The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-10-28
ATKINSON TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Chief Magistrate Sends In His
Annual Communication.
MANY RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
STATE OF GEORGIA,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

Gentlemen OF the General ASSembly
During the session upon which yon now
enter matters Of great interest to the peo-
pie of the state must be considered and
acted upon by you. 1t has been many
years since so many grave questions de-
manded consideration by a general as
sembly.
NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD.
On May 2S, 1895, after advertising for
bids as directed in act authorizing lease,
the Northeastern railroad was leased to
E. A. Richards 81 Co. at the sum of $18 600
per annum, payable quarterly. for term
of 90 years, from June |, 1896, and bond
taken in conformity to law
The rent was paid for two quarters.
When the rent for the third quarter fell
due on March /, 1897, it was not paid, and
when the two months time In which they
were permitted under the law to pay this,
had expired, the rent was still unpaid.
BY virtue of authority vested in me
then seized the road and have since oper-
ated 1t for the state under the direct man
a. ement of Hon. r. K Reeves, who was
al 'ointed by me state agent.
ne net earnings from May to Septem-
bel 1897, were $6,012.44.
Under present conditions we can safely
rely upon (the net earnings of the road
earning a good income on the sum at
which it was purchased by the state. TO-
witt 100000, and 1t will more than pay
interest on the series of bonds issued to
retire the $2S7, 900 of bonds on said road,
upon which the state of Georgia was in
dorser.
AS this is a short and dependent line
and III view Of possible changes In the rail
road situation which might impair and
possibly destroy its value, | recommend
that an act be passed authorizing the gov
ernor, at his discretion, to offer it for sale
whenever, in his opinion, it can be sold for
the amount of the bonds issued by the
state to cancel the series above mentioned
RAILROAD COMMISSION
Your special attention is called to that
part of the report of the railroad commits
sioners in which legislation is recon-
mended to enlarge their powers, and to
better enable them to enforce their DEGREES
These recommendations, briefly stated,
nre:
Control of issuance of stocks and bonds
of railroads.
Removal of all doubt of authority of
the commission to require the erection of
depots, and additional power to require
the construction of sidetracks.
Power to regulate the interchange of
freights and cars in order to secure to
shippers the right to route their goods and
to prevent determinations.
Speeder methods of enforcing the orders
of the commission to compel railroads to
Immediately accord to the public rights
which are due them.
After asking for this legislation the
commission adds:
We have exercised and are now exer-
cisng, all the authority that has been
granted us. Our experience and the com
plants continually received from the peo-
pie, clearly indicate that the additional
authority recommended is necessary to
their protection. If they expect relief in
these particulars they must look not first
to this commission, but to their senators
and representatives whom they elect to
,nl IL.
the power to authorize the commission to
correct the ills complained Of"
You cannot be too careful in legiSlating
upon the subject of railroad control. A
wise and rigid control of these properties
Is of the utmost importance to our people,
and is essential to the growth of our com
merce..
STREET RAILROADS.
advise that +he authority of the rail
road commission be so extended as to give
them power to regulate charges on street
railroads, and exercise such control over
them as may be needed to give good SER
vice to the public, and adjust disputes be-
tween them and the public when made by
any party interested, or by the authorities
of the city in which such street railroad
may be operated. The sole power to de-
termlne those questions should not vest In
the street railroad corporation. The au-
thority to pass upon them should be vested
in some tribunal, and that tribunal should
not be Ill the control of, or created by
those directly interested in the questions
to be submitted to it.
TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.
The railroad commission now has iuris-
diction over railroad, telegraph and ex-
press companies.
The same reasons which induced the
state to give them authority over these,
demand that their power be so extended
as to bring under their control all tele-
phone companies.
The charges made by telephone COM
panles should be fixed by the commission.
In my opinion they are now so excessive
in their charges as to demand the inter-
ference of the state in behalf of the citizen.
Each OF these companies are what are
usually termed natural monopolies, and
should be controlled by the government
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
There has been constant and marked
improvement in our common schools The
steady and gradual increase in the appro-
prlatlonS for their maintenance has re-
suited in multiplying the number of per-
manent schools, arousing greater interest
among the people III education, improving
the character of school buildings and in
creasing the efficiency of teachers
IN THIS campaign against ignorance our
columns should not retreat, but move
steadily to the front until the enemy is
Vanqulshed ana the banner of light,
knowledge and virtue floats in triumph
over the field.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.
The people of the state are to be congrat-
ulated upon the ever increasing prosperity
and usefulness of their university. With
the increased room and facilities furnished
by your late appropriation thereto, and
the purchase of the new farm, if assured
of permanency of its income, its still
greater usefulness cannot be doubted
On Oct. last 261 students had been reg
istered. OF them 81 per cent are members
of various churches, to-wit: 100 Metho-
dists, 81 Baptists, IS Presbyterians, 80
Episcopalians, five Catholics, six Jews,
three Christians, one Lutheran and one
Unitarian. OF the fathers of those stu
dents Is are farmers, A lawyers, IL mer-
chants. 10 doctors of medicine, nine bank
ers, six teachers. six preachers, and eight
insurance men, besides various other occu-
pations
GEORGIA SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
lam pleased to note the increased attend
ance at the School of Technology. The
225 students now there give evidence that
practical education is receiving the serious
attention of our people. The school offers
scientific courses of high grade in mechan-
lcal. electrical and civil engineering