Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-07
GEORGIA.
KEer Past-Rer Present. Facts and
Figures.

Editor Morning NeWs: There has been
some discussion as to whether our State is
growing poorer or richer. propose, in this
article, to give some facts and figures, and
your readers can draw their own conclusions.
1 care nothing what this CT that man may say,
but simply ask for facts. Theory is one thing.
facts altogether another.
In 1850, the tax able property Of Georgia, in
dependent of slaves, was 1850, III, ,9!2; value of
slaves, SjG2, .s5j making a total value of
S6;2, ,322, ~. Substrscting our losses in ne
groes, value of lands, the desolation of Cher
okee Georgia. the loss of all kinds OF stock,
the burning Of our cities and homes. the de-
struction Of our railroads loss OF bank sock,
bonds, notes, etc.. etc, which went to make
up the wealth of the State and we have total
loss of S525, ,965, ,355.
Subtrecting our losses from $672, So, ,777, the
property of 1860. and we had left according to
the first return after the war of only l46 35
Some writer puts down the value of all prop
erty IN 1866 at a gold basis at $I4S, 10, SIS.
such was Georgia Immediately after the war,
when sorrow, desolation and poverty were cur
inheritance.
According to the last Comptroller Generals
report, the taxable property of Georgia was
given in at 23S 934 1875, and in 1879 at 1925 093
419, an increase of Si43i9179. We have of
exempted property from taxation In factories,
furnaces and other industries, thirty-thEee in
numJeT, Si.133.3i5. the idea of the State being
to encourage tbs building of factories, etc, by
giving a ten years exemptions good and
pcIitic idea-a substantial protection, inde.
pendent Of all tariffs.
subtracting 1876, ,257, ,429, for year 1876. from
S2S S54, l26, return for 1850, and we have gain
in wealth Of Se2 575, ,204; adding the a. lbs, ,37S
of exemOted properly, ana We have gain OF
$50, ,715O19.
But, Dir Editor, cannot Georgia make bet
ter showing than that? ! hold that she can
and viii eudeavor to prove it. Do our citizens
give in their property at its real valuation!
have studied the question, and am satisfied
they do not.
To illus trate: In talking with a gentleman
from a neighboFing county on the subject OF
the i0OsenesS. not to say the ShamelesSness
with which men give in their property for
taxation, which, to my moral sense. sayors OF
perjury, he remarked: II give in my lands at
/ 81 per acre, the same as my neighborS though
would not take Sl2 per acre; but why should
I give in my lands at that price when my
neighb0rs will not do the sane?' Say his
neighbors: Mr.. FAINTER owns fine lands. and
is a large planter, but he gives in his lands at
& per acre, and why should We give in ours
AZ a higher Egures" Thus each and every
man sinks his individuality and his
sense of truth behind his neighboT' s
oath; 5sees how his neighbor swears to
the valae Of property, and swears just
like him. Emerson never gave expression TO
greater truth than when he said: Men of
character are the conscience OF the society to
which they belong or in which they move y
q
country, that the men who are supposed TO
have mora character than the mass OF the
people, because they have more money, are
really wanting in that integrity. that nice
sense of truth and honor which should be the
great and impressive characteristic Of men of
influence and wealth Mankind borrow their
manners from the great and grow great by
their examp e. Great rleD make great
people, and truthful and honorable men give
tone and character to society.
Who believes thSt Georgia with her pEoduc-
tious. her 10000 bales of cotton, her rice,
wheat corn, potatoes, oats, etc, that her i'm
proved lands are worth on an average only
s g. and that her uuimproved or wild lands
are worth only y cents? Yet such is the state
ment of the Comp rollers report for 1880
Again. Georgia has Ill Of her railroads and
more OF them, has more banks, more mer-
chandiSe, more stoc<, better cultivated lands,
aEd SOC, ,090 more people than she had IN 1850.
Why then should she be SO much more poorer
than ia 1850. save only in the loss OF negro pro-
peTtyS In my opinion, Georgia has to-day a
taxable property Of $500 000 0o0 if fairly, truth
fully and justly given in What we want, and
what many of the States have, are tax asses
sOrs-hOnOrable men, brave men, just men,
men who without fear, favor or affection, would
assess the property of their respective counties
at 3 fair valua ion.
It is to be hoped that at the meeting of the
LEGISLATURE in July, some member will Intro
cuce a bill 10 appoint tax assessors.
Think for moment. Mr. Editor would any
man in his senses believe that Vanderbilt,
Astor, Gould, and one or two other millionalres
could buy out Georgia for 2390, coo, COO! It Is
an absnrdity to think OF such a thing: yet, the
taxable property nf our State is given in at
less than $34O, ,0c0, ,O00i Georgia is developing
fast, and she is growing richer every day:
r. NJ o.