The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-08-07

taxes than the old counties. They
show that in 1907 the new counties
paid 1.125 mills more than the old
counties; and they show that for the
two years under consideration the
new counties paid an average of 1.25
mills, per year, more taxes than the
old counties.
Those new counties above referred
to have been running for some years
and have had an opportunity to get
in good shape and reduce their taxes
some. When they were first organ
lied their taxes were higher on an
average than they are now. Just as
Calhoun county would be, should it
be organized. Hence, we feel safe in
asserting on the faith of these figures
and in the light of common sense,
that taxes in Calhoun county would
necessarily be considerably higher
than they are in Lexington and Or
angeburg. But, says the Doctor. St.
Matthews will put up $2o,0oo.0o for
the building of the jail and court
house. She will, eh? How do the
taxpayers know? Has any bond been
executed to that effect? Suppose
there had been one, have you figured
what it will cost to build and equip a
creditable court house and Jail? It
will cost not less than $50,0O0.o0, will
it not Doctor? Then, who is going to
put up the other $50, 100000? Do you
say the people of Calhoun county?
Well, if you do, then you had better
tell them also that it will require 10
to Is mills tax levy on their property
for that purpose alone. Do you think
the taxpayers will appreciate that
state of affairs? If you do, go out
among them and tell them about it.
The information will prove interest
ing to them, no doubt.
Our good friend, the Doctor, says
in his last article that in 1905, (two
years ago. Lexington spent more for
her courts, contingent expenses, etc.,
than did Bamberg-considerably
more. Surely that statement was
made in desperation! It only shows
that Lexington county with smaller
tax levy than Bamberg, spent more
money on her institutions than did
Bamberg. Suppose Bamberg had
done as much. for her people along the
lines indicated as did Lexington, then
her taxes would have been even high
er; and on the contrary, if Lexington
had spent no more than Bamberg,
then her taxes could have been less.
Yes, that is what it shows-nothing
more.
No, Doctor, we have never con-
tended that Calhoun county would
not be good county; but what we
are contending for, is that we do not
wish to give up portion Of our good
citizenship to help form said county.
No, Doctor, we did not tell a relia-
BILE citizen at Lexington court. house
that we would always be found fight
ing the cutting Of Lexington county
SO long as our bread and meat de-
pended upon the newspaper bust
ness" We did not make that state
ment. But what we did say was
this: that as we see it, it will be to
the general welfare of Lexington
county to stay intact, and we cannot
afford to have one foot of her terri
tory cut. We reiterate that we made
no such statement as the Doctor at
tributes to US.
We have always conceded to these
citizens the right to act in this matter
as they think best; yet we have a right
also to speak the truth as we see it.
It is not now, nor has it ever been,
our purpose to be unjust in this mat
ter. We speak the truth as we see it,
and do 80 without fear of closing any
plums," for, 80 far as The Dispatch is
concerned, it will reach the homes of
nearly every citizen in Lexington's
territory, even though they should
decide to join with Calhoun. We re-
peat, that we would regret to see
them take such step, as they GER
tainly have no guarantee that condi-
tons will be better in Calhoun than
in Lexington, without going deep
down into their jeans.
More could be said, but it is useless.
These ':people are intelligent,'' andit
is supposed that they are capable of
knowing what they want, and GER
tainly we are generous enough to let
them decide for themselves.