The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1888-08-29
WIN Wonld uhange?N

n0ctober, 1867, the Public Treas
urer reported the State debt, princi-
pal and interest, at sl5,2ss,o io.5o,
In November, 1870, only three years
later. Treasurer Jenkins reported the
debt to be 1913, 0s4, 641.75.
The Republicans had been in three
years, and had added sl7,S46, eo1.2i
to the debt.
In 1870 the Democrats got con-
troll of the Legislature, and whilst
the State was in no condition, after
three years of Republican misrule, to
pay any of its debt, they prevented
any increase of the principal. They
did reduce taxes, restore the common
schools and re-eommence the con-
struction of the Western North Caro-.
lima Railroad. BY 1875 they had re-
duced State taxes to 29S cents.
In 1877 the Democrats took entire
charge of the State. They found
the State debt, principal and inter
est, amounting to 4l,7SS,7lO,45
The prospect of settlement seemed
almost hopeless to creditors and
debtor. But the debt has been set.
tied satisfactorily to both parties IN
terested. The States six per cent
bonds are selling at 1923, and its foul
per cent. bonds at 800, the interes
on all being promptly paid.
. Under the system of county gov
eminent, restored by the Democracy
in 1877, the counties are nearly al
in goodcondit:on: their large indebt.
edness-the results Of Republican
misrule-nearly all paid of; and III
the eleven years not a dollar oftaxe'
has been lost to the State BY default
of any sheriff.
The Western Railroad has beer
completed TO the Tennessee line and
has effected its connections with til,
railroad systems of the eOuntry;ant
it Is making rapid progress to it
other terminus at Murphy. 1t ha!
Brought into the STATE already tw'
millions Of dollars, aid two millions
more will be used for its completion
Some two millions of dollars o.
more have been brought into tn
State and expended upon the Cap
Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad
The best equipped and most use
full Agricultural Department in th
South Is another result of eleYel
years Of Democratic rule.
The system Of public schools i
thoroughly re-established.
The University has been frml
re-established.
Normal schools for both races ar
provided for every section Of tn
State.
Asylums for white and black hay
been built and thoroughly equipped
In 1859 the State tax was S0cent'
For two years the State tax was 2
cents.
For two years ii has been 20 cent
One year there was no State tar
Who would changer
Ii isa good thing to reduce th
peoples taxes and to diminish III
public expenditures when it can b
done without damage to the people
interests: but after all, the matter fo
the people TO consider, and whic
sensible people do consider, is nc
how much has been spent, but be-
it has been spent, and whether NOR
has been spent than was necessar
10 the protection and advancement
II the public interests. lie who EN-
ploTs a man and pays him $1,000
year tOrun his plantation, and at th
end Of the term Of service finds tina
there are no crop returns; that hi
lands have been allowed 10 90 b
gully; that his fences are down; hi
stock unfit for service, and his barn
and Out-houses gOnetO rack and ruin
il not likely ~ re-employ that ma
after finding that a successor make
good crops, keeps the lands in trim
the stock in good workingOrder AM
the buildings in good repair, even
Che outiHy IN sseurs thess npoftabl