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Tl.MKNT t'KOM Mil. ltl.Alt DON. How I lie MuKri of lux l*uy Cor t.cxxl IIimiU I.?n?L-? lo ?In. Editor Dally Item: I or article In yesterday's III in beaded "Figures Don't Lie" shows that the ? It Isens .?f Sumt.r pa>. Of etty property alone, nearly one-third of the total taxes of Sumter county, end you soy that at least m third of the country propcrt\ i* owned by city people upon which tiny pay ta.\ ea. this makM at least two.thirds of the total taxes of the count) of Sumter paid Py cltU.-na of Sumt.r aeeordlng to official records, and your opinion. both of which, in my opinion are reliable upon any ques? tion of a public nature, or any other matter. 1 hive made the statement re peat.dlv that Sumt.r citizen* paid more than half of the taxea of Sum ter county, and I am clad that you have shown that this statement is not so erroneous ae some of the bond Issue advocates maintain. The editor of the Sumter Herald in an editorial In his paper of yesterday sold In reference to the proposed toed In part, as follows: "The pro? perty to be Improved Is all outside of the city, hut more than half the cost will be borne by thoso living wlthifi the corporate limits of the city of Sumter. The city can only be benefHted In that the country peo? ple are made more prosperous. If It la a question of town against country. It hi the town that is being oppressed." Now. Mr. dlt ER-).'* 2346? 666 No sr. Mr. Editor, aa you are al? ways able and willing to give ad? vice and Information and to 3how your readers any thing of Interest In connection with public affairs, I ask ( you lo tell me what the city of Sum ter It going to do about the $239,000 bond Indebtedness of the cty of Rum- ? ter for which there Is no sinking fund being created as the city clerk | and treasurer has Informed me twice within the past week. Will not It re- ' quire several mills extra taxes Im? mediately upon city property to create this winking fund? Can the city of Sumter continue to Ignore the Constitution of South Carolina which , rsdulres that sinking funds be creat- , ed for each and every bond Issue? I S? "f * W her.- a "' *h ? i) r.f the future hno money in j.a . as* el* . my roll??* ct unlmpro' ? d, , Ulis citj win h'.n ?r."' i eee thereon without sewerage, water pipes, fire protection, or electric lights, and provide other necessities if we continue to tax ourselves for, the country districts and receive not ( a cent In return for municipal pur- ( poses, snd have to begin very soon to ( levy several mills extra taxes on city property for taking care of our $339.0*0 city bonded indebtedness. | It Is true that the cly depends up In the prosperity of th^ country to a large extent. But If millions of city people throughout the world didn't eat or wear clothes, the farm? er wouldn't stand much of a show to market his cotton and his other field products. City people are of some Importance to the farmer al I One Is dependent upon the other ^ as a whole. Don't you think that tho taxpayers of Sumter are entitled to ( some consideration who don't own any country property, rnd don't you know that the leaders In UM Cham? ber of Commerce f .r this bond Issue are every one of them not only own?w of country land.*, hut are arming these lands and th.it it Is Individual and not altogether un SMlflsh public sptrttedr."**. ?nd cvlc pride whh-h actuate th.-s^ Chamber of <'omm? r< . l< mI.m* t ? sp. : I *r, much of th? Ir tlm? and burn so much gasoline running around the . rn?nlr\ begsing t h.? i.r f irmel to bul'd fcejttlff road* and Iff the tav p.i\.?r? "f the ? \" of rounder pay half of th I cut of the aforesaid POftaV wsvs? I simply wanted to get myv lf stmiirht with % numb r of p.opls whom I |o?d that th ? hixpevera Of Huml?>r will pay the Itealesl burd-n of the Increased rountv ti\. < if the bond l**oe i.-i \oted for next Tuesday. I hn\e not tried to di t?te to any one how |n \?