The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-27

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Now. Mr. Editor. 90 over this table
Of expenditure carefully and tell us
where You eXepct to cut down eXpens-
eS to save something for the roads.
Shall it be salaries? The last session
Of the legislature raised salaries and
this item will be greater this year
than it was last. Do YOU expect to
feed the prisoners less? Do you ex-
pect to cut off your county home?
No, you don't expect to do any Of
these things. Then subtract your
$4,000 from your grand total Of
$4,000, and let US proceed to ana
lyze a few more items in your little
sum.
You say, 1.-The value Of the chain
gang for a year is estimated at $4,000
and that is not too h;gh.' have been
at some pains to find out just what the
size of this chain gang has been for
several years past. I find that during
the years 1904-'05 it ranged from
three to ten men, that during the year
of l906-'07 it ranged from II to Is
men, that during the years 1908 '09
it ranged from Is to 25 men. During
these six years it has averaged about
IA. Let us say II, for 800 working
days at so cents day, makes about
$3,O00 Just at this time the chain
gang is unusually large, but what as
surance is there that it will continue
to be large. Moreover, if you count
labor at so cents a day you ought to
charge off at least $1,000 for guard
hire, which you would not have in
case Of free labor.
I have not had the time to ascer-
tain definitely the number Of men
in the county liable to road duty.
But if there are 5000, as you stated,
it would show remarkable condition
of things. I think if You will lnves-
tgate you will find the number very
much smaller than you claim.
But why discuss chain gang and
road hands? These we have had with
US for years. We know that they are
not worth anything like the money
you claim for road purposes. Why
put our little opinions against actual
experience running through many
years? Almost every legislature tlnk-
ers with this subject and we get on
the road the same old results, or
rather lack Of results. The best SER
vice that this system performs is to
help one set Of men out of office and
another into office.
Of course, the one-mill tax for roads
Will bring $4,000. There is no doubt
about that but is the only thing IN
your article about which there is no
doubt. This one-mill tax is to be
levied this year for the first time, III
the event the bond issue is defeated,
and it is to be distributed among the
several townships. Of course it will
accomplish nothing of a permanent
character. All we contend for is that
in view of all the facts (not opinions)
it would be much wiser and more.
economical for the county to borrow
the money to build roads and pay
two-mill tax. If this were done the
bond commission could take the ex-
penses Of the chain gang off the coun-
tvs hands by working the chain gang
in the construction of roads and pay
ing for their keep out of the bond
money. This of itself would save at
least one-half mill on the tax levy
and would help the county to get out
of debt for running expenses. The
bill authorizing the bond issue allows
this very thing to be done.
But wny present facts as they sur
round US and produce the experience
of counties that have issued bonds
when people prefer mere assertions
and opinions of men who have not and
will not investigate the subject?
BY the way, Mr.. keitt in his ar
ticle on this subject by overlooking
the sinking fund provision Of the bond
bill made little mistake of over
100000. But what does that mat
ter9 He is opposed to bonds be-
cause the Standard Oil company has
it's eye on Newberry county with a
firm resolve to depress the price Of
cotton.
Of course do not expect the bonds
to carry in this election, but for
o,,oo vii 1o.1.a fao+. onS indn1on in