Highland County Proposal Letter

Title

Highland County Proposal Letter

Accession Number

2024.16.2.283

Accession Date

18 November 2025

Accession Creator

Meadow Knapp

Description

Letter asking for a vote for Highland County to become a county alongside Spartanburg and Greenville, S.C.

Storage Location

Box 28, Folder #9

Concerns

Hole in the top middle
Water damage in the bottom middle

Text

TO THE VOT[hole] E PROPPSED NEW COUNTY
When it was thoug[hole] for reply the opposition to the New County movement inspired by Spartanburg city politicians who disliked to see their source of rev-enue cut off, issued a circular to you quoting tax rate in the new county of Dorchester for county purposes at 4 I-4 mills: Saluda, another new county, at 6 I-4 mills, while that in Greenville county according to circular 3 mills, and that of Spartanburg 3 I-4 mills. The official figures from the Comptroller General give just the reverse of above statement: Dorchester 3 mills, Saluda 3 I-2, Spartanburg 6 I-4, Greenville 7 mills. This is an under-hand method to defeat the new county movement because Spartanburg city is now having its streets paved at your expense, and they want to continue this is the reason for this circular. They admit that taxes in Cherokee county are lower than they are in Spartan-burg county; and Highland will have even a lower tax rate than Cherokee county. The circular further points out that the expense of keeping up bridges on Enoree river are borne by Spartanburg and Greenville counties, and, in the event that Highland wins, this expense will have to be borne by Highland county. The tax books show that Spartanburg and Greenville counties take $25,000.00 in taxes annually from the people of this county and that the expense of keeping up the bridges above referred to is less than $250.00 a year, leaving a balance of more than $24,500.00 which now goes to Spartanburg and Greenville counties, but which, in the event that Highland wins could be spent in building steel bridges and macadamizing the roads thereto.
The circular further claims that sometime in the future a $200,000 electric plant will be erected in Spartanburg, thereby decreasing your taxes and improving your property. Do the people of Spartanburg expect the voters of this community to erect this plant for them/ It would seem so from circular. Would it not be more reasonable for you to spend this money a little bit nearer home than Spartanburg?
The Circular referred to bore no signature, and anonymous circulars are ever dangerous and delusive. Their motives then should appear to you as unclean and unworthy of consideration.
The campaign for the new county movement has extended over a period of two years. Abundant time has been given to the people of Spartanburg to deny the statements tat have been made in favor of the new county. Instead of replying in a fair way they use an eleventh hour circular filled with false statements. THIS IS AN INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE. Your are asked to consider what motives prompt this circular and when study of this is made you will find it to your interest to Vote for Highland.
H. V. WESTMORELAND,
E. DALLIE GREEN,
O. P. SMITH.