The age-herald., 1898-09-27
GOV. JOHNSTON
 ON THE SITUATION

ernOf JO0QSlOu NeHL lO AldDdIud HUH North Carolina, his native state, and en- listed private in an Alabama regiment. 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 at Birmingham ever since. He prac- ticed his profession of law for twenty years, and for ten years was president of the Alabama National bank. August 1 last he was reelected governor of the state. He was a candidate for the democratic nomi- nation in 1894, but was defeated. He was elected for his first term in 1S96
 In speaking yesterday of the condition of affairs in Alabama Governor Johnston said a great deal that is of interest to citl- zens of Maryland at the present time. At the election last August he said, 'an amendment was adopted to the constitution authorizing Birmingham to levy an addi- tional tax of one-half of per cent to pro- vide for the interest on the citys bonded debt. We have also amended the revenue laws of the state so as to compel those who had been escaping and evading taxation to contribute their fair share to paying the expenses of government The result has pSSAA million dollars in the state treasury has been practically eliminated, and the state was enabled last May to advertise that it would anticipate the payment of it's July interest. A very decided increase has been shown in the assessments of property, and about $l50,0OO additional was brought into the state treasury without any increase in the tax rate.
 ''AnOthar rnf hat hoe, in the state is the rigid examination of the accounts of all officials who handle public moneys. I have three examiners for this work. Tho movements of the examiners are controlled by the governor, and they are sent without notice to examine the books and accounts of public officials throughout the state. An official default amounting to about $150,000 has been brought to light by the examiners in eighteen months. The larger part of this sum has been paid into state or county treasuries, and the expense of the work has been less than 5000 Very graat benefit has resulted from the system, as all public officials are now more careful in keeping their accounts and turning over their collections. Many officials have ex- amined their own books and sent in bal ances 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 be.cause grand jurors were not expert accountants, and did not have time to make thorough ex animation. The defaults found were not in any manner all caused by corrupt practices. Most of them resulted from carelessness and ignorance of the law. For instance, of ba hNy errors in addition in the tax sheets. One collector had to pay. 5000 ptcause the aS- sesser made error in the addition of tax able property by which the collector failed to be charged with this amount. About 10000 errors were discovered by the exami- ners, but all wqre in favor of the officials except less than 1O0'
 Governor Johnston predicts a great re- vival of prosperity in Alabama from the present condition of affairs in the state. "We are making decided progress in all lines,'' he sad. Last year we built 270 miles of railroad, which is above the aver age of the other states We are getting more cotton factories and are putting up more spindles than any other of the states. Persons interested in the Tennessee Coal and Iron company, the Southern railway and the Louisville and Nashville are build ing in Birmingham what will be one of the largest steel plants in the world. In con nection with this they are also building a wire and rod mill which will consume about 300 tons daily of the steel output. It is expected that the entire output will be marketed at home for use in other indus tries The output at the beginning will be 300 tons day, but it is expected to increase this to 1000 tons day.
 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 non 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 can be laid down cheaper in Eng land than iron can be made there, and that explains the matter. The ore, coal and lime rock required in the manufacture of iron can be assembled at Birmingham on an average haul of six miles. At Pittsburg the average haul is 600 miles. There is a plant at Birmingham now producing 100 tons of steel day, but the whole product is worked up at the mill. We have other furnaces producing 3000 tons of iron daily. Our coal industry is steadily increasing, the output being larger every year. The mar- kets for our coal are also becoming wider Our coal HelQS cover 1ZUJ miles. They produce fine quality of grate coal and as fine grade of steam coal as can be found in the whole world
 "Polities in Alabama is quiet, as every thing is practically one way politically. Two years ago 1 carried the state by S9,- OO0 majority. The democratic majority of the election this year was 61,0oo. Out of sxty-six counties the democrats carrisd fifty-seven. On joint ballot the legislature will have about 113 democrats and 20 re- publicans and populists. The popuist party at one time was very formidable in the state, but it is now practically dead.
 Alabama is now in a peaceful and pros- porous condition. Great interest is being taken in the cause of education, and the schools are improving. We have a fine crop of corn. but the cotton crop has been dam aged by continued wet weather. Our peo- pie are becoming more and more independ- ent of outside markets by their more di- versified productions. They are raising more wheat than for forty years past, and the outlook is encouraging"