The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-26
WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS.
Discusses Many Subjects and Urges
Strict Economy.

Strict Economy.
State of Georgia, Executive Office At
ianta, Ca. Oct %, 1S99.-To the Senate
and House of Representatives: The year
that is now approaching its close has been
to the people of Georgia more than ordi-
narily eventful. To our farmers, who con-
stitute large majority of our popula ton
and upon whom the burdens of government
fall most heavily, that prosperity which
has blessed other branches of business in
our own and other states has not return
ed. While in most sections of the state
Providence has blessed the people with
the early and the late rains, and crops
have been fairly good, in some of the coun-
ties, especially in Middle Georgia, drought
has prevailed to such an extent as TO
greatly damage the cotton crop and almost
entirely destroy the crop of corn, while
the price of our great staple continues SO
low that even where the yield is good
there is no profit in its production. Hence
while those engaged in It's cultivatio have
worked hard and in many cases lived hard,
they have saved nothing and are as poor
to-day as they were in 1893 when the dis
astrous panic paralyzed every, industry and
Frustrated every business enterprise
throughout the country. The recent rise
in price puts no surplus money in the
pocket Of the average farmer.
1t only makes up to him mis-
and saves him from ruin. Two-thirds of a
crop at seven and half cents means no
more to him than fun crop at five cents.
Whether the continued low price of our
chief staple has been due, as many con-
tend, TO overproduction, or to the closing
of the minis of the world against one of
the money metals which has been recog-
nized from the earliest period of recorded
history on terms of equality with the 9TH
er, the experience of the last seven years
has demonstrated the difficulty with which
We compete In the production of cotton
with the newer states of the Southwest
II is, however. a healthy sign that our
farmers and planters, realizing this, are
diversifying their crops more and more
every year, and are growing every year
more and more independent, and have to
rely less and less upon borrowed money
With which TO make their crops If this
course continues TO be pursued Tor a few
years, as ! have no doubt it will be, and
If our farmers can be even partially re-
lieved of the burden of taxation whit n
has oppressed them during the long period
OF business depr, ssion and shrinking val
ues. they win soon be out Of debt, end be-
come what they ought TO be, their own
masters paying tribute 10 nobody
While the agriculture of the state has
not been profitable, il is gratifying TO know
al our manufacturer are both prosper
Gus and profitable. Seeing this, our people
who have Surplus money are investing it
in the erection and equipment of factories
most of which are for the manufacture Of
cotton goods. These factories that are
springing up air over the state. even in
some of the small towns, are owned and
operated by our own people and give en-
ployment TO our home labor. No longer do
we 30 North for capital to .naugurate these
enterprises nor for labor 10 operate them.
Smallpox.
made its appearance in many of the coun-
ties OF the state and while 1t has been
stamped out in some of them in which its
SRSpfead was at one time alarming, it has
Rppeared and stil exists in quite a num-
# yer Of others in almost every part of the