>te. and I do ii"t t.1 Mr VIcKeand or any one else ?o come i ? S .t. ? r to dictate t ? PAS how t.? \o|. on good reaWM off any other n -itter, and I would ?sell tllS ad\he if th. t-tlitor of the Dally Item In pr.f.rem ?. if I needed iol vi<?. ? i:. L it." \Ht W It li<?\ i i 'h PLAN, Malten Htatemrnl of What Seem*. tU^t Plan to Ulm f?r <., u,,,, ?, , ?| ?:..id-?. Trne following has been received snd printed it the r.-Mu.-st of Mr. W. It. Boyle. In It he mak>a] I st it ment of his plan for getting food roads and why It In better than the 11' Mi in your valued columns to the. following facta: If Sumter County fottl the UU0.00 bond issue for good roads, it \\ill asecanary to loty ? tax of - !-:> mills extra for || years to meet tins obligation. The taxable property of the oounty is $7.500,000 a.i.l the law rmuires that whenever d d?t iS Incurred fdeps must he Imme? diately taken towards wiping it out; therefor, tl.a 1-3 mill tax will DO I.NUUT] lo pay the interest on the $1*00,000 bond issue, and create a sutlh lent ?um at the 11p In I i??n of 20 years to take Op these bonds. Interest ah ne on $-"0,000 at I pet . tjfl will take $10,000 per ant.urn. and it will take seven thousand live hundred dollars every year bearing I i. > est for 20 years to create a sum Of $200,000 to take up those bonds when due, 2 l-:i mill levy will only amount to $17.500, hence It would re nnte this levy for 20 year3 to care for this bond Issue. Now, I propose that we issue no bonds save what the legislature has already issued?$50,00s-?but that we V ry the tax of I 1-2 mills and apply this with our regular Income to im? prove our public highways. In this cas ? we would haw an Income as follows: Uegular County Income. , ..$14,000 Prom the fifty thousand dol? lars bond issue already passed by the legislature.10,000 I !?! mill levy.17,500 A total of $41,500 and only a $50,000 bond issue to care for. At the end of 5 years in tills case, we will have expended for the Improvement of our roads the sum of $207.500. Whereas, if we vote the bond l?3ue as proposed, the county will have for the Improve? ment of her roads the following sum for five years only: Uegular County Income ... .$14.030 J rom $200.000 bond issue .. .40.000 A total of 154.000 The 2 extra mill levy will not be , . .;' ibl? ? f,,r r .nd purposes for it w ill require this sunv for 20 years to simply take care of the $200,000 bond Issue. Now the difference in having $54, (?00 per year and $41,500 per year Is only $12.500 and mind you thi3 dif? ferent* would only be for 5 years, w h sj the county will have used up ?t> >ond Issue, and then have only ?*~ .lor ??ier?mp til 000 for fur fb ? 1 o ? ? ro 11 i?ri; v rn<i tS. it. mombor, plot n, b< 1-2 ...ill i. v IS still on 1 led will be tcr 20 'or the bond issue. The WhOlS thing Is this: Will It pay to Issue this bond creating a 20 ye'? debt on the county of $17.500 P r annum simply to get $12.520 ex? tra for the next five years. Now, after carefully considering this subject, both pro and con, I am of the opinion that a matter so vitally Important as levying an extra tax, should come before the people ny a vote according to township, and furthermore, I do not believe the time Is ripe just now to Impose this extra levy, unless, of course, this be submitted to vote and carried ac? cording to township. It seems to me that if an annual Income of $14,000, together with the $18.000 per annum coming from tha ? 