The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, January 11, 1907, Page 7, Image 7
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PWUEMENi
OES.
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s our Snow Window. |
1WE HELP OUR CUSTOMERS. |
Yours for Business, &
11 uuiuu Jiiue lu.|
I $ Phone 41. Main Street. ?
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LOCAL LACONICS. Mr- and Mrs. C. T. Boyd left Mon
day for an extended visit to relatives
Happenings of Interest in Hobbysville and Newberry.
AbOUt 1 OWn. ^r- an(' Mrs. J. VVistah Crawford
left last week for Texas, where they
Mr. A. D. Price spent Sunday in will make their future home.
Wt Columbia. Miss Evie Chambers returned
l^-s. jennett Wallace spent Wednes- Monday to Van Wyck, after spending
da^in Spartanburg. two weeks with her parents.
Mr. B. F. Alston spent Wednesday Mr. W. Sam Lipsjo.nb and his
on business in Jonesville. daughter. Miss Lena, arrived in L'nion
Mr. A. D. Price made a business trip Friday to visit Mr. and Mrs. Edward
to Spartanburg Saturday. Lipscomb.
Dr. J. T. Jeter, of Santuc, paid us a Mrs. Floyd L. Baker arrived in Unpleasant
visit Wednesday. 'on Wednesday night. She and her
husband will board with Rev. L. M.
Dr. J. M. Wallace and wife spent Rice on Gage avemJe
Wednesday in Spartabnurg.
Mayor McBeth Young and Mr. H.
Mr. Carrol Rogers visited relatives j Scajfe spem the ,aMer pan q{ ]as|
in Spartanburg last Sunday. week jn Columbia, where the 32nd
Mrs. Ida C. Morgan is quite ill at degree in Maosnry was conferred upher
home on Church street. on them.
Mr. Jas. E. Minter, of Sedalia, was Mrs. Marvin McNeace and daughter,
in Union a few days this week. Christine, left Anderson Wednesday
Mr. C. H. Peake returned Saturday V?\,Pegas' Mexico, to join
from a visit to her sister in Wilms- Xlr McNcacc' ?ho has >hcre
. some time.
boro.
I^Brs. T. E. Bailey returned from Co- The February number of Style &
^Pia Saturday after a short visit American Dressmaker has just been
there. received. It is called the Carnival
l Mrs. A. F. Clement came Thursday Number, and has two beautiful girls
\o visit her daughter, Mrs. R. E. j >n brilliant fancy dress on the cover.
I^ruce. The story which begins on the first
? j *f w r k. | page is very entertaining.
Cant, and Mrs. W. M. Gibbes, of I . . . t
, . . ,. , . , . ; A new and unique form ot enterColumbia,
are spending this week in . . , ... _
. I tamment is described. It is called
t e city. a gt Valentine's Party. A story illusMr.
John Brohawn, of Baltimore, trates its amusing possibilities, and
was in Union on business several days the centre page gives suggestions for
this week. costumes.
' Mrs. R. E. Bruce and Miss Ida The designs of gowns and wraps
Clement returned Sunday night from and children's dresses are up to the
Spartanburg. standard of the magazine.
There is also much of interest to
Dr. Thco. Maddox went to Spartan- cvery woman who stw5 and
burg Wednesday to attend the luneral ,ions and hcl are cotuain,.,|
s of h? brother's w,le. (he numl,er.
Mrs. L. P. Epton and Miss Louise Subscription price $1.00 a year.
Eppf. >f Spartanburg, are visiting | Send your name and address for a
Mrs. W. D. Wilkins. sample copy to
(Style & American Dressmaker")
Mrs. B. F. Townsend and little o. t- c.
^4 w 4\1 I'^ciM ZI SI Dl.v
daughter, Mary, left this week for a ,t jsjew York,
visit to Greenwood.
Miss Mary Fike, who has been on A Wonderful Happening.
an extended visit to relatives here, has t D VT . . .
