The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-25

the manner prescribed by law for sealed
bids for It's purchase. To b. opened az 1
o'clock o. m. on oct 81 last In the ex-
ercise Of the discretion given me Ia the
act providing for the sale. ! changed the
terms OF the sale 20 as 10 require o cash
payment Of a hundred thousand Dol ars
Instead of fifty thousand as provided in
the act. and a second payment Of q hun
dred thousand dollars In twelve mont tbs
and balance Nov j. 1914 two months be-
fore the bonds Of the state issued TO pay
on the Endorsed bonds Of the company on
which IS defaulied are due
In response Co my advertisements two
bids were received. the one by A r.
Hodgson and associates. OF s2ql. ssl. aud
the other by J. w. English. HE associates
and assigns. OF S5Q7.O10 The bid OF Mr.
English being the highest and best and
being 5000 more than the upset price
named In the act. was accepted Mr.
English subsequently transferred hts bid
10 the Southern Railway Company. which
az once. In compliance with the terms Of
the sale. paid into the treasury 10000 in
cash. ana stands bound 60 the state 70
pay another 10000 on the frst day OF No
vcmher, 1900. and the balance Of $4,000
on the first day Of November. 1914 paying
interest scmi-anruully az the rate OF 2is
per cent. per annum on both deferred pay
ments
The net earnings Of the road. under the
excellent management OF the states
agent Mr.. r. X. Reaves. from the be
ginning Of the present administration 20
INT date OF the sale. a period Of twelve
months. were So l092 q all OF which has
been collected and paid into the treasury.
There are In addition 20 this about S70o OF
uncollected bills due the road. hut they
are. I fear, worthless and a. best but lit
tie will be realized out Of them.
N Is a source Of congratulation that the
state has not only not lost anything on
account cf her Endorsement OF the bonds
Of this road but has actually. by reason
OF this favorable sale. made a profit 81
twenty thousand dollars. exclusive Of the
lie lo9o0 net earnings paid into the treas
ury.
state hoard OF Health.
The experiences OF the laet two years
have demonstrated the necessity for a
state board Of health. or az least "A state
health officer 70 advise with local au-
thorities in handling contagious and in
fictitious diseases For the lass two win
tcrs smallpox has prevailed largely N
many Of the counties OF the state Al
ways when a suspicious disease has made
ns appearance in a community. the Gov
ernor has been called on 10 send an ex-
pert to diagnose tho disease and aid local
physicians in controlling Il and prevent
Ing Ns spread. There being no state
board OF health nor state health officer
have on three separate occasions called
on the surgeon general Of the United
States Marine Hospital Service. who de-
tailed an officer from his professional
force To aid me. These gentlemen all
did excellent service hut there were Zines
when II was impossible 20 secure assist
aDce from this source rendering i'm
possible for me TO respond 10 the calls
81 ordinaries and other local authorities
II IL. moreover. not IN keeping with the
dignity Of our state 70 cali upon the
general government 20 do for Us that
which we can do for ourselves.
cali the attention Of the General As
sembly TO the matter. hoping II may re-
ceive az their hands that Consideration
which tho importance OF the subject de-
mands.
Child Labor and bureau of Labor
Statistics.
In my last message to the General As
sembly called attention 20 the demand Of
our wage-earners throughout the state for
bureau OF labor statistics. and some
wholesome legislation on the subject OF
child tabor
A bureau OF statistics could be estab-
lished in connection with the Department
81 Agriculture ana under the supervision
OF the commissioner. In which statistics.
valuable not only 20 our artisans and
wuEe-earners but 70 the general public.
could be compiled and published at 4 com
paratively small cost. Our fellow-citizene
who are interested in such statistics are
entitled TO this reasonable demand
The subject OF child labor IS more dim
cult 20 handle. A law or regulation
which would NJ ono case might not 1T
another. There are cases in which In or
der IN provide the means OF support for
the family n seems necessary for the
children In the family to work even AZ a
tender age. but there are. on the other
hand. many families the heads Of which
live in idleness. and sometimes IN dissipa-
ton, and rely on the labor OF the children
for support While these evils cannot be
entirely eradicafed from our labor sys-
TEN by legislation. laws may be enacted
to minimize them. and u Is as much our
duty TO make The effort as u Is 20 leEislate
for the prevention OF other crimes. for
both these evils sometimes rise 90 tho
magnitude OF crimes.
Conclusion.
Many subjects other than those have
mentioned VIII come up for your consider
alton. and IL may become my duty 70 call
your special attention 20 some OF them as
the session progresses. That you Will con-
slider all OF them wisely and well and with
an eye single to the best interest of an
the people OF our stale. feel well assur-
ed. A. u. Gambler.