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Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, S.C. Senate president and chairman of the Hunley Commission, the group overseeing the restoration of the first combat submarine that sank in Charleston Harbor during the Civil War, blasted The Sun News of Myrtle Beach for using distorted facts about funding. The newspaper opined from news reports that said the project eventually would cost taxpayers $100 million. McConnell claims that the cost won't be anywhere near that amount, that only about $10 million of public funds has been used for the project over the last 10 years.
The $10 million is a far cry from the larger number, but in a state that has so many needs, any public funds spent on the submarine's restoration are too much. South Carolina lacks funds to improve roads (widening U.S. 17 from Gardens Corner to Jacksonboro) and build schools that could replace those depicted in the documentary "The Corridor of Shame" that was shown on S.C. public television 14 months ago. The documentary told the story of challenges rural school districts face and how these systems struggle with the effects of reduced funding from South Carolina state leaders.
Using a standard design, $100 million could build at least 10 and possibly 15 or more new schools. It may be possible to build two elementary schools for the $10 million. For $10 million, the state could buy thousands upon thousands of better textbooks. Get the picture? The needs far outstrip the need to preserve a historic watercraft.
Preservation of history is important. Preserving history can enhance commerce by supplying jobs and buying goods and services in a community, as well as expand the knowledge of the citizenry.
But in a state that has so many needs, preservation of this project should be done with private money.
