The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-04-10
COUNTY MERGERS

Governor BacBwoods proposal that Is counties
he formed of the 46 in South Carolina is in line
with sentiment of taxpayers in many states. 1t is
not in line with that Of politicians If the people
Of this state could outw;' the politicians and bring
about county mergers so as to reduce the number
of counties by one-half the cost of county govern
ment in the state would be largely reduced and we
believe better government and improved irstitu-
tons would result.
The New Orleans Times Picayunc, in long cd.
toral in favor of county consultations, has this
to say:
A Chg push" TO rcorganiZc the governmental
systems of the states and their political units IS
predicted by writer of national reputation in a
recent article commenting upon economic and po-
litcal trends. "rhcrcs no longer any need" he
points out, by way Of illustration, "for so many
counties, or such small counties Watch the country
politicians squirm.
County consolidation" is . live conversational
topic in a good many states. A "big push will be
needed however, to shove it into the field of live
issues Specific consolidation projects have been
discussed here and thcrc-notably in Mississippi
and Tennessee. One such consolidation, if we arc
not mistaken, actually has been voted in Georgia
The Notwithstanding citzcnry displays a growing
interest in it's possibilities of economy and greater
efficiency. There is being built up, little by little,
body of facts and comparative statistics on the
subject that should convince open minds Of the
wisdom of consolidation.
For example, it is noted that counties range in
population from a high running we'll into the mil
lions to low not much above 1000; that states
of comparable area and population differ amaz-
ngly in the number of their counties. One with an
area Of $4,000 square miles gets along with II
counties where another with 10000 square miles
maintains 100 county governments and third,
with $4,000 square miles boasts 16l. One Of the
western states has So counties averaging 2,700
square miles apiece and with an average popula-
ton of 100000 apiece. Whereas the counties in
one of the southern states average only 700 square
miles in area and less than $4,000 inhabitants.
Size and population, it appears have little bear
ing or none upon the efficiency of county govern
ments. The big counties may be as we'll managed
Or as i'll managcd-as the tiny ones. Yet it is
obvious that elimination of unnecessary county
governments by consolidation would cut millions O.
dollars from governmental costs and cut should he
reflected in lower taxation The chg push" that is
needed to put it over will be welcomed by the tax
payers whenever it comcs--but will have to be
mighty indeed, to ride down the opposition of the
politicians
Many counties in this and other states find it
impossible to support well constructed and properly
conducted aims houses hospitals, jails courthouscs
and other institutions. By the merging Of counties,
creditabe institutions could be built and main
tanned Many counties feel that they too poor
to support county farm agents. BY uniting with
other counties those agencies could be maintained
to the benefit Of every progressive farmer in the
merged area. Under these consultations financing
of county government ought to be simpli6cd and
general governmental efficiency improved. But, as
the New Orleans newspaper says we have to deal
with the politicians There's the rub.-Sparl~N-
burg Is. c. Herald. .