Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-01-24
WALHALLA, 3. Co.:
WEDNESDAY. JAN. "a. 1000.
GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS /!

During the year 1906 tho Board oe
County Commissioners exerted their best
energies in the discharge of the various
duties imposed upon them. No three
III. On ever gave more constant and earnest
thought and diiigent attention in the
effort to achieve the very best possible
results with the means at their command.
AS will be seeu from the audited ac-
counts, the greater part of the expendi-
dures was for roads aud bridges, the total
being $H,7l2l9. To keep all the roads
in the county in fairly passable condi-
tion and replace the sixty-fiv bridges
chat were washed away in the July flood
has been a difficult task. The Hudson
bridge, over Chauga, at IA cost of $l,045
when completed, is the only bridge &C
count remaining to be audited 1t will
have to be paid out of the fuGs appro-
priated for the present fiscal year.
1t is probable that the bridge over
Seneca river, at the Maxwell place, will
be rebuilt this year. The estimated cost
is about $4,000. Tho bridge at the Burnt
lanyard, over Little river, ought also to
oe rebuilt. In the freshet few weeks
ago the jenkins bridge, over Chauga,
and the Morgan and Emerson bridges,
over Little river, were again washed
away. The contract for the rebuilding
of these three bridges will be let this
week. 1t is unfortunate that so many
bridges have been washed away in the
hast two or three years, but no human
agency can control the elements, and
when the floods come aud rains descend
all that any human agency can do is to
try to replace the loss in the earliest
practicable manner. With this begin
ming for the present year, should we be
so fortunate as to escape further loss of
bridges, it will necessarily require a
larger sum to work the roads and rebuild
and repair bridges than was expended
last year. There is no escape from this
dilemma. 1t is a condition that con-
fronts us and it must be met. The trav-
cling public demand good roads and
bridges and they have right to expect
1T. At the same time no reasonable man
expects these desirable results without
adequate means.
1t has been truly said that nothing is
easier than criticism and the carping
critic without rhyme or reason is lust
about the most destestible character on
earth. He always knows better how to
do things than the other fellow, whose
hand is at the helm, and in the fullness
of his conceit he is capable of advising
Others what to do. To the credit of the
people of Oconee, however, be it said
there is very little of this spirit of criti.
cism manifest. The most of our people
are reasonable and capable of judging
the reasonableness of the work of their
public servants. Is there a single man
IN the county who can suggest where
any better results could be obtained on
the roads and bridges last year than has
been by Messrs. Hobson, Phillips and
Zachary with the means at their COM
rRand?
AS will be seen from resolutions of
TIE board, published elsewhere in this
issue, it has been found that the estimate
of past indebtedness for the last year
was too high. 1t is gratifying to learn
chat when all the taxes are collected
SeoiO VIII oO NCiS I1piC, III any, DdldnCc
Eeft on this score. Hence, the levy of
7t@o mile for past Indebtedness will be
unnecessary.
III order, however, to pay the fixed
charges against the county, rebuild the
72ridgcs above mentioned and work the
rOads rs they should be, it is estimated
shat total levy of eight mills will be re-
cIuired, unless there is very great in
'Sccase in the assessment of property for
EaEation this year. There will be some
&Hcrease, of course, but it is impossible
wow to say how much Therefore, the
01nly safe course at present is to make
Tthis levy, aud, if at the end of the year
Lny balance romans, it can readily be
carried forward to next year, and then
&he levy could be reduced
The Supervisor aud County Commits.
stoners solicit the continued cooperation
and assistance of our citizens and tax
payers in the work devolyed upon them.
They feel grateful for the help and CO.
operation received in the past, and in
tsnS 20 do the very best that in them is
for the present year.