The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-13
COUNTY BOARD Meeting.
RESOLUTION TO PAY OFF RONDS
RESCINDED.
surplus Funds Will Be Kept for Road
improvement or Other Ordinary
county Expenses il the Emergency
Arises.

Board Of Commissioners was held ves-
terday with Commissioners Brogdon.
Ihomas, Young and Minis and Super-
visor Pitts.
The first matter to be taken up was
the agreement between the city and
county in reference to the exchange
OF labor by the county chaingang for
city prisoners. The agreement that
mas been in effect for the past two
years by which the county takes ALL
city prisoners. feeds clothes and
guards them and gives the city in re-
turn, in labor, one-sixth the actual
time city prisoners serve on the gang.
City Clerk Hurst was present as the
representative Of the city and an ad-
justment OF the labor now due the citv
Dy the county was made. 1t was de-
cided that the county is due the city.
up to January 1st, 80 days work by
the full chaingang.
Messrs. r. 1. Manning and Neill
O'Donnell appeared before the board
and urged that the decision of the
board to use a part of the surplus now
in the treasury for the payment of
$4,000 OF the $4,000 Court House
bonds be reconsidered and that the
surplus funds be devoted to road i'm
provement. These gentlemen made
strong arguments in favor Of a pro-
gressive policy in respect Of road i'm
provement and laid great stress upon
the necessity Of road Improvement be-
ing undertaken at once. They point
ed out that it is impossible for the
chaingang to do the work that is
needed and that unless the work is
supplemented the roads will deterior-
ate instead of being improved. They
also stated to the board that IL IT was
not found expedient to use the money
on road work Immediately, the avail
able surplus could be deposited in
bank and draw interest at per cent
until it is needed. both asserting that
the local banks would be glad to
make that arrangement
Messrs. J. H. Clifton, T. B. Fraser
and c. E. Stubbs of the Legislative
delegation, who were present also
discussed the proposition. Mr.. Clifton
advised that the bonds be not paid
out of the surplus, but opposed a def
nit appropriation OF the surplus to
road work. In his opinion it would
be wiser to hold the surplus for emer-
gencies. He referred to the proba-
bilfty of the abolition of the dispen-
sary by the enactment of State
wide prohibition law, in which event
the income Of the county would be
materially reduced. Then all the sur
plus would be needed for ordinary ex-
penses and higher tax levy in addi-
ton would be imperative.
Mr.. Fraser took somewhat the
same view as Mr.. Clifton, but did not
go so far as to urge the board to hold
the surplus intact for prospective
emergencies. He said the delegation
had confidence in the board and
would be guided by the decision
the board reached after mature de-
liberation.
~ cfrxI% he n
whatever action the board might see
fit to take.
motion was made and adopted to
reconsider the resolution adopted on
Tuesday to pay $4,000 of the 15-Y
year Court House bonds, and it was
decided to keep the surplus in the
treasury for ordinary county purposes
where it will be available for road
Improvement and other purposes
when needed.
The bond Of Sheriff w. H. Epperson
in the sum of $4,000, with Mrs. M.
A. Epperson, J. H. Sykes and A. c.
Durant as sureties, was received, ap-
proved and placed on record. Mrs.
Epperson justified for $4,000 and A.
G. Durant for $4,000.
Supervisor Pitts and Clerk ]. r.
Sumter were appointed a special COM
mittee to confer with the City Council
and adjust the debt due the county
for cement sidewalks constructed on
Main and Canal streets by the
county.
The Supervisor and Clerk Of Court
were authorized to employ Mr.. w. d.
Woods to supervise the improvements
Of the Court House grounds, Mr..
Woods compensation to be that pro-
posed by him, to wit: the lockwood
hedges and other shrubbery to he re-