(wO TOWNS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 



1)}^ tlie Provincial Governor and Assembly; the regulation of many 

 things, especially such as related to education and the care of the poor, 

 being left with the church. Through the leading part taken by the 

 vestry, the parish system, long a feature in the State government, was 

 developed, and thus it happened when, more than a century afterwards, in 

 1783, Cliarleston was incorporated by Act of the Legislature, the church 

 wardens were deputed to conduct the first election for intendant and city 

 wardens. 



In 183G, the titles intendant and wardens were changed to those of 

 mayor and aldermen. They were to be elected by citizens qualified to 

 vote for members of the Legislature, were declared to be the City Council 

 of Charleston, and were vested with the power to establish such by-law.-', 

 rules and ordinances respecting the harbor, streets and public buildings, 

 and, in general, every other by-law and regulation that should to them 

 appear requisite for the welfare and security of the city, or for the 

 preservation of peace and good order, and to make assessments on the 

 inhabitants of Charleston for the convenience and benefit of the city, and 

 to fix, levy and recover fines for all offences against their by-laws, and to 

 appoint officers to carry their by-laws and regulations into effectual 

 execution. Such was and has since been the form of government for 

 the city of Charleston, except when it was temporarily suspended in 18G7 

 and 1868, by order of the military authorities in charge of the military 

 district of South Carolina. 



The cost of the city government of Charleston reached its maximum 

 in 1870, when it was $320,306. For the decade including this year and 

 the succeeding nine, the average annual cost was $794,255. From this 

 date a more economical administration of the city finances ensued, and 

 for the last three years the average cost of the city government has been 

 reduced to $653,136. The increased expenditure in 1SS2 was occasioned 

 by the establishment of the paid Fire Department and the Fire Alarm 

 Telegraph, costing $70,000. The following statements give the receipts 

 and expenditures in detail : 



