The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-20
AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
"A tentative Plan That the Tax PAYERS
OF Sumter Cannot Endorse.


ilre department headquarters, city Of
iices and prison, it was brought out
that there is disposition on the part
OF some members of council to erect
somewhat expensive structure. The
plan seems to be to put up a large
three story building which shall con-
tam quarters for two hose wagons.
steamer, hook anu ladder truck.
chiefs buggy, aad stables FOR horses
for all these vehicles apartments for
the fremen; recorders court room
offices for city officials, council cham
Der, and police headquarters and city
prison, Such a building would neces-
state large outlay. estimates rang
ing from $4,000 to $4,000.
1t would doubtless be q fine thing
for the city to have building of this
sort, but the question is not one of
desirability but of necessity. There
ale two grounds OF objection to tn :,
expenditure proposed: The city does
not need such building; and at pres
ent cannot afford to spend even 500
600, to say nothing Of double that
amount for something that is no. an
absolute necessity. The city still owes
large sum to the banks for money
borrowed to complete the sewerage
system and until this interest bearing
hoating debt is paid the city is in M
position to incur additional obliga-
tions. Besides, the need for better
streets and sidewalks is more urgent
than any other public Improvement.
If the city had the money to spend
100000 could be used to advantage
In building a system of good strecrs.
Taxes are too high now and there Is
too great need of money for legiti-
mate improvements for a single dol
lor to be spent for fuss and feathers.
Everybody realizes that it is neces-
sary to provide at once for adequate
quarters for the fire department and
no reasonable tax payer will raise his
voice in objection to this necessary ex-
penditure, but this will not require
anything approaching $4,000, the
minimum estimate Of the approximate
cost of the proposed administration"
building. A fire department building
Is a reasonable proposition, for it is
a necessity. but the administration
building is a horse of another color,
for which the taxpayers will not stand.
The city now has a city hall and
opera house, that cost about $4,000
and 1t stands on lot worth not less
than SIS, 5,000-representing an invext-
mont of $4,000. at the lowest esti-
mate. The income from this invest
nent is about $1,620 4 scar, and the
city has the use of the council cham
Der, the clerk and treasurer's office,
police Office and guard house
If the plan is carried out to erect
an administration building the city
hall will cease to be A public build
ing and as the income will not be ap-
preciably increased by the abandon
ment of the Offices now used by the
city, the property will be remarkably
poor investment for the city-even
worse than it is now.
If the city officials are in dire need
Of more and larger Offices it would be
cheaper TO convert the store now oc-
cupied by the firm Of Ducker & Built
man into offices. This would reduce
the income from the building by $420
year, but this would be less than the
annual interest charge on the money
that would be invested in the proposed
new building.
In addition to all the above reasons
for objecting to the administration
building proposition, there is the fur
ther consideration that the city is
facing the probable reduction of it's
annual income by $4,000 to $4,000
by the enactment Of a Statewide pro-
hibition law aud the abolition of the
income producing dispensary. The alb
clifton of the dispensary means re-
trenchment in all departments Of the
city government and higher taxes.
With this probability anead OF us. how
can the city council seriously consider
the expenditure OF even $4,000 of
borrowed money on building that is
not @ necessity?
There is no immediate cause for
excitement among the taXpayers, how
ever. for the city has rot the money
at hand to pay for the proposed build
ing and to undertake to borrow the