Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PAGE EIGHT THE CLINTON CHRONICLE. CLINTON, S. C. iim THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, I92« Letters To the Editor ANSWERS MR. RANTIN’S PROTEST Editor, The Chronicle: ^ In your last issue, under the head ing “A Protest,” Mr. H. D. Rantin at tacks the ordinance establishing the Recorder’s Court, and indicates that he regards the expense of maintenance of that court as a vast extravagance. I think in this he makes a mistake. The court did cost during the writer’s administration $600.00 in salary for the two-year period, but as the police fines increased from $4,451.00 in the previous two-year period to $6,969.25 during the first two year’s of the Re corder’s Court, it is evident that the increase of over $2,500.00 in income to the town much more than covered ^town invested in fixed assets and li- guid assets increased approximately $200,000 in the two years, the surplus being the excess of assets over liabil ities, so that the town as a municipal ity is very much richer, much better off at the end of the two years than at the beginning, though of course ow ing more money by reason of its va rious improvements. Mr. Rantin is also very much in er ror in saying that $5,000.00 in back taxes are due. Tie has his figures mixed. Accounts receivable August 31, 1925, as compared with August 31, 1924, according to the audit, changed follows: Paving assessment 1924 $15,296.94, reduced to $86.79 in 1926. New paving assessment not existing n 1924, increased $1,036.70 in 1926. Light and water accounts overdue in 1924 were $2,978.46, reduced in 1926 to $1,691.38. Checks returned unpaid of the court, which was $600.00 It is the writer's viewpoint that there is really little or no opposition the increase in the cost of maintenance j on AlI(ru3 t 31, 1924 were $85.79; in 1926 were $14.96. Due from attorney in 1924, nothing; in 1926, $766.75. Mis- ccllaneous accounts in 1924, $1,224.<1; to the Recorder’s Court as a court, in 1>J _, 6 $85^08, making the total of pccbunU receivable, due and overdue 1324, $19,765.92, which by reason o‘ the great effort of collecting was re duced to $4,442.46. Real and personal property taxes in 1924 overdue $1,803.60, did increase in 1926 to $3384.85, or about $2,000.00, but taking the entire line of accounts receivable, including taxes, and there was a reduction by reason of efforts and that whatever opposition exists, exists purely as personal opposition, and not opposition to the ordinance es tablishing the court. I am aw ? are tnat Mayor McMillan favors the abolition of the Recorder’s Court, and is willing to do the work of Recorder without additional remuneration. I think that this would handicap him in his other official capacities. It would add to his power unquestionably, and as he likes that kind of work it would seem reasonable that he be his own record er. But as he may not remain mayor indefinitely in the future, and no doubt will not serve the town forever as its mayor, there is much to be said for retaining the ordinance—much more than is said by Mr. Rantin in his fling at the ex-mayor. Having gotten that fling off his chest he no doubt feels very much more comfortable, and if it pleases him to make the fling at the ex-mayor, the ex-mayor can stand it. However, this is not written pri marily to discuss the Recorder’s Court, nor the personal fling in the pratest, but to discuss the erroneous figures therein contained. Mr. Rantin’s pro test states, “It will be borne in mind that the floating debt of the town in the past two years has risen from zero to $85,000.00, also that there is $5,000.- 00 in back taxes which have not been paid, to say nothing of what will be in arrears when the time is bp in No vember.” It would seem unreasonable that r.nyone should bear in mind the above figures, since such figures are erron eous, and correct figures nave been published in The Clinton Chronicle in the publication of John M. Palm & Company’s audit of the town’s affairs. The publication of that audit occurred only a few weeks ago, and it seems difficult to understand how Mr. Ran tin could have gotten such erroneous figures borne in mind in regard to the floating debt when no such figures ex ist. * ' By reference to page 13 of the of ficial copy of audit, it will be seen that John M. Palm & Company report the floating debt August 31, 1926 at $73, 076.39, this under the head of “Cur rent liabilities” after making adjust ments referred to in paragraph pre ceding the statement. In the same place the auditor shows that the float ing debt or current liabilities, August 31, 1924, were not zero, as Mr. Rantin ; magines, but were $56,020.85, so that there was an increase in the current liabilities, or floating debt, of $17,055. 