The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, June 23, 1939, Page PAGE EIGHT, Image 8

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

I SODA FOUNTAIN SERVICE THAT SATISFIES.... We invite you to atop in, rest and refresh yourself with a delicious COLD DRINK. Always plenty of best quality ORANGES, LEMONS and LIMES. Only Grade A Milk used and BUTTERCUP ICE CREAM served. We offer you the best in quality that can be procured and quick service. If you should need Medicines Prescriptions filled or Bio|0 gical products?let us serve you and you can know that y >u get just what you want and at reasonable prices. Zerap's Drug Store ^ matstrnimsfMis City Drug Company BROAD STREET?PHONE 30 MOST ANYTHING YOU NEED DeKALB STREET ? PHONE 130 COMMENTS ON MEN AND THINGS My Spe. tat or Hum (Ik- High way Department any money in lend the State? The Idea of it Innii Ih ii legal (lotion, uh the lawyers way, meaning 'hat no one over dreamed of |>n> lux back the loan. It wuu Hpoken of iih a loan Jiihi to save a Hitijiitlon, but the funny part of It Ih that Home IiihIht that Hlneo It 1m not In fact a loan, It must not be called a loan. Well, I come back to tho milk In the eoeoanui: Huh the HlKhway Department any money which may be "diverted" or "lent"?or whatnot? Spectator, like the rank and (He, ban read that the Highway Department Iihh eleven or twelve million dollars a year and spends all thut for building and repairing roads, together with about three or four hundred thousand dollars for general administration Spectator figured It all out that the program of construction might be extended or restricted at will, leaving two, three or four million dollars for other purposes. If you talk to Chief Commissioner Sawyer, or Treasurer Bourke, these brethren are so familiar with their estimates that they rattle olT a lot of figures that Bound to most of us like the "unknown tongue" the colored minister used prayer, to the befuddle* merit of\filH congregation. So I tried to dig out some of this for myself. Most of us are misinformed about that big departmont which sprawls all over the state. At first blush It seems a great extravagant spending organization I had that notion. And it is. or is not. extravagant, according to how we reckon things, is It wasteful? That's the real ?|tiestion. Kvwi , .>.Ki> s.i v s and I agree that wo ha\u <rx ccllcii 11 v limit roads and bridg-' is 'in no astonishment th highway (I i-pa rt ii lent spends far less on general iitlrn m is' r a 11<'tt than is . sp'-n1 by tinwcl'at'e depart .neii" What d<? >oii T 1 i::. K (if tii.it ' It V" Mieisip" i||,' r> 1.i1 i ' v.11ae ..r i.i' I. liili \x a y a. pai t no ni and the welfare department the cost of tin* first would In- cheap at three tinier ! h, < o? , I f t lie st i Oil.I 'Idle hiv.h w.iv ih pa : : ne ..' . "iisini. roiid'. w lii< h am a in line con venieto o to all men, women and children. rich and poor, It crcatcH physical values jjnd promotes social values. ' Well, let's see about the money. I'Hke this very fiscal year, which will end the thirtieth of June. Altogether the highway department expects to receive for June a sum which will make Its total receipts for the year, from all sources, $11,400,000. Here's something, $11,400,000. Let's start with that. What does the highway do with it? What is it actually spending all that money for? I have before me a stutement certified by O. 1'. liourkc, secretary-treasurer of tho highway department. It tells me that the Income for thla year, ending June JO, will total $11,400,000, by his estimate. Tho revenue bus been coming In all tho year, as you know, and only the mouth of June has to bo estimated. 1 have read that Mr. Q-acry cainkti fh?c cozai will be somewhat greater, let us say $11,500,000. That Is all tho state highway revenue from all sources. True It Is that tho natioual government has made graiUs to the state, but they are more or less for specific construction and are not available for administration or maintenance or re-treatment. What does the highway department do with all Its money? That's what everybody wants to know. Here's tho answer: ! It must pay the interest on county bouds which the state took over from ' the counties, amounting at the peak j to I43.UOO.OOO. It must pay these bonds, too, as they become due. On | this county account the department is | paying out nearly five million dollars a year. If these bonds were being i pa id by the connrier? the County Sup-' plv bill for some counties would have jo be increased from ten to twenty' i I \.i i - i i en ,id. ra:?le so iii of noui s \ i mie e\e|- dreatm I that the i uiiti'ie. would be allowed to palm < 11 $ I .'