The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-12-20

Last year the increase lover lS9S) was
SIS. ZOO. 900 (but that was an exception
al year) and the increase in 1898 lover
1897 was 80, FOG. 04O only.
Eighty-eight of the 81 counties have
sent in their reports to the State Auditor,
leaving nine to come. Among the tardy
counties are several important ones. like
Wake. Vance. Granville and Surry.
Seventy Of the ninety-siX counties show
an increase of SS.59S.596 Eighteen
counties show decrease for 1900. This
decrease amounts to S6SS. 123. The ne.
increase in the lightweight counties,
therefore. is $7,91O,464 When the re-
turns are received from the counties not
Vet reported, the increase for 1900 will
be in excess OF SS.OOO.O0O.
The county that has made the greatest
increase is Durham. That county has
lead in this respect for several years. The
increase in Durham for the year 1900 is
about 100000
Beaufort leads the eighteen counties
that show decrease in property valua-
lions (S152 $50; Polk comes next with
a decrease of 1920, 935
II the valuations are more closely look
ed after next year, and property assessed
at it's real value Tor at least figures near
| ly approaching it) there will be a big
| Jump in figures a year hence, when we
record the assessments next December.
| PROPERTY AND TAXEs OF WHITES AND
! BLACKS
The total valuation of property this
year exceeds 1856. 900. 900. OF this the
white people own $246, 723. 100, and the
colored people IS, 492 ,66S. The property
of the latter increased about half a
million. and the former about SIS. 000, 00O
during the year.
This year there are insOlvent polls
White II 500; black. 12.6O9. Last year
there were 2O,O76 white. and Il 23a
black insolvent polls.
| Enquiry has been made about the
amounts paid by whites and blacks fol
educational purposes-to support the
public schools of the State. This year
the white people paid in taxes for schools
the sum of So76, 57 and the colored peo
pie $76, 772-or about seven and a hall
times more paid by the whites than the
blacks. The blacks receive according to
number of school children. and as there
are two white to one black the latter
could not be apportioned more than one
third of the total, and not 'One-half" o.
the amount OF school money Except fol
some black cOunties) as some seem tc
| think.
| MINOR MENTION.
Attorney General Douglas, who vii
recommend i'll his report the establish
ment of the much needed ReformatOry
| for young degenerateS, is putting himsei
in communication with the Attorney:
General of other States where such insti
tutions exist. with a view to laying be
fore the Legislature desirable information
as to their conduct workings and bene
fetal results. There is no longer Il doubt
of the creation of the RefOrmatOry if ou
lawmakers regard the desire and counse
of the people of this State--for nearl,
every one is in favor of it,
COmmander-in-Chi J. S. Carr ha:
issued call for a meeting of the Nortl
Carolina Division of Confederate Neter
ans to be held in Raleigh on Wednesday
January Both, to take action about Sc
curing larger appropriations from TIN
Legislature for the Soldiers Home an,
pensions for Confederate Veterans
The Confederate Pensioners can ge
their pensions by calling on the Register
OF Deeds of the various counties. Tn
warrants, aggrgating $112,23O. wer
sent out last week by the State Auditor
There are Ill first-class pensioners (wht
receive $5S annually. 35S of the second
class ($43.5O each), 619 of the third elias
(at 500 each, 1896 fourth-class Ia
$14,5O each) and 2,65S widows "a
$14 80 each)
The North Carolina Association q
Academies will meet in this city on DE
cember 81 and 2Sth
The appointment of Prof j. W. bucket
to be chief clerk to Superintendent of In
struction-elect Toon is generally ap
proved.
committee, consisting of Mai Hal
and Others. representing the Fayettevill
Chamber of Commerce has been to Wash
ington during the past week in the inter
est OF an appropriation for the Cape Fea
river
The Legislative examining committe
which has been going through the book
OF State Treasurer Worth, are after Gov
ernor Russell spendingso much none,
for legal advice over $21 800 havin,
been paid to lawyers out of the treasur,
(fees) during the last two years-as state,
in these letters last week. Anothe
matter that will be reported to the Gen
eral Assembly is the payment of $500
to Shell Fish Commissioner White by tn
Treasurer (by order of the Suprem