. _ . Port Byron, N. Y., has witnessed
returned to Spartanburg. . .. 4 ... ,
one of the most remarkable cases of
Mr. H. L. Scaife and family will healing ever recorded. Amos F. King,
leave Saturday for Mexico, where they of that place, says: "Bucklen's Arnica
will spend the winter. They will be Salve cured a sore on my leg with
accompanied by Mrs. Mary F. Scaife, which I had suffered over 80 years. I
^Miss Mildred Scaife and Mr. R. E. am now eighty-five." Guaranteed to
Scaife. 1 cure all sores, by all druggists; 25c.
. , v
ft Sl,
Why Taxes Are Higher.
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2.)
Now, while I am opposed to the macadamizing
of the roads, there are
others who are just as much entitled to
their opinion as I am, who are in
favor of this work. Every man is entitled
to his opinion, let it he right
or wrong. The men who are having
this work done no doubt think it is
the proper thing. I differ with them,
but they may be right and I may be
wrong. I would undertake to improve
the roads in a different way.
The question is asked me many
times a day: "Why arc taxes so
much more than they were many years
ago?" To this question I reply: 1 suppose
because many years ago there
was nothing contributed to the Con-'
federaet soldiers; today there are
$200,000 given them yearly by the taxpayers
of the State. Many years ago
there was 110 Clemson college; many
years ago there was no Winthrop college;
many years ago there was 110 annual
appropriation made for a Clemson
or a Winthrop. Many years ago
the school teachers of Union county
were paid $25.00 a month. Today they
are paid $30.00 to $35.00 per month.
Many years ago the public schools of
Union county were run, perhaps four
months in the vear. Todnv thov :ire
run, perhaps, eight months in the
year. Many years ago the school
houses were punched and dobbed with
red mud, and made of hewn logs. Today
they are framed and ceiled or plastered.
Many years ago there were no
bridges across the streams to your
homes. Today you have either a substantial
wooden or steel bridge across
the streams to your homes. Many
years ago you rode many miles out of
your way to get to your homes. Today
you demand of the supervisor that
a bridge be built over the stream in
front of your home, or something w'll
be doing at the next election. If necessary,
you can get 1,000 taxpayers of
Union county to sign a petition, asking
the supervisor to erect a bridge over
the stream directly opposite your
home, and then when the time comes
to raise taxes to pay for the erection
of this bridge, why just such a yell of
"high taxes" you never di$ hear. Many
years ago you did not undertake to
macadamize the public r[oads of the
county, but today you aife paying, in
the way of taxes, $i 1.500 tper year for
tb.s work. Many years agio the county
of Union did not aid or\cony?^
to the old soldiers, but today the county
of Union is contributing' to the old
soldiers $2,000 per year. Many years
1 ago the county of Union did not have
any chaitigang to contend with, but today
it is contending with a chaingang
that, according to my opinion, is not
self-sustaining. Many, years ago the
roads were worked by common labor.
Today they are worked by taxation.
So mote it be. Amen, then cry out,
"Why are taxes so much higher than
1 they were many years ago?"
A? to Assessments.
Now, as to the assessment of property.
From my general observation,
the assessment of property, both real
and personal, is very unjustly arrived
at. Whether it be intentional or not,
the effect is just the same. I know
from my own observation that there
are some parties whose property is
assessed for more than it ought to be.
I know, from my own observation,
there are some parties whose property
is assessed about right. I know from
i my own observation there are some
j parties whose property is not assessed
I at one-halt what it ought to be assessj
ed. With all fairness to all parties
| who own property in Union county,
j I must say from general observation,
| I find the assessment of property very
I unjust. I see that lands in and around
the town of Union that would readily
j sell for $25.00 to $600 per acre, assess
I ed tor $7.00 per acre. I here js land
out from the town of Union that
j would sell for $20 per acre that is as)
sessed for $5 per acre. There are peoj
pie in Union county, who have money
! at interest in the bank, who do not as;
sess it for taxation. There are people
I in Union county who have loaned monj
ey, for which they hold notes or morti
gages, and no taxes are paid on it.
I The best property on earth is money.
The lands of this county should be
graded according to the location,
the fertility and improvements, such
as buildings, etc., but this is not done.
