The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-06-11
Citizen OF PROPOSED NEW COUNTY
VOICES STRONG OPPOSITION TO IT
COL T. j. Moore, of Moore's Writes Strong Letter to
Spartanburg Herald Pointing Out FooI-fieartedness
of Now County Movement
Editor Of The spar,anburg Herald:

5>N4iOE Ci ne SIBATtannuTg Herald:
Having been cut of in the pro-
posed county Of Woodruff. have
been led to investigate the running
expenses OF counties. and the practi-
cal effects upon the new county. In
my Judgment. it is the most unbusi-
ness like proposition that could have
been proposed. II proposes TO Law
but very poor county. poorer than
Spartanburg county was when it came
out Of the Confederate war, county
in which TIE taxation will be enor-
nous, If the same efficiency now pre-
Yailing is TO be maintained; a county
that VIII start poor, and continue 80
during the life time Of those of US
now living, and probably our children
aiter us. II proposes to quit the
second wealthiest county in the state;
TO cut loose from the city of Spartan
burg, which now pays nearly half
the taxes of the county. and is rap
idly growing, and destined to be a
large and wealthy city; 10 take on
hand the larger part of the costly
bridges OF the county, in fact, nearly
all OF them; to build courthouse
Jail, and other public buildings; to as
sume It's share of the public debt
$311,O00; TO keep up large and ex-
Densive road system, with many roads
TO be laid out TO the new courthouse.
/ IN uh
surdity OF the proposition Surely the
promoters OF the scheme have never
investigated the matter fully, and
do not know what they are propos-
ing to saddle themselves and the bal
ancc OF US with.
Now, to understand fully the ques-
ton, as 1t Is going to take a very
large sum to run the county, let me
show you what Spartanburg county
Is now doing-her assessed value and
rate Of taxation, and compare it. with
the proposed new country OF course,
the amount OF money that can be
ton and the rate of taxation, and
to raise q given amount the larger
the assessed valuation the less the
rate Of taxation, and vice versa.
The county of Spartanburg is now
assessed at $l9,CO0,OOO and the rate
taxation for state and county pur-
poses is 1924 mills, which a little
figuring Will show raises fund of
4 L.,
are for state purposes and mills
for county purposes. Now the as
scssmcnt OF Z mills for county pur-
poses is divided as follows, viz:
Ordinary county, 3 l-2 mills
Bridges and permanent improve
mcntS, 2 mills.
Road tax, | mill.
Sinking fund, mill.
COmmutation or road taxes in adj
dition.
This { mills assessment then raises
$l32'oO0 for county purposes, of
which sum 500 per mile is used on
300 miles OF roads and brides,
equivalent TO $4,000 each year.
Now let us see how it would stand
with the new county If the same rate
of taxation should prevail. The tax
able value of the new county would
be in the ncighborhood OF $4,000, 900,
which get as follows, viz: Woodruff
township, assessed value at present,
as obtained from the county auditor,
is $l,200,i ,i5G; Cross Anchor township.
$5O0,OO0; the balance Of the county.
$l.3OO,000. Total $3,000O00.
Now supposing that the same ra
OF taxation Will prevail. the mills
for county purposes. to say nothing
OF state taxes, will raise S2I 900. Now,
does T. look reasonable that q county
can be run on $2i,GpD? IL VIII re-
Cuire n.aiY that sin to keep up
the roads and bridges, for If Spar
tanburg county has 1900 miles with
an area Of S7S square miles, II IS
reasonable to suppose that the new
county of 100 square miles viii have
about one-half US much, or say, abou:
$50 miles. If $40 mile should be
expended as is now done in Spartan.
burg county 1t would take $4,000 to
keep up the roads and bridges ns
well as is now done. leaving just So
900 on which to run the county. What
then about court expenses, pay of
public officers. the building of public