The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-19


 up, and are urging that they be sent to the realms of the past The Montgomery Journal printed the Birmingham city ordi- nance eliminating them from that city after October 1, and the Montgomery Ad- vertiser reproduced the Georgia bill, which let them out of that state, these two measures being the latest adopted governmental efforts in this, way.
 The members of the Southern Cotton association are claiming credit for the sentiment in Georgia resulting in. the pas sage of the eliminating bill, and they also contend that such is the case in Ala bama It is also fact that individual members of the association are calling for the resignation of Secretary Cheatham of the organization because he dealt in cot ton futures In one or more of the Atlanta exchanges, notably the interview of Com missioner of Agriculture R. R. Poole, printed a few days ago. MT. Poole and the others have no hard feelings against MT. Cheatham, but think he is out of place in the association after the fight it has made and the things proven on him.
 Land Values.
 There are few who know that land values of years ago in Alabama were higher than now, with all, our vaunted increase in holdings. For instance, in 1873, there were 2O111,505 acres given in at $93,9S9157. In 1900 the acreage had in creased to S1,S52.17O with value of sSl,- 934, ,1S9, a considerable falling off. In 1S49 the acreage assessed was 12,63S 264, with value of $4SS24,S10, and an average value for the state of $402. In 1850 the lands assessed were 12,SO1 ,265 acres, with value of $51S65, ,105. an average value of S4Oo. In 1873 the taxable value of lands of Jef- ferson was. on an average, SIP; Chero- kee. S795 Escambia, $1.01; Dallas, $1429; Madison $10.30.
 These figures, and many more, are be- ing assembled by Prof. w. O. Scroggs, an Auburn man, who is at work for the Carnegie Institution at Washington, dur ing vacation in postgraduate course at Yale He has found many interesting things in the financial history of the state which he is running back. For in stance he has found that in 1SS0 the number of mules in Alabama was l2l,0Sl and horses 11395O. In 1884 they were re- duced respectively to 9l,476 and S99So. Professor Scroggs accounts for the differ ence in the land value by the fact that in the old days the good lands only were assessed and the poor acres allowed to go as escapes. This made the H,O0Ooo0 acres worth more than the 31OOO,OOo in 1900.
 SIate'S FTOSpcIllJs
 The great prosperity of the state, as indicated by the figures recently printed in these columns, can be traced to many sources but more than anything else to the increased land values and betterments in all holdings, and the lucrative work of the state convicts This Is so, yet there is, perhaps. more good accomplished in two things than in any other One is that under proper conditions negroes make good cotton mill help, and the oth- CT that convicts can be made to earn largely for the state, and at the same time have conditions conducive to the very best of health
 It was greatly feared nineteen months ago that the cotton mill could not be onerated at a profit, as 1t had failed to yield returns on plan which seemed very much more favorable than the one adonted. However, this has been shown to he mistake. as the mill has made net to the state, outside of the hire of inc convIcts fit for no other work, nearly $50. GOO.
 The convict department is run. too, on a business basis that is almost ideal. Every cent that is spent is accounted for. Dr. Shirley Bragg, president of the board of inspectors, knows to penny what each convict in each camp or prison costs every day, ana can leh III q nv ment what he or she earns net. He can tell this to the drug bills and the doc tors, knowing what is costs 10 Keep them well as well as well-fed.
 Not We'll Posted.
 It is sometimes noticed that men of the state who ought to know all about the state government do not, and they make some funny errors. This is accounted for in the lack of attention given to those things that have to do with the state proper. For instance. an editorial was printed in a Birmingham paper a few days ago which went on to say that Judge J. R. Tyson, candidate for chief Justice, is serving a term of six years to which he was elected three years ago. True 1t Is that he was elected. but further true 1t is that when the justices, as they were required to do by the law creating the new members of the court. came to draw lots for the terms. Judge Tyson drew two years along with Judge DowdeIl. and his term expires with the ending of this year.
 This law provided, pages 49S and 49f. that "of the justices elected in Novem- her. 1904 the chief justice and two asso- ciate Justices shall hold for term of six years. two of the associate justices shall hold for term of four years. and 2wo of the associate justices shall hold