The Court expense of Unioti County
seems to be more and more every
year. We use to have six weeks of
court in the year, now we have eight
weeks of court during the year. It
costs the taxpayers about $6,000 a year
to run the court in this county. The
witnesses are getting more numerous
every year and they all have to be
paid, and cash at that. There seems
to be more time taken up and less
work done in the courts of Union.
,The more time taken up, the more
pay will jurors and witnesses have to
have, all of which comes from the tax-i
payer. The general tax levy is 2 mills
more this year than it was last. This
is for permanent road work. Now i'
your property was assessed this yei.r
at the same value as it was last, you
would phy 20 centslm?re on $100 of
taxable broperty tP? >ou did last
year. Tnis is the Hrfet year since 1901
that a ijlew value has been put upon
all real estate in Union county. Since
all real estate in Union county has increar
od in value since four years ago.
a corresponding increase on the taxable
value has been put upon it; or at
j least that was the intention. Now, if1
I your land, houses and lots in town are
I worth more this year than they were j
four years ago, it is nothing but right
I that the assessed value be more, in order
to correspond with the assessment
of personal property; which is made
yearly.
j Now in behalf of the personal taxi
payer: The person who pays taxes on
I personal property, is required to assess
it every year, and if your personal
property has increased by the purchasing
of a mule or a horse or a cow
or a buggy, or a stock of merchandise,
that increase is returned every year
and you pay taxes on this increase;
while real estate in this county has
gradually increased yearly, and yet no
taxes have ^>cen paid on this increase
in four years. Now, since the taxable
value of property has increased, the
levy ought to decrease, unless you increase
the liabilities. One might think
that as taxes arc so much higher than
they were last year, that a big surplus
would be on hand, but not so.
But this increase in taxes this year;
will go a long ways towards reducing
the floating debt of the county. This
floating debt is for ordinary county,
which has been behind for a number
of years, except $12,000 or $t.t,ooo for
road machinery winch was purchased
last year and has not been paid for
yet.
I have already noticed that in some
instances where parties are kicking
about high taxes, and comparing the
taxes they paid last year with the tax- =
es charged against them this year, that
they did not pay enough last year and
arc just now getting right. You know
if a party did not pay enough last year
they .fcannot, or ought not. to make a
comparison with their taxes of this
year., They should comfort themselves
by knowing that they had the luck of
not paying their part of the taxes last
year.
I have just come out of the county
supervisor's office where, by the aid
of the supervisor, I got up a statemi
nt of the financial condition of Unio|.
T find that after the taxes which
U-* collected for 1906 will have been
mil, tll^re will still remain a floating
debt against Union county of about
$22,000. About one-half of this debt
seems to be for road, and one-half for
ordinary county. So you will see, as
I have already stated, there will be 110
surplus from this year's taxes, but instead
of a surplus the county will owe
a floating debt of about $22,000. This
seems to be a right heavy floating
debt, but it has already been made and
it ha ?to be paid. The amount of taxes
crfllected for 1906 would have paid I
off all floating debts against Union I
county had not the permanent road
working been done. From $11,000 to
$12,000 have been spent tor permanent
road working, and notes given to the j
amount of $13,000, with interest to be
added at 6 per cent, from date of
notes, which I suppose was a year ago
at least, for the machinery purchased
for that work. I find that it has cost
about $5,000 per mile to macadamize'
the road now being worked on. There!
will have to be a levy created for past!
indebtedness each year, until the $22,- j
000, which is past indebtedness, has)
been liquidated or paid off.
The taxpayer sometimes remarks L
I when paying his taxes: "Well, if they
j get any higher I will just turn it over (
to them: just let them take it." I sup- j(
! pose they mean, when they say "them," ?
| the ones who make taxes higher. Now
pray tell me who are "them" that make I
taxes higher? It is the taxpayer who .1
votes a special I, 2, 3 or 4 mill school ,
?ax on himself: it is the taxpayer whol
voted out the dispensary, from which!
the county has been getting about j ,
$10,000 a year for a number of years;
it is the taxpayer who causes eight j ^
weeks of court expenses to be paid out 1
each year, amounting to about $6,000
yearly; it is the taxpayer who takes
a small tree out of the public road
which cost him 25 cents and charges '
the county $1.00 for it; it is the tax- .
