The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-10-11
Comments ON the Schools Con-
densed Financial Report.
Editor Daily Item

A very kindly and constructive
critic has said to me that he was
unable to get from the financial
statement OF the schools published
Friday the original cost and actual
present value of the buildings be-
longing to the city.
We endeavored to make 4 state
ment short enough to be read with
out great effort and simple enough
to be easily understood. 1t seems,
however, that we sacrificed clear
ness for conciseness and feeling
that others might find the same
difficulty that our friend fouad, I
shall take this opportunity Of COM
menring upon the report ana ex-
panding its inferences. We are
always glad when an opportunity
is given us OF constructive!y dis
cussing our school affairs and we
are glad of this chance to do so.
It is a very simple matter ta give
the original cost. but difficult 10
determine the present value OF
property. One method IS to give
&e accepted insurable value, es-
pecial,y when this value has been
fixed by the careful inspection of a
representative Of the State 1nser-
iance Department. While the
amount Of insurance carried on Il
building is not the determining fac
tor of its actual value, it is Ger
tainly a contributory circumstance.
The statement in the report was
specifically made that this method
had been employed in determining
| the present value Of our school
properties.
When it is known that each of
| the cities Of Florence. Spartanbacg.
i.and Greenville. has one building
that alone cost $500, 100000, it IS
not violent assumption that SUM-
ter's six buildings as reported Fri
day have combined value OF See5a,-
100000. Sumter was more fortu-
nate in the selection Of the time for
its building activities. but having
| the buildings on hand certainly
does not deprive her of the advan-
| tage that has accrued through en-
hancement of values. There has
been no depreciation; On the con-
trary. great enhancement in va:ua
/ on account of increased cost.
1t Will be matter of interest to
give the first cost of these buildings,
with any additions that, have been
made since they were erected.
The Washington School building
was erected in 1S9i-1S92 at cost of
! $4,000. This building has been
very greatly improved. making the
total cost mp TO date about $50
1000.
| The Hampton school building was
ready for occupancy in the spring
| OF 1904 and cost SIS. 100000.
The Calhoun school building was
used first in the beginning of the
year 1903 and cost about twenty
FIVE thousand dollars.
The Girls High school building
was begun in 1915 and was erected
at time when both labor and ma
fterial We're very cheap and abund-
ant. at cost complete Of about
thirty thousand dollars. The Car
negie library was erected at the
same time at a cost of SIC. 100000.
The Lincoln school building and
annex have been improved and add
ed to from time to time and have
cost in all between twelve and
! fifteen thousand dollars.
/ The sum of these costs is less
! than $3.50. 600: but to rebuild all of
these buildings today would mean
very much more than this amount.
Since the question has been
/ asked, we shall have our properties
valued by some one whose expert
1 judgment will be unquestioned- AS
soon as this is done. we shall let
the people know: for they are nat
iurally very greatly interested in
:! their own property.
Cordially submitted,
S. n. EDMCNDS,
/ Superintendent.