The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1910-06-15

Better Be Cautious.
Just at this particular time when the
citizens Of Brookland are about to vote
on the question of annexation to Rich
land county, we would urge our people
to be a little cautious. There is no
doubt but that great pictures are being
drawn before the eyes Of the people
OF this section. And it is admitted
that the proposition on the spur OF the
moment looks good to the people OF
Brookland, but after it is sifted out
and carefully considered it has all to-
gether different aspect. First Of all,
it must be borne in mind that once the
people of Brookland become annexed
to Richland, the next step will be to
become q part of the city Of Columbia
This is apparent to everyone who has
studied the question in sane and
reasonable way. Columbia is grow
ing rapidly. This much cannot be
questioned, and it is the ambition of
those in charge of the city's affairs to
spread out and get as much new ter
ritory as possible. This being the case,
it can be seen at a glance that Brook
land would soon be drawn into the
city limits. With bonded indebted
ness now of nearly million dollars,
the city will, on the first of July, put
on an additional bonded Indebtedness
to the amount of ss50,00
From a recent issue of The Columbia
Record, we find statement of the
new mayor, Mr.. Gibbs, which says:
"Wheu these bonds have been issued
the total indebtedness of the city will
be 81, 1,325,547, the excess of this indeb-
tedness over the present issue having
been incurred in giving to the city a
complete and up-to-date water supply
system" Over one million dollars,
mind you!
Would it not be reasonable to sup
pose, then, that the city would natur-
ally want as much help as possible to
pay off this indebtedness? In the
same report we find the following:
'iThe city has an area of four square
miles, the township an area of Sc
square miles. ~ r. i The city's
population now is probably $4,000"
There can be no question but that
the city would like TO increase the
number of square miles, and Brook
land certainly looks inviting to those
across the river. 1t is in the suburb
class.
Continuing, the report says: "While
the suburbs of Columbia, now largely
built up and rapidly increasing in pop
ulation, are not included in the num-
bers of taxable values of the city
property, they are part and parcel of
the city's business and soon all of Co.
lumbia Township will probably be in
cluded in the city ITSELF"
Now these are the statements of the
Mayor of the City of Columbia, and a
blind man can read between the lines.
With Brookland's close proximity to
Columbia, it is most reasonable to
suppose that it would be embraced in
the territory now proposed to become
part and parcel of the city proper.
It matters not what the present. taxes
ar in Brookland, should she become
a part of Columbia an additional levy
of 10 mills would be added for the city
tax alone. We quote from the mayors
statement again:
estate, County and City 31.25 mills
on assessed values-the latter figures
covering all taxes for all purposes"
This does not include the back in
debtedness ef the county of Richland,
which has never been paid, and which
will continue to be barrier to the
taxpayers of that county. Does this
look inviting to a sane person seeking
better advantages and more of them?
We think not. Brookland is now liv-
ing and growing under the beautiful
roses of freedom, but when she be-
comes a part of Richland county, and
subsequently, part of the city of Co.
lumbia, this freedom will cease, and
the taxpayers will be forced to pay a
heavier tax than they have ever paid
before, with no assurance OF getting
free bridge any earlier than by stay
ing in her present state of what should
be happy contentment.