..tHIM.neO of liotlds (ill the Slat 1 \nd the liicltw iy department is today ; > bnieI:n c some of ! bt .m- fi ? ('!<? at ( 4:' o e\ [* its* while -' ;i! pi i.n :t i tiI II'i'cHt and principal on the bonds for (ho old roads. The department was authorized originally to Issue $65,000,000 In bonds, but bus Issued to date $39,873,000. Hofore the department could get a fair start In building new roads It was bogged down with a load of $43,000,000 of county bonds. Well, ufter paying for county bonds and Interest on Its own bonds, that leaves this year a balance of $5,570,315.46 for all other purposes. Against that you must charge general admiu-j 1st rat Ion $450,000, law enforcement $300,000, vehicle inspection $100,000. Then the department has to repair j roads In service, retreat, or renew, or cover again, resurface existing road*. That takes $3,000,000. Every bituminous road costs less to build, but It costs much more to keep up. Constant heavy use means frequent care. During the year the department has on average a? damage claims &' about $50,000. I find that there is an item called property and equipment account for $400,000. Whereas, there was a deposit of $203,044 20 for the sinking fund last year for the bonds Issued by the department. there Is no such Item at all this year. That, to my mind, Is the most unsound feature of the department's financing. It Is all according to law, however; so I can't blame tho department for that. Now, then. If you subtract all the expense from all tho revenue you will find an expendable balance of $1,230.315.46 with which It Is building new roads and the like, today; but the balance for next year will be less tnan $.',0O,n00. because of heavier payni'-ntS uu county bonds which mature next % o;i r So, what is there to divei t. ox- ^ cept this balance of $1^4,000? , Of course, all the revenue could bo divrt.-d The county bonds could bo thrown back on the counties, saving ',,ur or ti\ millions a year t > the a. ..a- ;u.i..g up t tvm. ndous vi-s , ja tie- counties. Or. the depart men t , (Mild let up on its repair work toi j y.ai ; or :t could try to compromise j .. j;h all < oiitruc : >rs now n; u.c k end j , \ :y;hlllg ju-t whir-.- end as i-C. i ' \\ e varu' in-k "\\ hti' 't ?r , r;,] aid"? Well obviously fed- "al ai I _ p.. ()> . .-Ted; i* can't b-- r-^1 t'>?" ,nr> ! >nds: it can't be u d f.v; i, , o on >: it.* bonds. 1'. deial Til* 1 ll .<?> o.i . . .i .: id. a ; parci.t 1>. ?' ' s I'."' ' ? bis at all. So w!;>" >' are we" Th- <' :--mmt! Mr l'o :rk" shows an t M>' 1 '-d ex- ( r.dabe- balance ii'-\t year ' onlyj $ C.l.unn. Well, let's assume that ho | j* cautious, as lie should be. If the j balance should be $654,000 k isn't a healthy balance for a concern operating on tho enormous scale of the highI way department. Notwithstanding all this. 1 think the friends of the department should not oppose the judgment of the house, but should readily submit to the needs of the moment as may be expedient. I Whether retrenchment is desirable j is for the general assembly to determ1 lna. j Finally, how does the department ! finance its commitments, build Its. 'roads" By 'ho sale of bonds, to a 1 :.i:ge extent It has built roads, and i .is-utm <1 bonds for roads, to tie value, ! of f 1 .1"."00.0m* and owes toda> a few j 'dollars less than sixty million. Of: '-his. it has not only to pa> f : a lot ,,f poor;x built county roads, but it : h.c'had to pay the high inter- ->t rates 'charged to the counties because the 'bonds are non-callable and w.-ro is'stud years ago. most of them Today ' ,i?. ,',-edu of the department Is^ so ! g.jod that it could borrow the $19,702.I 2tip 13 of county bonds at a saving 'in interest of $r,0nu00 a year; but as I the county bonds were issued for a definite number of years, without Pri \ liege of being called before maturity, the department mud pour in its rev| onue to pay as high as six per cent, i though it could borrow- all that money itodj,\ en its own credit at two per I cent It Is apparent that money can be taken from the highway department, but It Is equally obvious that the cake can't be eaten and kept for Sunday visitors at the same time. Certainly not If there are small boys around the place. Allowing for cautious underestimating of Income and a generous overestimate of expenditures? as Is to bo expected, and Is proper? even then, with a lot of pruning, whatever may be taken will leave so much less for construction. Of course the department could defer the plan to erect