If any railroad company shall fail to make the returns to the department as required by this chapter, the department shall proceed to ascertain the value of the company's road and property according to the principles prescribed in this Article from the best information it can conveniently obtain, and add thereto fifty percent as penalty and apportion such valuation to the several counties, towns, townships and cities through or into which such road or any part thereof may be located. The department shall certify such apportionment and valuation to the several county auditors, who shall place it on their duplicates for taxation.
S.C. Code § 12-37-1680