64 in the two-year period. There were seme extravaganaas^no doubt, in the administration, and the writer is not prepared to defend every thing done during his administration— not prepared even to defend the ex penditure of nearly $1,000.00 in open ing new streets on Mr. Rantin’s prop erty—streets which serve no one eith er as through routes, or as abutting residents, and from which the town has no increase of income in any form There are other extravagances in the administration which the writer op posed and wishes could have been avoided, as well as < his one, but it was not extravagance to put down sewer main and water main under streets ordered to be paved. The people vot ed the paving. Many of the streets had to have additional water and sew er equipment Before they could be rea sonably jraveft. to collect, amounting to about $13,000.- 00 in the total of accounts receivable, showing that very vigorous effort had been made by the Clerk’s office, and by the attorney’s office to accomplish collections. Any references by citizens in public print to the figures of the town should be correct, and as there is an official audit, they should be quoted from the audit, as are the above figures. I mention this because the quotation of erroneous figures is liable to circula tion of erroneous information in re gard to the fiscal affairs of the town, and that is liable to lead citizens to erroneous conclusions in regard to such matters, as are discussed by Mr. Rantin. _ Respectfully submitted, * J. F. JACOBS. Dr. Frank Crane Says— THE DUNES ARE INDOMITABLE council spending large sums of money in enlargement of water and sewer system. No intelligent citizen object ed to those expenditures, even though they did increase the floating debt by $17,055.54. To: offset that adverse factor it should be noted tnat the surplus 7>f the Overdoing? Hurry, Worry and Overwork Bring Heavy Strain, M ODERN life throws a heavy burden on our bodily ma chinery. The eliminative organs, es pecially the kidneys, are apt to be come sluggish. Retention of excess uric add and other poisonous waste often gives rise to a dull, languid Ceding and, sometimes, toxic back aches and headaches. That the kid- 1 are not functioning perfectly is often shown by burning or scanty ge of secretions. More and people are learning to assist their kidneys by the orrasional use of Doan’ 9 folio—a stimulant din- that advance; but lines that lie Th the shadows of evening, gray, gaunt, beat en and deformed—hut sublimely ever lasting. In the face of the dunes there ir seen this example of endless endur ance. In its barren beauty there speaks a message of grim courage and indom itable lasting power. THEY ARE THE HOURS OF THE ROSE A Hebrew psalmist, who knew well the quiet beauty of the countryside at twilight, sang the words: “Be still and know that I am God.” One of the finest things about a va cation in the summertiiae is the op portunity it gives to get out under an open sky in the peace of the twi light. In those moments between the burn ing reality of day and the black ac tuality of night comes what someone has called “the hour of the rose.” The world is warm and tired and pacific; the day is calm with rhe calm of old age. Heavy with earth odors the air drowses aa twilight on little grey feet creeps with the lengthening shadows. The hour of the rose, is an hour of meditation, an hour of viaion. an hour when the spirit burns like a caudle flame, straight and calm, unworried by the winds of toil. It is a time of contemplation. Under an open sky, spread like hand in benediction, it is good to sit and inwardly let the days file by. The trouble, worries, injustices, troop past softened by the quiet per spective. The tangled skein of active life seems less a hopeless snarl. Humanity, shy and kindly, draws close; the jangle and the discord sink away and we feel more in tune with life. Wisdom lays its hand upon our shoulder; the ideal beckons from the sunset lighted hill-topa; and we are strong and wise again. A recent writer truly says: “Men should spend more time with stars and sunsets.” The sould bathes and is refreshed hi the open and quiet of a summer twi light in the country. Getting out in the open at the hour of the rose helps to smooth out the creases of life. And it helps make you stronger for the fight in the days that follow. State of South Carolina County of Laurens In Prebate Court. In Re: The estate of Mrs. W. T. Vance, deceased. NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereoy given that on the 2nd day of November, 1928, at 11 o’clock, A. M, I will render a final account of my acts and doings as ad ministrator ,)f the estate * f Mrs. W. t. Vance, dtH-caaed, in th < office of ibo Judge of Probate for Laurens County, S. C., and on the same day will apply for a final discharge from my trust as administrator of said estate. ... W. H. SHANDS, Administrator of the estate 0 of Mrs. W. T. Vance, deceas ed. September 30, 1926. 