Its own office building, but what other project Is there? At least the matter suggests an inquiry, or such a provision as may be amended as the need may require. , KERSHAW SOFTBALL TEAM LARROPS THE BELL BOYS Hobby Hell's softball pastime** motored to Kershaw Tuesday afternoon and played the Halle Gold Mine team In a spirited game?losing by a 6 to 4 count. The Kershaw players took advantage of a series of mlsplays by the Hell crowd In the first Inning to score five runs. The Camden boys tried vainly to close the breach but finished with but four runs. A game was played hero Thursday evening between the Hell team and the Kershaw town team. Investigation has been started at Annapolis of reports that Jay Allen [ Einstein, of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., had | icen advised to change his name to Saston. Academy officials denied such' idvlce was given. ? . ! Chiefs Beaten At Hartsville Hartaville.?Sonoco defeated the Camden Chiefs ?&?& last Taiifoaajf, *v to 5, to make it four wins with no defeats In the Palmetto State league. Goodson, with two for five, Tyner ' with two for five and Parker with two for five, led Sonoco at bat. Staley and Russell were best for Camden. Batteries: Camden, Moore and Russell, Hicks; Sonoco, Bruton, Stewart and Parker. Sumter Legion Loses to Camden Sumter, June 16.?Camden's Legion Juniors walloped Sumter Friday afternoon. 12 to 4. The visitors connected for 14 hits off the combined twirling of three Sumter pitchers. Sumter took a 2-0 lead In the first when the first three men up singled, tripled and doubled. Mays settled down and held Sumter scoreless after the first, except for the : seventh, when Sumter scored tttl runs. Camden 12 14 I Sumter 4 8 J Mays and Hunter; Cook, Qrahml Tallon and Bradley, Muldrow, Rock Hill Beaten by breenvllle I Rock Hill, June 16.?Greenville's U| gion Juniors downed the locals Is A practice game Friday, 9 to 8. Randy Hlnson, coach of the loctfl squad, used his entire pitching sull of five hurlers, but was unable to stofl the visitors. Good, second sacker, lt|l the locals at bat, getting two fori tow. Pounding out two for four, Bjl era, left fielder, was first for Ortol ville at hitting. j Rock Hill 8 6 (I Greenville 9 7 il Batteries Brazzell. Tarleton, MoortH Nunn, Lowder and Estridge; Mi>| field, Bryson and Brannon. Monthly I Payment Plan fi Here I r ? x\ \ | ybi/rs Tof/ayX for only \ $149-90 I l\ (Model LB-() I \ 6.1 CUBIC FOOT CAPACITY 11.7 SQ. FT. OF SHELF AREA STAINLESS STEEL SUPERFREEZER STURDY ALL-STEEL CABINET SEALED IN STEEL THRIFT UNIT 5 YEARS PERFORMANCE PROTECTION Burns & Barrett Hardware Company PHONE 94 CAMDEN, S. C. MB jm/ \_v ^X / H^B^ ^J/ ^^BvHcv /^B^ '^B by Greyhound Super-Coach-. At th# low?? t (art* In HIstoryl You can have the time of your Ufa on your vacation with the money you save going by Greyhound Super-Coach! . SjMMpi* Round-Trip farea Columbia 9 .90 Charlotte ... f 2.00 Blshopvllle . .. -90 Wlnaton-Salem 3,jq Richmond .... 7.90 New York Chicago 21.10 Daytona Beach 103J GREYHOUND TERMINAL E. DoKalb St. Phone 249 I^WrVW/'l v m* i *?5toHE| fl ^m ufiDH |Pj|^^3PpB^!HPi|l|Bil!i|PfBBBw!|ijlWi!l!Bli!BBB!llii^^BilJ^i^B!WWiB IffijFflB^S i W |||lj BE3Pf , d4s m K*jl ImbH mm mm EXCLUSIVE VACUUM GEARSHIFT Vicwnt iMfttr S?w?? I ?l IM SlMllit E?wl Chevrolet for 1939 Is the first car oj the land! First In sales by a wide margin?650,000 already sold, and the demand increasing. First in styling, first in acceleration, first in hill-climbing, first in all-round performance with economy, among all cars in its price range! See your Chevrolet dealer today and buy the car that out-sells because It out-values all others in the field ? Buy a new 1939 Chexroletl ?1 ? a general motors value rfjj f iwwwwwwiw stct9tecMoecc4c?^~?gSFC"1 .1 I Every 40 tetonda of every day, 1 \ Somebody buyt a new Chevrolet! I ^ IN SALES I IN VALUE I new aero stream jttung NE* BODIES BY F1SMEB CHEVROLET"! FAMOUS VALVE IN HEAD SIX PERFECTED HYDRAULIC IRAKEJ PERFECTED KNEEACTION RIDING SYSTEM (ivMUfrto M M?nr D( I in Mtfib lilt) NEW "OMERVATION CAR" VISIIIL1TT p/uf off tftOSO OthSf famous foaturss u?w loop#' RUflog^** . Tvrrot Top Front*** Sfobilizor No IVWI Vonti lotion Sy"?** Mcih Tranimliiloo Tlploo-Mortc Cl?rt<* ' Iztlu.lvo Boz-Wf"'* Cfcottlr Framo LANGSTON MOTOR COMPANY I PHONE 123 CAMDEN, S. C. B II PHONE J PHONE I LINEN SUITS for men or women, cleaned to perfection. Enjoy wearing1 linen 1n hot weather knowing we spec- jyj ialize in cleaning it. Experts handle your dry cleaning needs. Call us today. m*J 0 PALMETTO DRY CLEANERS M 403 DeKALB STREET