The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-28

The returns by railroad companies.
including street railways for 1885,,
aggregate ... ....................S 1904 OPS
for the year ending Get. /, 1891. a, SsS 2s7
Netincrease Of railroad property 2sO. 7ss
or the above amount returned by
individuals the colored taxpayers
Nv return property valued ats H. $50 BIS
Their returns for 1891 Aggregated. l4,l9S735
Showing increase for present years 672,s4o
When considered in connection with the al
most universal complaint Of short crops and
low prices of our staple products and a CORE
spending dizziness in business Giro es. this in
crease in property values Is very gratifying and
encouraging.
The controller general also furnishes in his
report many tables OF valuable statistics from
which the general assembly may gather all
needed information about the tax laws and the
resources Of thu state.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
At the outset of his report. the commissioner
OF agriculture very properly calls your atten-
u n to bis economical administration Of his Of
fee 10 the reduction Of salaries.
feel gu te sure the efficiency of the depart.
ment has not been injured by these changes I
trust by full au1 free conference tn the com.
missioner the general assembly will be enabled
20 further reduce the expenses Of this depart
ment without detriment to it's usefulness
desire TO emphasize what the commissioner
has to say in recommending suitable legislation
to prevent and suppress the loathsome disease
known as glauders
In re erence TO the experiment station have
no Official information to communicate to the
general assembly, except such as is given you
In the report OF the commissioner OF agri-
would respecttully suggest. however the
posslolllty or such cooperation aud union be-
tween the department and the ttation as will
render both. possibly more efficient and rsduca
the expense of maintenance. Tins, | think. is
especially true 10 the matter of salaries
Inc department has in its employ a chemist
and two assistant chemists at an expense TO the
state or IS 900 in salaries. The station has in
its employ chemist ami an assistant chemist
at cost OF $4,000 for salaries AS the commits
sioner OF agriculture is properly ex-oficio the
head OF the experiment station. the deuartment
and the station can be easily further united
without injury TO the usefulness Of either and
at reduction Of the expenses OF both
The general assembly is respectfully urged to
give TO the depari ment and To the station such
consideration and help as Will improve our
practita agriculture and thereby advance the
material interests OF the state.
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Since the report submitted TO the general
assembly in 1891, the survey of the state has
zone forward as rapidly as possible, in the
opinion OF the chief Of the department. DR.. J.
W. Spencer.
The state Reologist has completed the survey
of what is known as the Coosa river basin, and
has submitted his report. whicn covers work
done IN Polk, Floyd, Barlow, Gordoa Murray
and Whitfield counties. The geological board
has not published this report, partly because of
the considerable exp nse it would involve and
partly because it deemed it best to await the
completion of tbs work so that the whole sur.
vey might be arran ed system -tically and pub.
lished In final shape. Recently DR.. Spencer has
been engaged in completing the survey In
Northwest Georgia. and IL work IN Southwest
Georgia, where he has been making important
Investigations as 10 the supply of artesian water
and it's accessibility. A large portion of the
southern part of the state was treated in the
first report of the survey, made last year
NJ W natley. assistant geOIogist has bsen
ezed ia Northeast Georgia-Rnbun Towns
Union, Fanuin, Lumpkiu White, Habsrshsm
and Hall couutjeS-Rnd has submitted 4 raDort
covering part of his work
Mr.. Anderson, the engineer of the depart
ment, has completed his surrey Of tie water
powers of tho ChattahOOchee. Flint and Ocmul-
gee rivers, Including adjacent cree s. and has
determined the volume and consequently tue
material value Of tnese streams
The,survey embraces a thorough Investigation
Of the soil, timbsr. ores, minerals artesian
water Narer powers, healthfulness-all the
natural wealth of the state. Specimens of
natural products and minerals are being col
lected, and museum in compliance with the
law. Is being formed. III collection will be of
great educational and material advantage az
showing the resources of the state.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
The attention Of tke general assembly Ia
called to the elaborate AMI compreeensive re-
port submitted b. the railroa d com mission
Under the wise administration Of the law the
members or the CO nnssJn have deserved and
received the confidence OF the people Of tn IS
state 10 the disc arg of the responsible duties
put upon them.
Conservative in action yet determined upou
the eDioroemenJof law, the commission mas
guarded well the rights Of tEs people against
tue possible aSgr SSiens by corporate powers
and at tbs same time protected the rights OF
corporations against the undue attacks and de-
mands OF the people. confidently believe tagt
the rights of the people aud tAe rixnts of the
Ol pieSE heir
the laws of this state, are absolutely safe and
secure.
Especial attention ia asked 10 the statements
and subsequent recommendation made in this
report touching speculation in railroads. The
case is distinctly stated in the following extract
fro the report of the commission: "a grave
puolic wrong confronts g. country in the use
Of railroads as means OF speculation to de-
fraud and rob the people and enricn the specu-
lstors, wAIch presents serious phase OF the
railroad problem. and demands, in our iudg-
ment. legislation"
Referring to speculation In the stock OF rail-
road corporations In the message l had the
honor TO submit to the last legislature | made
the following statements:
When the stock of railroad corporations is
held by crofzsns of this state, or those who are
Immediately and personally interested in toe
development Of the states RESOURCES very
much might be properly left to sucn corpora
tions themselves, because OF independent or
mutual Citations. II IL should be true til 81 the
railroads Of the state are, Ia any large or con-
trolling measure, owned and operated by per-
sons not identified with the interests of this
state, then the profits becoms m rely spscu-
larive Any road begin ling and termna-
ting inside the states limits, must
depend absolutely for its maintenance upon toe
development of resources along its line. The
management, therefore. cannot afford to ignore
or destroy these local interests. l. e moment
tue corporation IL extended across the border
it finds other resources and other business cen
nections outside the state. and, under our later
state laws. puts itself beyond the authority OF
I @ states control, and is in a position to make
demands for freight rates that are unjust, bur
dens1me and oppressive.
The situation is especially to be considered,
the more the roads OF the alta brought
under one and the same control an ownership,
having t q effect to defeat or lessen competi.
tion in their respective business or to encou age
monopoly. Just this milton now obtains in
Gear ia. A large number of the most inpor-
tant roads in ne state have come under one
management They have inters ate connec.
tons, and being ON ned largely for speculative
pIrposes and not for The permanent develop
ment 0, the state, the interests Of the state de-
mand that the people shall b. protected aga nst
unjust and oppressive rates"
Many of these conditions have been adjusted
in the interest of the people.
the commission now calls attention TO a SINH
lar. and II possible a more dangerous evil In
that many roads are loa Cd with watered stock
and bonded far in excess of their value, from
watch colossal fortunes are made by questions.
Die methods.
The remedy for this great and growing evil.
submitted by the commission, will, in my iudg-
ment meet the demands, and recommend its
enactment into Jaw.
or