Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-05-09
VOTED IT DOWN.
After q Full and Free Discussion
Of tho Matter

Cltizens or Sandy Run Township,
Lexington County. View New
County Project With Dfsfavor.
| In response to O call that had been
Issued few weeks ago by prominent
citizens OF Sandy Run Township. Lex
ington County. q large number of
voters assembled at Spreading Branch
school house, in that township. The
purpose OF this meeting was to dis
cuss and decide upon the advisability
OF joining the people Of st. Matthews
In their efforts to form a new county
out Of portion OF Orangeburg Coun-
ty and that section Of Lexington.
| The meeting was called to order by
Dr. Brooker. of Swansea. who stated
the object OF the meeting. Mr.. Ma
than b. Wannamaker, an influential
citizen OF thot community. was unan-
imously elected chairman and a secre
| tary was also chosen. In order that
the matter be brought before the
BODY. the following resolution was
| offered for adoption:
Resolved. That we, the voters of
Sandy Run Township. in mass meet
Ing assembled. do regard with un-
qualified disfavor any movement
| from whatever source-whatever
and subserved-that contemplates
the dfsmemberment OF our county
but cutting therefrom any township
or section or any part thereof. or
that in any way imperils the integrity
| OF the same"
AS there we're present q number
i n nr frD
| came there as promoters OF the new
county. the motion which had been
made to adopt this resolution, was
| temporarily withdrawn. and motion
was made and carried that these gen.
tlemen and gentleman who was
present from the city Of Orangeburg
| be allowed the privileges of the floor
| that they might participate In the
discussion. Mr.. j. Scottowe Wanna
maker, Mr.. Wimberly and several
| other gentlemen and Mr.. j. H. Fun
derburg. from Orangeburg. were in
vited to take part In this discussion.
Mr.. Wannamaker then made a
speech or about two hours against
the adoption Of this resolution. He
put forth the argument Of the new
county advocates and endeavored to
| show the peole of Lexington that It
would withdraw from Lexington coun
ty and become a part OF the new
county, which would have st. Mat
thew's as It's county seat. He devot-
ed most of his time in making charg-
es OF extravaganza and mismanage-
ment against the officials of Orange
burg County. He said the Court
House officials were receiving ex-
trayagant salaries for their services
and that the county expenses were
| annually on the increase.
He also claimed that the county
commissioners were entirely too ex-
travagent in their management Of the
peoples money: that too much was
spent for bridges and roads. and that
this fund was not equitably distribu-
| ted. He also said that the lands and
property OF this county were assessed
at too high values and consequently
made the taxes burdensome upon the
the newspapers and politicians of old
Orangeburg County were opposing
| the new county scheme. and charged
! them with having selfish motives for
so doing.
He spoke for nearly two hours,
but seldom referred to Lexington
County or it's officials. Orangeburg
affairs seemed to have been on his
mind. and this did not aid him much
in solving the problem for the solu-
ton Of which these Lexington people
had assembled.
After Mr.. Wannamaker completed
his speech Mr.. Funderburg addressed
the meeting In support OF the reso-
luton and endeavored in a brief
manner to present the contrary facts.
He defended the action Of the Or
argeburg officials and while he ad-
mitted that great deal Of money
was being spent by the county COM
missioners he had no facts to show
that the people did not get the bene-
fit OF every dollar OF this money.
Even IL this extravaganza were ad-
mitted. II would have no bearing on
the resolution before this body, as
that was purely Lexington matter
These people were not concerned In
Orangeburg county affairs.
Mr.. Funderburg replied to all the
pertinent points of Mr.. Wannamak-
er's argument. suggested to the peo-
pie to let this experiment alone and
remain with Lexington. as to make
the change would be a leap In the
dark. Lexington Is not heavily tax
ed county and they would certainly
have their taxes increased II they
went into a new county, which was
shown by the average rate OF taxa
ton in the six new counties for five
years as compared with the rate they
are now paying. He claimed that
amputation OF a portion Of Orange
burg County would not be the proper
remedy for expensive administration
and IL they thought the officials were
too extravagent they should cleo
others.