The evening times., 1898-09-24
GOVERNOR JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON
The Alabamian Speaks of Progress
In His State,

he Spehs8 Oh fFOEFeSS
In His State.
Baltimore, Sept. A.-Governor Joseph F.
Johnston. of Alabama, is in Baltimore as
the guest of his brother Mr.. Bartlett S.
Johnston. stock broker of this city.
At the outbreak of the civil war Gov
ernor Johnston went to Alabama from
North Carolina, his native State, and en-
listed as a private in an Alabama regi-
ment. He was then seventeen years old.
He served throughout the war, attaining
the rank of captain.
At the close of the war Governor John
ston returned to Alabama and has been
living in Birmingham ever since He
practiced his profession of law twenty
years, and for ten years was president of
the Alabama National Bank. August 1
last ha was reelected governor OF the
State. He was a candidate Cor the Dem
ocratic nomination in 1894, but was defeat
ed. He was elected for his first term in
1886.
In speaking yesterday of the condition
of affairs in Alabama Governor Johnston
said great deal that is OF interest at
the present time.
"At the election last August" he said,
IAN amendment was adopted to the con-
stitution authorizing birmingham to levy
an additional tax of one-half of l per cent
to provide for the interest on the city's
bonded debt. We have also amended IN
revenue laws of the State so as to com
pei those who had been escaping and
evading taxation to contribute their fair
share to paying the expenses of govern
ment. The result has been that a deficit
of something like half million dollars in
the State treasury has been practically
eliminated. and the State was enabled
last May ITO advertise that it would an
ticipate the payment of its July interest.
A very decided increase has been shown
in the assessments of property, and
about $l50,009 additional was brought into
the State treasury without any increase
of the tax rate.
Another reform that has been institut-
ed in the State Is the rigid examination
of the accounts of all officials who ham
die public moneys. / have three exami-
ners for this work. The movements of
| the examiners are controlled by the gov
ernor. and they are sent without notice
to examine the books and accounts of
public officials throughout the State. An
official default amounting to about $780,.
900 has been brought TO light by the ex-
aLniners in eighteen months.
The larger part of this sum has been
paid into the State county treasures
and the expense of the work has been
less than 5000. Very great benefit has
resulted from the system as all public
officials are now more careful in keep
ing their accounts and turning over their
collections. Many officials have examin-
ed their own books, and sent in balances
found to be due before the examiners
reached them. Heretofore grand juries
| OF the State have been charged with this
| work. but that plan was a failure be-
! cause grand jurors were not expert ac-
| countants, and did not have time 10 make
| a thorough examination. The defaults
| found were not in any manner all caused
| by corrupt practices Most of them re-
| suited from carelessness and ignorance
| Of the law. For instance. some of the
largest items were caused by errors in
| addition In the tax sheets. One collector
! had to pay 81 00O because the assessor
made an error in the addition OF taxa
| BILE property, by which the collector failed
| 10 be charged with this amount. About
| 10000 errors were discovered by the ex-
| aminers, but all were in favor of the Off
| cials except less than 100
Gov. Johnston predicts a great revival
| of prosperity in Alabama from the pres
| ent condition of affairs in the State. We
are making decided progress in all lines, .
| he said. Last year we built 270 miles of
railroad. or more than any other State in
| the Union. We now have 1900 miles o.
railroads, which is above the average of
| the other States. We are getting more
| cotton factories and are putting up more
| spindies than any other of the States.
| Persons interested in the Tennessee Coal
and Iron Company. the Southern Railway
| and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
| are building in Birmingham what will b.
| one of the largest steel plants In the
| world. In connection with this they are
also building wire and rod mill which
| will consume about 800 tons daily of the
| steel output. 1t Is expected that the en-
tire output will be marketed at home for
| use in other industries. The output al
| the beginning will be 800 tons a day. but
| IL is expected to increase this to loo tons
| day.
1--WE are shipping from Birmingham
| more iron TO foreign countries than is
| shipped from any other iron district in
| the United States except one. Our iron
| goes to Italy, France, Germany. Great
! Britain. Japan and South America. A
! large proportion is going to England
| strange as that may seem. Our iron car
| be laid down cheaper in England than
| iron can be made there, and that explains
the matter. The ore, coal and lime rock
| required in the manufacture of iron car
be assembled at Birmingham on an aver
| age haul of six miles. At Pittsburg tbs
| average haul is 600 miles. There is {
plant at birmingham now producing 10
tons of, steel day. but the whole produc
is worked up at the mill. We have other
| furnaces producing 1900 tons of iror
daily Our coal industry is steadily in
creasing, the output being larger every
year. The markets for our coal are alsC
becoming wider. Our coal fields cover
| 100 square miles They produce fine
quality of crate coal and as fine a gradt
of steam coal as can be found in th'
whole world.
Politics in Alabama Is quiet, as every
thing is practically one way politically
! Two years ago | carried the State b,
SO 600 majority. The Democratic majority
at the election this year was 81 900. Ou
of sixty-six counties the Democrats car
RED fifty-seven. On joint ballot the legis
| lature will have about 113 Democrats anC
twenty Republicans and Populists. The
| Popuiist party at one time very for.
midable In the State, but it is now prac
tically dead.
Alabama is now in a peaceful anC
prosperous condition. Great interest i:
being taken in the cause of education
and the schools are improving. We have
fine crop 3of corn, but the cotton croI
has bedn damaged by continued We
weather. ! Our people are becoming more
and mora. Independent of outside market!
by their more diversified productions
They are raising more wheat than fol
forty years past, and the outlook is en-
couraging."
Gov. Johnston said his administration