-
building of Prather's bridge, it seems
the Commissioners will bc compelled to
levy the full 1 mill for special roads
in pursuance to authority given them b.
the statute for that purpose. This will
make 81 mills for all county purposes, if
the $4,000 of bonds can he tloated SO as
to retire all the past Indebtedness at an
early day. Unless this can be done
soon, however, a portion Of the II mills
will be exhausted in the payment of the
interest accrung daily on the debts, and
on large sum it grows fast. 1t will
take time to have the bonds engraved
and placed before the money will be
available for the payment Of debts.
There is always more or less delay in
consummating such n large deal to the
best advantage.
In all these matters, our readers have
an interest, and there is nothing like the
virtne of publicity. We believe ouI
Senator and Representatives. have labored
faithfully TO do the very best they could
to promote the public welfare, and their
labors have been crowned with a large
measure of success. We are sure
Oconee has been fortunate, during the
entire term of the eprcsentincumhents, in
having three capable, fearless and faith
full men as their members of the General
Assembly. They compare most favora-
bly, with the delegations from the
largest and richest counties in the State.
We know whereof we speak, and we
avail ourselves of this opportunity OF
saying so, since some might be laboring
under the erroneous impression, from
our remarks last week, that we enter
tanned a different estimate of their SER
vices. They merit the "wcll done OF
their constituents, and have set high
standard for those who may come after
them.
in a fn a
County Commissioners. They solicit the
earnest help and cooperation Of all our
citizens in the discharge of their arduOus
duties. Lend them helping hand, and
don't try to drive too big bargain with
the county. Throw a little patriotism
and love of country into your work for
the public, and thus help to pull. the
county finances out of hole. Rcmcm-
ber the Commissioners can do little
without your help; but with it, much can
be accomplished.
Well, suppose the bonds can be sold
soon, what will be left to run the county? ?
1t will stand as follows:
8 mills in supply bill $l0,033 80
II mills in former acts (esti-
Communication road tax (csti-
mated) ....... ........ 2,z70 co
Iotal... ......'... .9lo, 100 40
1t matters not what kind of an extra
effort the County Commissioners may
make, the roads cannot be worked as
they should out of this amount, after
paying the fixed charges against the
county. Hence, the only recourse the
Com missioners have will be the levy of
one mill for special roads. This will
raise $3,344.5O, which added to the above
will give $2l ,500.00. This sum is ap-
proximately the expenses last year, cx-
elusive of the $4,000 flood debt. We
may count ourselves fortunate indeed if
Trather's and Raveners bridges can be
paid for, the roads worked and the
county run on this sum. The Commits
sioners will make an extra effort to this
end, and they solicit extra help from the
people.
IT is just possible that if President
Roosevelt could attend the Republican
convention in Columbia to-day he would
go back to Washington Democrat.
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