The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-08-21
Agricultural Condition Of Cobb.

| lS73-Acres in cotton Is, 493; in
| wheat 6,903; oats 5,G33; corn 2l.-
1856.
lS74--Acres in cotton II, $50 in
wheat 1876: oats 1926; corn 22,-
$50.
Tax of 1872, white polls. 1865,
freedmen polls 246-in all 1914.
Taxable property oflS72--whites
S2,876,9S7; freedmen Shafts; in
all So, s90,76
White polls, 2.250; freed
men polls, 550--in all $500.
Taxable property Of 1874 will be
about s3,97o, 650--of freedmen
$4,000.
Taxable property OF each District !:
Marietta Dist, Sl,4l0, 1856; Powder
Springs, 1897, 1921; Acwor,h $57G,-
395; Oregon, Sl6S,827; Cox's,
5000, 1865; Lemons, s2lS,240 !;
Roswell, $430, 1870; Merits $780,
1856; Gritter, SlS3,45 Big Shan
ty, $22O,l32.
have given above a statement
of the taxable property of the coun-
ty; and you see wide difference
between the returns Of 1872 and
1874, This increase has been made
during the great financial crisis, and
consequent depreciation Of values.
Allow me to explain by saying, that
when | took the oath of Office, re-
solved to fully acqaaint myself with
my duties, UNDER the law, As
sworn officer, and to perform that
duty.
The law requires that every tax
payer shall make true return Of all
their taxable property, at its true
market value in currency. 1t also
requires the Receiver, so far as his
knowledge permits, to see to it
that if they failed to do SO, the props
erty is properly assessed. This |
resolved to do, and clear my con-
science, without fear of condemna
ton or hope of reward. In SO doing,
| had no friends to favor or enemies
to punish--but to lay burden Of
taxation equally on all
To my establishment, found quite
a number Of citizens, some Of all
the different Christian churches :
would take q solemn oath TO make
true returns of all their taxable
property, at true market value, and
then rate the same at about half its
value. This, under my oath Of Of
fee i was compelled to object to. To
my further astonishment, ! found
many who had not given 10 their
tax at all-which will be seen by the
large increase of polls. Of course
this made the burden bear harder on
those who had been making their
returns. Out of these two classes
the greater portion of the increase is
made, and the result Of which you
will see by the per cent, Of tax.
In 1879 the per cent, was %
cents on the hundred; ID 1873 it
was 81; this year il will be %
cents. So, you see, the more prop
erty returned, the less the per cent,
as so much money has to be receiv-
ed.
am aware that have incurred
the displeasure Of many; and find
that if an officer wishes to be retain
ed in Office, in this, the banner coun-
ty of the State, he must not do his
whole duty. notwithstanding all
that, / am proud that ! tried 70 do
my duty, defeated as | am--no 9TH
err charge being brought against me,
| stand on my record alone.
1t has been further charged, and
thrown into my face, that the motive
which prompted this course on my
part, was to make money out Of the
large increase Of tax. My reply to
this class was that they did not know
what they were talking about. Ny
pay is 4 per cent, on tag from ten to
twenty thousand, and over, 3 per
cent, Now, suppose thetax amount
10 twenty thousand, my salary would
be $500. Ifby my extra efforts It
should 60 one dollar over then it
would be 5000 e per cent.)--s200
lost An | right or wrongY Be
ashamed Of your persecution Of q
faithful officer.
| will now tell you what my object
was. It was that every tax payer
should carry his own burden, as the
law contcmplates. To illustrate,
suppose you and | had to carry two
sacks Of equal weight, about as
much as we could well carry, and |
should fail to carry mine and sou be
compelled to carry it for me; would
you think it riglltf You would soon
be ready to cast it off, and be will
ing to assist in compelling me 10
carry il myself. Just so, my fellow
citizens, there Is class of faithful
tax payers who have been and are
still grooming under The burden of
taxes, while some Of their neighbors
are Sinking and trying to eyade that
equality in taxation which the law
demands. This the Law required
rae, as Receiver, to see TO and