The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-27

said he, is approximately IL mills,
and the returns for this money are
very meagre. He stated that the
county is not being run in business
way, and that Blackville was ready
to leave as business proposition.
Bamberg's tax levy, he said, is about
i61h mills, or half that of Barnwell,
and that despite Barnwells heavy
levy, the county has an overdraft
each year.
B. D. Carter, Esq, said that the
people had come together to talk ov-
er the matter and see what can be
done for the common good. The
policy of Bamberg county, he said,
was to pay as we go, that the coun-
| ty never gets into debt, and that
there is always plenty of funds on
hand for ordinary purposes, although
Bamberg is the smallest county in
the State. We have four good towns,
and would be glad to add Blackville.
There is no reason to suppose that
the property values in the county
would ever deterforate, rather that
they would be constantly increased.
Mr.. Carter said that the people of
Bamberg county have nothing
against Barnwell, but would like to
have this territory, if the people in
volved care to leave Barnwel!. With
this addition he felt sure that Bam-
| berg would be the banner county of
the State, and that it would be in
deed a. great addition. He stressed
the point that if Blackville was
ready to quit Barnwell, they were
making a step in the right direction
by coming into Bamberg.
The chairman interposed to state
that the proposed trritory involved
all of the city of Blackyille, and
about twenty miles of railroad; that
they had a good thing to offer. In
order to have the necessary surveys
made, the money is required to be
put up. He invited Bamberg to pay
this bill ii the event the elction is
carried, otherwise to be paid by the
Blackville people. Ninety-fve per
cent. of the people, he stated, are in
/ favor of the project.
The suggestion was here made that
steering committee be named to
discuss the matter at once. Nomina-
tions were made, and the following
were selected for this purpose, sew
en- being appointed from Blackville
and the territory involved, and a
like number from Bamberg county:
j Blackville-J. C. Mathis, G. J.
Fickling, Herman Brown, H. D.
Still, J. w. Browning, J. M. Farrell,
c. S. Buist.
Bamberg-J. Arthur Virgins,
John H. Cope, H. B. Grimes, H. G..
I; Folk, C. w. Rentz, Sr, F. V. James,
George F. Hair.
The committee retired at once, and
reported later in the evening. Dull
ling this intermission, the meeting
was entertained by various extempo-
raneous speakers, among them be-
! ing DR.. G. l.. Wessinger, G. W. Rertz,
]. X. Mayfeld, R. G. Hardwick, and
James H. Hammond, of Columbia, g
! former Blackville boy who has made
good in his adopted home and whose
reputation as an orator and as law
yer is known throughout this region.
Mr.. Hammond told the audience
that the people had already gotten
together on the matter. acd that the
question that now concerned then
was that of gettins apart from.
Barnwell. Blackville's grievances,
he said, we're two-fold: Tax on prop"
erty and tax on. temper, and he cri"
ticised the Barnwell delegation very
sharply, stating that they DO not rep
resent Blackville. REPRESENTATIVE;
Davis Mr.. Hammond characterized as
the greatest enemy 3lackville ever
had, ,and he called on the people OF
Blackville to see tina, he is defeat.
ed. He urged that sentiment be-
crystalized in the rural districts in
favor of annexation. I've like you
he told the Bamberg citizens pres
ent, "and we want to 60 over with
you" The interests of Blackvi]le
had never been represented by those
elected to office in BarnWeil county,
he said, and further declared that
Blackville had always been the back
bone of taxation and the tail end Of
expenditures in Barnwell county.
eve are frank to say that We wanted
the court house; failing in that, the
next best thing is to go to Bamberg
county," ard he urged the people to
T.