The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-20
BONDS NOT NECESSARY.

There Will be presented 10 5ae
voters of the State at the next
general election the question OF
allowing the State to issue:Isl,
10000 in bonds for the building
OF a new hospital fol: the insane.
We regard this as one Of the most
important questions that has
been submitted to the voters IN
many years. and it is a question
which should not be considered
from a political view point, but
solely from a business stand
point. When the measure tc sub.
nit this question to the people
was pending, the writer contend,
ed that it would be q waste Of
time to present the question, be-
cause the people are not in the
humor to assume any more obli-
cations; they are groaning now
under what they regard heavy
taxation, and in our opinion there
can be no way devised for the IS
suing of bonds which will not
raise the tax levy. We said then,
that it was our opinion, the bond
issue will be rejected by large
majority, and we shall continue
to believe this until the contrary
is shown.
All know that the congested
condition at the hospital needs
relief. but lot of US do not agree
that the necessity IS SO great, but
that it can be overcome gradual
ly. The State owns 800 acres Of
land in and near the city Of Co.
lupaoia, this property is elhanc-
ing in value daily, the State has
boght 20o0 acres outside of the
city limits where the land is not
so valuable, those who do not
think it necessary to build all at
once, take the position that in
stead of selling the present
city property at this time,
tn e State retain the same,
and every few years put
up a building on the property
outside, in this way the conges-
ton can be relieved as conditions
demand. and the State will get the
advantage Of the enhancement IN
the valuation of the city proper
ty; then when the property out
side of the city has been built
with a sufficient number Of build
ing for the accommodation of the
entire asylum population, the
city property can be sold at a
price much greater than now. Il
however, the city property is
sold now the State will be a loser
thereby, and the tax levy Will
have to be raised to meet the in
terest on the bonds, whereas, If
there is a gradual building Of the
pew property there will be no
need for haste for the sale of the
splendid residential sitenow own.
ed by the State, and the levy will
not be raised.
AS heretofore said this is not a
political question, but one which
must appeal to the sober judg.
ment Of the taxpayers. We ex-
pect those who favor the selling
Of the city property to go before
the people and paint fearful pic
lures Of the asylum conditions,
but for the past several years
this asylum property has been
longed for by those who know q
good investment when they see
it, and these are anxious to get
their clutches upon this magnit-
cent residential property, in fact,
we have heard there has been a
survey made, streets laid out on
plats, and every other prelimi-
nary step taken to take advan-
tage of the opportunity for q syn
dicate to buy. There is no OBJ
lection to these spectators buy
ing the property at the proper
time, but in the opinion Of many
this is not the time, nor is it nee
essary for the taxpayers of the
State to issue bonds when they
can accomplish all that is needed
by going slow, and by going slow
it IS thought will prove of profit.