payer who repairs a small bridge or
fills up a mud hole which is worth
about $1.00, and charges the county
$5.00 for it; it is the taxpayer who is
working the roads of Union county;
it is the taxnaver who i* havinc srhrxil -
houses built, saying how long the
schools shall be run each year, employ- '!
ing teachers and saying how much ri
they shall he paid; it is the taxpayer
who gets back a big portion of the S1
money paid in by them for taxes. ^
then cry out, "Well, if they get any 41
higher I will just turn it over to them; Sl
just let them take it." Let who take
it? The above will' auswer the question.
Just turn it over to whom? The Si
abrjve will answer the question,
When youMo work for Union county, K
*uich as building^^***, and working t!
roads, you are d<j>ing w*W for yourself,
as you pasa? over t.^^i perhaps ,w
every day. Therefore, yo^Lought to
| A CAR L
1 ORG
y
The finest ever shipped to
y[ few days. See them and i
Y ing. There is a great savi
ip Car-load lots and our cust<
fefit of it. We will also ha
1 UPRIGHT
Sj! At one half the
2 Let Us Figur
1 UNION SUPPL
W J. H. SPEARS
^*7^ ftl? ^7, Kl? ftt?'
I HAT RAC
jjj Trade at Swygert's 5 and 3
Rack FREE. ' I am givir
|i of goods for One Dollat
t? FREE besides.
IJ COME, SEE AND KEEP
1 O. A. SW
nake this work as good and as sub-j |
tantial as you possibly can. When j i
'oh make a charge against Union i
ounty for doing this work, you arc ]
naking a charge against yourself orh
our taxable property, therefore, you' i
uglit ot make your charges as reason-'i
ible as possible. It does seem that t
axes are high, but after all I know i
tf no standard by which we may judge 1
vhcther qlir taxes are too high or not. <
Ac cannot judge by comparing our |
axes this year with out last year's ,
axes, because we may order, by our
rote, advice or influence, something
lone this year that was not done last
rear, such as voting a 3 mills special |
ichool tax, voting out dispensary, ma-i
:adamizing roads, which of course will j
nake our taxes this year more than
hey were last year, when these chang-1
rs had not taken place. So you see 11
ou will have to make allowances for ;
hese changes. I am of the opinion. |'
hat after making due allowance to 1
gradually liquidate the floating debt 1
low on the county, that we can reduce,'
he levy next year 1-2 or 2 mills, pro- i:
rided we will only levy 1 mill for per-j
nancnt road working, instead of 2j
iiills. which was the levy this year for |
hat purpose. As 1 have already stat:d,
I do not believe that the chain
?ang is self-sustaining, from the fact
hat the cost is too great for the number
of convicts wc have to work; consequently,
1 think it advisable to abolsh
the chain gang system and work
he roads wtih different labor. Inj
act. I believe the whole road system!
hould be changed. The money already
pent on 2 miles or road, and the dif- .
ercnce in the value of the machinery .
low and what it cost, would hire 58 |
aborers at $1.00 per day for .tio days, j (
ind 5 overseers at $40.00 per month .
or .tto days. Now. suppose you scat- (
er 5 overseers and 58 hands over Un- (
on county for .tio days, and have them':
0 make permanent all the mud holes o
nd other bad places, which would iur-1,
ish immediate relief to everybody in J.
he county, don't you think this would!,
e a great ileal better than macada-'
nizing 2 miles of road out of 600!
niles, which arc traveled over every j
ay ? !'
Now in behalf of the financial con-/
itions of our schools 1 want to say,/
hat we have got more good and sub- '
tantial schol buildings in Union coun- !
y today than ever before in the his- J
ory of the county. Schools are alsoj
11 a cash basis, something unknown '
1 Union county ever before. After ^
aking some pains, I find that if no '
tore expense will be attached to thei?
... - ... Ii
l- rt v (1111 k " 'Oti/, man mere was 1111 1
r>o6. every school district in the conn- jr
y will have enough money out of this ; s
ear's taxes, 1906, to run them during 3
ic year 1907. This will put them j 1
ght square up on a cash basis. if
After all, looking upon the bright;
de, we may not be in such bad shape.
