The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-27
MR.. AS TAXES INCREASED 5 CENTS.

| II may be. that there are persons in the county
who Will oppose the proposed bond issue for lack
OF information. We desire to give a few facts as
to this matter which will furnish food for thought
at least. That this county il financially able to
have good roads is evident from study Of the tax
! able property shown by the books OF the county
auditor Anderson County has property valued at
S135O6,705 OF this amount $5.73S,O9O is real es-
tate and $7.76S6l5 is personal property The total
amount OF taxes assessed against this property for
1914 was $267, ,37916
There are some other interesting facts about the
assessed valuation OF property in this county The
total taxable value OF the cotton mills and the
ton oil mills in the county is 1851 1926, and they
pay taxes to the amount OF s7OS95.53. In and near
the city OF Anderson the cotton mills are assessed
at s1.407315, and pay taxes to the amount of $780,
257.2s.
There was to be expended on the roads of the
county last year SCI O4336. divided into the follow
ing: Public roads s38,327: roads and bridges $22,-
1866.
The proposed bond issue of $750000 bears in
terest at 5 per cent. The amount of this interest
will be S37,500. There is to be provided sinking
fund of 1880 per year. To raise this interest and
the sinking fund will require a mills levy addi-
tonai II all OF this ~ to be raised by special levy.
II would seem, however. that It would be equitable
for portion of this money to be taken from the
road fund, for the amount of work to be done on
the roads after this permanent improvement has
been made will be reduced to minimum. or this
amount tho cotton mills and the cotton oil mills
will pay approximately one-third. The railroads Of
the county are assessed at s924,220, and this will
further reduce the amount Of the taxes to be paid
by the people of the county at large. Taking of
the taxes to be paid by the cities and towns in the
county which will not receive any of the fund, it
will be found that the people who will receive the
most and the direct benefit from che good roads
will not pay as much as one-haf OF the cost of se
curing them
The Intelligencer is great believer In concrete
illustrations to show how much property owner
will have to pay to secure this 250 800 miles OK
good roads in the county Let take the case OF
Mr. A. who returns for taxation 10 acres of land at
81 per acre. s70 and s115 of personal property
making q total of s1S5. (This is the property of
tax payers as shown on the auditors books.) His
taxes will be increased just sos or he will pay the
price of cigar per year for the privilege OF driving
or riding over 800 miles of macadam roads. Will
he not save it in trip to the county seat or to
his market, to say nothing OF the convenience and
pleasure OF having q good road to use in going 10
church Or to see his neighbor on Sunday Let us
take the case of the man who pays taxes on 81 600
II the bond issue carries he will pay annual tax
towards the COST OF the roads OF just So What man
is there who will withhold this amount of support
from securing that which woald increase his prop
erty values, his comfort and convenience. why, he
pays that much for pair of shoes. So II It Is a
question OF saving So per year let him do without
pair OF shoes, or In the OF Mr. A. one dope will
pay his taxes for year.
So, IL there be opposition to having the bond is
eae ss Will have 10 NJ other than financial
grounds, and unless the other reasons are better
than this one. it will be suicidal for anyone to vote
Rgainst having o better system of roads. We must
not stand in the way OF this great need for the
county on such grounds these. Optimism and
confidence !. the future essential and will pay
big returns. Let us not oppose this forward step
except for the best of reasons. Let us hear from
you. and discuss this most important matter