10-28-5tc Some time ago the writer visited the wild sand dune country of northern Indiana. This sandy waste stretched along the southern shore of Lake Michigan between Gary and Michigan City. The high sandhills are ages old. Some are “wandering dunes.” Mov ing slowly through the years they have worked eastward. In their track new dunes are born. Others are vexed and on their sides sand cherries and stunted pines struggle for existence. Indians have come and gone; pio neer scouts have given place to ad venturesome settlers and they in turn have made way for the teeming city bred; but the dunes have remained , Over them the great invention of the age had a cradle and a culmina tion. Here Octave Chanute made experi ments with gliders, giving his infor mation to the Wright brothers later on. And here day and night great roaring planes fly overhead carrying the mails from Cleveland and Chicago. The dunes have outlived the wilder- rcss; they continue untamed iif*tRfj| heart of civilization. In their enduring ruggedness there is a message of inspiration that helps one who feels it to “hold on” in the trials of life. Thtf' face of the dunes is like the face of the common people. It is grim, determined, enduring. It possesses neither the kingly grandeur of the towering mountains nor the abject serfdom of impotent deserts. ^ Through the parsing chiliads it has remained, remained in spite of wind and wave, remained one of the enig mas of geological endurance. Buffeted, driven about, torn asund er, the particles yet remain, and re-, maining, combine in lines that alter dav bv day, that move, that retreat, THE CHRONICLE—$130 YEAR. Expert phonograph re pairing done at O’Daniel and Reid’s. What Do P. S. JEAMES Do? WE WILL TRADE— You C. S. Meal for cotton seed, pound for pound. Bring your cotton here, where sat isfaction is guaranteed. Every pound of seed weighed on a Howe Recording Scale, the best that money can buy. Plenty of new crop hulls, and fresh- ground meal at low prices. ___ LOWER PRICES ON “PERFECTION BRAND” FERTILIZERS The best made. Plenty on hand. Also Acid, - Kainit, etc. CUNT0N COTTON OIL CO. ! Phone 62 Night Phone 2403 ADAIR DEPARTMENT STORE Always on the Job” Clinton, S.C. ii Boys Suit Sale All Wool Boys’ Suits, sizes 8 to 17. Worth $6.00. Special— $3.95 Cretonne, large assort ment, pretty patterns— 5fc yard 39-inch Unbleached Pa jama Checks, good qual ity. On sale Saturday, quantity limited— 8c yard 28-in. Lad Lassie Cloth, good assortment p a t - terns. Special— 18V2C yard 36-inch good quality un- bleached Sheeted— 10c yard 28-in. good quality Out- ing, light and dark col ors— 10c yard 27-inch fast color Cham- bray and Dress Ging ham, stripes, figured, and solid colors— 10c yard Ladies’ Hose, silk to the top, the regular $1.00 kind, run of mill Spec ial— NEW FALL DRESSES One rack Silk Dresses, all the new shades, best models, worth up to $19.75— Special—$9.88 One rack of Silk, Wool and Jersy Dresses, Special $3.95, $4.95, $6.75 See our beautiful Dresses at— $15.00, $24.50, and $34.50 They are the newest from Paris styles. New Modes In Ladies’ and Misses’ NEW COATS There are smart new models arriving ev ery day, each bringing some fashion note of interest, individual in detail, yet con forming to the mode. Now is the perfect time to select the Winter Coat when styles are most varied and selection is wider— $11.75 to $24.50, $29.50 to $59.50 FALL CLOTHES For Men and Boy* Here you will find newt cuts to the coat, new colors to the cloth, new patterns that will awaken your interests, best tai loring. ; Young Men’s Suits, single and double breasted, with two pair pants— ^ $14.95 Young Men’s Suits with two pair pants extra fine quality— — — $19.75 A large variety of Men’s and Young Men’s Serges, Worsteds, and Flannels, in all the new shades— $24.75 to $39.50 Boys’ Long Pants Suits, single and double breasted, $5.95, $9.95 to $14.95 Ladies’, Misses’, Girls’, Boys’, and Children’s Shoes, Oxfords, and Slippers .. Ladies’ Footwear, newest designs and colors, attrac tively priced— $1.98 to $2.95, $3.95 to $4.95 and $6.00 Men’s broad toe, golden brown Shoes, look $4.00, for-— $2.98 - I '• . . • W. L. Douglas Oxfords at a special price, good styles— $3.95 * ^ V See those Children’s Tan School Shoes. They are worth 98c and $125 Men’s Work Shirts, good quality Cheviot, double stitch through-out with pocket— 50c Men’s good grade Over alls, suspender back, sold everywhere for $1.50. Special— 99c Men’s good quality rib bed Union Suits, sizes 36 to 46- 95c Boys’ ribbed Union Suit, all sizes—■ 48c Heavy Blanket, double bed size— 75c Extra large Blanket, as sorted colors— 98c Best grade Oil Cloth, all colors. Special— 25c yard Bed Room Slippers, all colors. Special— 50c pair Shoe Table Specials Shoes and Oxfords for ladies and children, real bargains— 95c and $1.95 ADAIR’S DEPARTMENT STORE ( “Always (hi the Job” CLINTON. - - S.C.