Ve have got more good and substanal
school houses, and more good and
itbstantial steel and wooden bridges,
tan we have ever before had, since
lis has been a county. If the old
lying, "Good school houses, good
ridges and,"?well ,1 started to say
ood roads, but 1 reckon 1 had better |
ike that back,?"is a good index as
3 the prosperity of a county," is true, i
e arc prospering. *
It has come to my ears, that some |
OAD OF |
ANS 1
Union, will be here in a ?
get our prices before buy- y
ng by buying Organs'in y
Dmers shall have the ben- V
ve five fine ^
ty
PIANOS I
> regular price ^
e With You |
V
:k free: |
LOc Store and get a Hat j?
ig a big Dollar's worth ^
, and giving Hat Racks &
J
UP WITH THE TIMES! '|
ygert. i
people arc blaming me for taxes beng
high. Now, I know that 1 am igtorant
in a great many respects, but
1 do certainly feel sorry for any perion
wlm ic nttlior ? ?
"?v/ ?? aw iiiaiitium ur su
gnorant as to blame a county treasurer
for taxes being high. I have got
two men's work to do and a dozen
men's responsibility, to collect and disburse
the tax money which I am ordered
to do, let alone going out and
financing the county affairs. I have
devoted a great deal of time and
thought in getting up this information,
and I hope it will prove to be of general
benefit to all those who read it..
Very respectfully,
J. H. Baiiies..
The Charming Woman
is not necessarily one of perfect form
tnd features. Many a plain woman
who could never serve as an artist's
model possesses those rare qualities
that all the world admires: neatness,
clear eyes, clean smooth skin and that
sprightliness of step and action that
accompany good health. A physically
weak woman is never attractive, not
even to herself. Electric Bitters restore
weak women, give strong nervebright
eyes, smooth, velvety skin, bear
tiful complexion. Guaranteed at a"
drug stores; 50c.
New Brooms.
Santuc, Jan. 8.?Some negroes wh
evidently believed in the old sayin;
hat "a new broom sweeps clean," qu *
and left their old places for ne'scenes,"
and now they seem to hav
leen swept clean. Big accounts, a
rompanied by undreamed of morta!
iges. they say, confronted them, athey
have been having their knuckl
jeep into tneir eyes, (figuratively) tr
ng to rub visions of "Where am I a
nto them. Von can find most negro
Tying to get "cleaned up," as they sa
myway, it seems so. Will they f
tew brooms again this year?
Long Live the King.
s the popular cry throughout Europe: i
rountries; while in America, the cry .
he present day is "Long live DKing's
New Discovery, King of Thro i
md Lung Remedies!" of which M
fulia Ryder Paine, Truro, Mass.' sa.
'It never fails to give immediate r.ief
and to quickly cure a cough o*
old." Mrs. Paine's opinion is shar. ?
rj ?? iiidjwii vj ui iiiv iiuiauiirtiiid u1 ii. >
rountry. New Discovery cures wee
lings and sore throats after all oth "
emedies have failed: and for coug'
md colds it's the only sure cure. G
iranteed by all druggists. 50c and f .
rrial bottle free.
? Buggies, Surrles and Harnesc I
Si *t *A"ur*CTU,,t*'* rmci I
m i-p Guaraotrrd lot 13 ?>o- I
built (ot Style, jotli ?
f j and Dorabihty. Wtci
Vvfto^vy^/yAY^Vv' "" TOO I3S.00 oa tl
parchaa* ol a Buggy. Ru
about 01 Surrey. O
complete c.nlog No. 4 It r?ee lot tbo .iking.
John footer Co.,3tS-77l Dacami St.. Atlanta. G; {
fij/f V . GUAIU*
1grMtUt2>nd>
it C AAA bank deposit
l%3.iiilil R.R. Fare Paid. Notes Ta n
^ " S00 FRER COCKS**
BHBHBMH Board at Coat. Write C
lEORGIA-ALABAUA BUSINESS COLLEGE, Macon.