The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-02

Shows How the Matter of Tax Pay
Ing for Good Roads Looks to
Him.


Your article In yesterdays Item
headed Figures Don't Lie" shows
that the citizens Of Sumter pay. on
city property alone. nearly one-third
of the total taxes of Sumter county.
and you say that at least ons-third
OF the country property Is owned by
city people upon which they pay tax
es. This makes at least two-thirds
OF the total taxes or the county OF
Sumter paid by citizens OF Sumter
according TO official records. and
your opinion. both OF which, i'm my
opinion are reliable upon any ques-
ton of a public nature. or any other
matter.
Il have made the statement re-.
peatedly that Sumter citizens paid
more than half OF the taxes OF sum-
ter county. and am glad that you
have shown that this statement Is
not so erroneous as some OF the
bond issue advocates maintain. The
editor OF the Sumter Herald In an
editorial In his paper Of yesterday
said I'm reference to the proposed
bond In part. as follows: "The pro-
perty to be improved Is all outside
Of the city. but more than half the
cost will be borne by those living
within the corporate limits OF the
city Of Sumter. The city can only
be benefited In that the country peo-
p'o are made more prosperous. IL
u is a question OF town against
country. II Is the town that is being
oppressed"
Now. Mr.. dit EE- -. 23456 $50
Now. Mr.. Editor. as you are al
ways able and willing to give ad-
vice and information and to show
your readers any thing of interest In
connection with public affairs, I ask
you TO tell me what the city OF Sum-
ter h going to do about the sass. 900
bond indebtedness OF the city cf sum-
ter for which there Is no sinking
fund being created as the city clerk
and treasurer has informed me twice
within the past week. viii not II re-
Quire several mills extra taxes i'm
mediately upon city property to
create this sinking fund? Can the
city Of Sumter continue to ignore the
Constitution OF South Carolina which
requires that sinking funds be Great
cd for each and every bond issue?
Second. Where VIII the city coun-
cii 81 the future nnd money 20 pave
or clay many miles of unlmprovcd.
undrained aud unushtel streets IN
this c.t. witf hun1red7 of .sidcu
ces thereon without sewerage. water
pipes. hre protection. or electric
lights. and provide other necessities
II We continue TO tax ourselves for
the country districts and receive not
q cent In return for municipal pur-
poses. and have to begin very soon to
levy several mills extra taxes on city
property for taking care OF our
S25s.o80 city bonded Indebtedness.
IL is true that the ely depends up
In the prosperity OF the country 10
n large extent. But II millions OF
city people throughout the world
didn't eat or wear clothes. the farm
er wouldn't stand much OF a show
TO market his cotton and his other
field products. City people are Of
some Importance to the farmer al
so.
One II dependent upon the other
as a whole. Don't you think that the
taxpayers Of Sumter are entitled TO
some consideration who don't own
any country property. and don't you
know that the leaders In the Cham
ber Of Commerce for this bond
issue are every one OF them not only
owners OF country lands. but are
arming these lands and that II IS
individual and not altogether un-
selfish public spiritedress. and cvic
pride which actuatc these Chamber
Of Commerce leaders To spend Sc
much OF their time and burn 90
much gasoline running around the
country begging the poor farmer to
build better roads and let the tax
payers Of the city OF Sumter pay
half of the cost OF the aforesaid road
ways?
i simply wanted 20 get myself
straight with y number Of people
whom told that tho taxpayers Of
Sumter viii pay tho Greatest burden
OF tho Increased county taxes N the
bond issue ~ voted for next Tuesday.
I have not tried To- dictate To any
one how L" vote. and do not need
Mr. Mcknnnh or nnN ono rIsn IN