The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-12-06

Area, square miles, 900
Cleared land, acres. 99SS7
In cotton per cent 66
Number of farms, I" 454
Average, acres, 400
Assessed land value. Co. assessment 1888 1888
The valuation of lands is about two
thirds of fair valuation.
Assessed personal property, tCo. assess
ment 1850 9O9,749
Number of horses and mules, Go. assess.
ment 1851 6.466
Number of cattle, census 1880 5,ls7
4" sheep, 6O2
swine, S,2lS
Total value farm products, census 1880 s25l9,S33
Tax rate 1884. State, county and levee, 1St mills
Cotton tax, for levees per bale, 81 so
FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CONDITION.
In 1876, at the close of "carpetbag" rule, the
taxpayers of Washington county were confronted
with grave and gloomy financial condition. Taxa
on, State county and levee, had reached eleven per
cent of high valuation of all property Of course,
this state of affairs could not be maintained. for
chile refusal to pay taxes the first consequence
followed by the rovaluaton of 1875. And when rep
resentative local government was established in
1876, the work of restoring the confidence of the
people and the credit of the county was at once and
earnestly begun. 1t found, after much laborious
investigation that the county debt outstanding, rep
resented chiefly by warrants held at forty cents on
the dollar, amounted to $4,000. Considering the
manner in which great portion of this debt had
been contacted, there was a strong disposition to
repudiate portion of it, But it was wisely deter
mined to restore the credit of the county, even
though thousands Of dollars of false and forged debt
were paid. And the entire debt was funded in bonds
bearing per cent interest From that day, all in.
terest has been promptly met and the debt reduced
from near 100000 to $4,000; which is held at a
premium. All current expenses have been paid In
cash, and no other debt incurred. And there is In
the county treasury to the credit of the school and
other funds, S32, ,5244l in cash and good securities
Two years since, the county voted 100000 in 80
year per cent bonds, in aid of the branch roads
now being built by the L., n o. 4 L. r. r. through
the county. And next year interest will probably
have 10 be paid said bonds. But the benefits, in.
crease in values aud derived threfrom, will
far 0verbalance this charge. This is but a brief
showing of the evidence upon which we may, with
truth and pride, claim: that during the past nine
years the public affairs of the county have been
wisely and faithfully administered 1t is not to be
concealed or denied however, that our local govern.
ment is costly in operation. It's chief expense is tho
enforcement, or attempted enforcement, OF the laws
against petty crimes.
LhBoR-RAoE RELATIONS.
Washington county enjoys an abundance of Ia.
Dor, such as 1t is Some 10 excellent and reliable,
much is t0lerabe, and good deal shittless and trl
fling. Its average is not as high as II ought to be.
But 1t is not to be denied that the most successful
planters, those giving closest attention to their busi'
ness, have the best laborers
There have never been serious race troubles in
Washington county. What there have been have
always proceeded from political intrguers; of whom
there promises to be fewer in future. But the coun-
ty has, through the wise frmness of its citizens,
avoided all violence or bloodshed.
SCHOOLS.
Environed with social aud financial embarrass-
ments as this portion of the South has been during
the past 20 years. it is not to be supposed that edu
cati0na advantages and administration even ap-
pr0aches what IL should be. Although there has been
faithful and constant labor, by the State Legislatures
and county officials in their behalf, 1t is to be re-
membered that 1t is only since the war that general
"free school, system was adopted and engrafted
upon our laws.
Washington county has 20 schools in operation,
with corps of 80 teachers. Enrolment OF scholars
amounts to 4,5O0. Average attendance $500. Annu
ally the county spends $4,000 to $4,000 in education
The schools of Greenville. which is separate as
district, consist of white school Of $50 boys and
girls and coored school of $40 boys and girls
costing the town about $4,000 annually
GREENvILLE--THE COUNTY SEAT
This pamphlet would be incomplete did 1t not
contain sketch of Greenve, the Court House
town of the county, as well as the capital OF the Lo
wee District. "Old Greenvle" was burned during
the by the Federal naval authorities. The pres
ent town laid off in 1865, though 1t was not in
corporated until 1870 1t enjoys an extensive trade
with the surrounding country, and s noted for the
liberality and enterprise Of its merchants and
citizens generally. Last year from September,
1883, to same date 1884,, the town shipped
between 10000 and $1,000 bales of cotton.
Since the completion Of the L.. N. 0. & I.
r. r. it is not probable that it will in future ship so
largely direct from the town. But 1t still has, and
promises to continue to have, the trade of the coun
try raising this, aud even greater amount. The
building of the branch roads, and the certain increase
In population and production attepdant upon rail-
roads, and the increased efficiency in the protection
of the back country from overflow, insures not only
the stability of Greenville, but its future growth.
The chief trouble with which Greenyille, with all
other towns and counties the lower River, has to
contend against is the shifting channel of the River
and the infctions therefrom; consisting in either
cavng banks or sand bars Against this there is
now almost a certain assurance of government pro-
lection, through the plan of works adopted and ap'
piled by the River Commission.
The enlightenment and moral elevation of the
citizens Of 6reenville is shown by their church build
ings a number of excellent private schools and
very pretty and tasteful public library building with
1900 well selected and handsomely bound volumes.
This latter was the gift of one of her citizens, Mr..
Chas. p. Huntington.
GreenvilIe has been liberal in the encourage
ment offered to railroads The Mississippi terminus
of the Georgia Pacific railroad is here. For about
thirty.fve miles it has been extended toward the
east, from this place. to meet the Western extension
Of the road. A branch of it extends down Deer
Greek thirty miles to the Sharkey county line. The
L., n. o. s. 7. X. r. has been induced, by the enter
prise and public spirit for which the town has always
been noted, to build branch road here and hence
South to Lake Washington, thirty miles.
To cut the story short, for space is limited,
we will only add that in addition to its varied
camille enterprises, Greenvie boasts of the fin.
est cotton seed oil mills in the country, operated by