4 0.000 bond issue already pasted by the Legislature, making a grand to? tal of $24,000 per annum be Judi? ciously spent, our roads would be Improved about as much as we can very w]\ .?..??.d. inder lb< present labof conditions. As a matter of fact, it would re finite a sum elosc ?n to |l,90d(000 io nu.kt all the roads In Sumtt r couu ty really ? .od, and if the present bond Issue should be carried, it will by no means Indicate thai wo will have good roads, except possibly In seen* few localltlee. Tool ? try truly, \v. B. Boyle. Mr. Brim r on Doyle Plan, Bdltof of the Item: ? i uoii?. d in j sjterday'i Herald an trtlclc from Mr. Boyle on the pro? posed bond i>* we, which h so full of j Inaccurate and confusing stateuieuts las to roqulrs corrsotlon, and as the Herald lose aot laaoe another paper j before the election, ask that you ai ! low reply through rout columns, ll the first place the bond issu ? , win necoailate Increasing the proaent j t.i . only one mill and OOt - !?! i mi Iii tu la ted by Mr. Boyle. We are at |i im ^peiidii g on the n?ad sys? tem of the eoonty $11.000, Add to ihin the proooodi of one mill levj on the 17,600,001 of pro pert] as aittiitd for las itlog and we have. Now being spent ? ?. Coonty road system yearly.111,000 Proc >eda of one mill levy .1,100 Total 111,600 Und r the bond Is. It]a plan, the 1100,101 hating boon osed to build a complete ayotom of public roads for 'he county, this annual fund of 111," 101 Will be Used as follows. To maintain our t oad s\ stem . . $1,000 To pro. nb a sinking fund to dl at maturity. . . 00 o pay Interest on 1100,000 si I 1-2 per cent. Si,000 Total $21,600 i have secured the data si t" main-j tenance cosl from the experience of the RlchlanU county authorities, from a number of Georgia counties, and fr in the United State? ch partment , Of roads, and am satisfied $0,000 will ' he adequate, either wiih the split-i log diag or patrols system; to main lain the roada The $0,500 sinking fund Item ll a simple matter of arithmetical cal? culation. The sum of $0,500 will placed each year to the credit of I. sinking fun.i in the local banks at i l-L' per cent on the certificate of deposit plan, and will amount to', $103,142.62 attheend of 20 year3.! and will take up the bonds and leave a small balance. The bonds will bo sold to bear 4 1*1 per cent, interest and not 6 per ??ut. as estimated by Mr. Boyle. The; 110,000 of bonds already sold bear j only 4 1-2 per cent, interest. These! figures apply to the full $200,000 and! Will] take care of the entire issue for ' thi 20 years. The amount stated for ; sinking fund and interest will not all ? be needed till the end of the tifth year. By that time the taxable prop? erty of vhe county will probably have Increased considerably, and a lower levy than one mill may he adequate. Xow note that Mr. Boyle proposes lo use the proceeds of the $50.000 of bonds already authorized in his cal- j culation, hut provides no sinking fund or interest to take care of the same. Also that $10,000 of the bond3 have already been Issued, and that j he will have only $40,000 more to use. Further that he provides no maintenance fund to take care of j the old or new roads during the 5 year construction period, nor the succeeding years. Make proper deductions for these items of maintenance, sinking fund, Interest and $10,000 of bonds already issued and you will fl. J that at the end of five years he will have had for building new roadt the sum of $151,775 (calculating Interest at 4 1-2 per c-^nt. and maintenance at $6, aoo -<s |i done in my plan), and not $207.coo as Mr. Boyle figures It. '"herefore, as he will be receiving only $17,600 plus $14,000 equals $31, 500 and has to deduct from this $6, 000 for maintenance, and $3,375 In? terest and sinking frnd on bonds is? sued, making a total deduction of |9,t?6i he will have to spend on building new roads after the fifth year only $20,625, and this would take about 2 1-2 year* to complete the balance of the 400 miles which WS would still have to build. Evidently, therefore, Mr. Boyle's calculations will need some very rad? ical revision before they on be made to provide for a complete County road system and its maintenance. It would take at least a three mill levy for six years, agaln3t a one mill levy under my plan. Furthermore Mr. Boyle forget3 to take into consideration that if we have to go down Into our pockets to i raise the $200,000 to build the roads! we are out of the use of this mon I ay, And ItJ use to US, the people of thl County. Is worth $16.000 a year, a total of $320.000 for the 20 years; and that while we are getting the money under my plan at 4 1-2 per cent interest, under his plan we are being made to pay out this same mon ey which la worth 8 per cent to us, so that under my plan we get for $0,000 what under his plan would cost us $10,000 a year, to wit: the use of $200,000. Note further, that there is abso? lutely no provision for Mr. Boyle's 1 lan t<> i>e put into operation: that at beat the Legislature of 1 'J 12 would have to provide for its sub mlesion to the people, the i.egisla ture of 1013 put on the propoaed l?vy and that fumis derived from the levy would not 1... available until about -January 1014, Meantime most of the $50,000 bond Issue would have been used up without an engineer or proper provision for its economical expenditure, and the whole plan for o complete system of good roads disorganize, delayed and jeopardiz? ed. On the one hand you have a carefully thought out plan endorsed by the best business men of the community, provided for and safe? guarded by proper legislative enact? ment; on the other hand you have a hastily prepared, ill considered prop? osition, unprovided for by any legis? lative enactment, and calculated to accomplish nothing so much as the confusion of the issue. In the one case you have a definite, plan ready for adoption; in the other a vague possibility which may never take de? finite form. Which will you have? R. B. Beteer. F HANDLE YOUR MONEY SKILFUIi LY. You can do this if you make your purchases of cut glass and silverware at this store. Here quality and price each shine in the light of the other, I from the smallest single pieces to the large seta. W. A. Thompson, Jeweler and Optician. 0 S. Main St. Snrau r, S. C gBSMKajvmtriMfi sssassst mmmm vjss?vnc> I Kl bLYHR COtlGHl [amp eig?Bwtums$i 7amE}&) IttMs^s! Iii.? 1--^'V". ? t$\ j jaw Ail *:??'?* ??r-'V , TtiMSKwrc .. ?.. \r/,- ? . - ' 1 r"> * ? * ! v>i>v . : . v DON'T w<?? i^??????? WAIT ?YV'^i j?M Vvait K'r neXt Spring 1 vUM and higher prices buy l,>*Vik)V\ now and reap the pro '? rjS ^ fit yourself. Stil ci the Choice Properties Listed With Us now at Quick Sale Prices No. 331 West Hampton Avenue. No. 212 West Hampton Avenue. No. 24 Haskcll Street. SUMTER REAL ESTATE? INSURANCE CO,, Farmen' Bank & Trust Co. Bldg. Sumti'i, S. C. Meaning of Good Bank Management 2M). To extend accommodations to individuals, firms and corporations on approved .security is another feature that makes a well mai aged hank. This policy, followed by the Peoples' Bank Is one of great assistance in the development of the community. If ou need funds to develop your business, our officers are al WS] i ready to have you confer with them. In Time of Peace. prepare for war. In time of prosperity bank against adversity. Yes, bank. We use the term advisedly. Use the bank. Its ad? vantages are ill at your disposal. When in doubt ask th* rftSMer if he knows he will tell you. Let our bookkeepers ha ac "ounts. They'll keep them straight. Your checks re :eipts when you pay an acccunt. When times are ui a fund in the bank against your rain day. It will I ycu more safely than you can keep it. Fire proof vault, insur? er ce against burglary. Its subject to your check when you want it. If you are not already banking with us the time to start is n< w. THE FARMERS' BANK & TRUST CO. V TA>TT? /r^T?AyrC1'\TrP atme PLASTER, shingles lANlEj, L>LiM?jNI, frapteHSETcRE BRICK' DRA1N T-Toir Proin Rice Flonr. Ship Stuff. Bran. I Id y. VJI dm, Mixed Cow and Chicken Feed. Horses. Mules. BHsss!*' XT "? .No Order Too Ijhi-ko Or Too small. Booth-Harby Live Slock Co. ? 4 SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA. . W: - & ' li HI 1 W ? sat 1 ^RohA Ease and plenty in OLD AGE can come only from work aid saving during your younger, energetic days. Do you want to be old and poor 5 Make OUR Bank Your Bank. We pay liberal interest consistent with safety at 4^. Fir^t National Bank OF SUMTER