The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-09-11
Up-to-Date Testimony.
Good News from Jackson County.

Mariana, Fla, August 80, 1907.
Publicity Committee, Pensacola, fla
In reply to your letter of the 9th
inst, in which you ask several ques-
tions with reference to the condition
of Jackson County since wniskey was
voted out, it gives me pleasure to re-
ply to you as follows:
Jackson county held her local option
election on August Goth, 1903. There
were 1858 votes cast, 457 of which
were for selling whiskey, and Oil
against selling, or practically two TO
one against. In September, 1905, an
attempt was made to call an election
to put whiskey back in the county,
but the ''wets" were unable to get the
required number of names on their
petitions, to even have the election
called.
First-There has been no increase
in taxation for county purposes for
the past eight years, except a two
mill levy for a new courthouse, and
an increase of one mill for public
schools. Inasmuch as the license for
the sale of whiskey in this county
went to the town in which whiskey
was sold, and to the state it is a self
evident fact that the whiskey interest
in jackson county never affected the
tax levy for county purposes either
way
Second-There have been very few
blind tigers in this county since whis-
key was voted out. This is due to
several causes. "a The county COM
misaioners set a precedent by offering
reward for the arrest and convic-
ton of any one guilty of breaking
the local option law. (2) The sheriff
has ever been on the alert in arrest
ing and bringing to justice all local
option offenders. go The judges of
the circuit court no longer impose a
fine for those found guilty of break
ing the local option laws in this
county, but have been giving time SEN
fences to the full limit of the law. It
isl a fact that there has been a
marked falling off in the number of
this class of cases, for the past year.
Third-There has been a constant
increase in crime for the past eight
years. This can be accounted for on
the following grounds: "a Jackson
county is in the black belt of the state.
She has a population of more than
$4,000 negroes. ca On account of the
this county for the past few years, a
large number of negroes have come
to this county from all over the
South, which are known as the float
ing population. The great majority
of these floating negroes are the very
lowest class, and a great many Of
them are constantly in trouble (3).
Financially, this. county has never had
creator TrnCnoTifU which hos
alike to both white and black The
increase of crime has been no greater
in the four years succeeding the dry
ing of the country than it was in the
four years preceding the voting Of
the county dry.
Fourth+There has never been
such prosperity in this county as there
has been for the past four years. The
assessment roll of real and personal
property has increased from 81, 900 900
to over $3.00O,000, over so per cent. In
1903 there was only one bank doing
business in Jackson county, with a
capital stock of $4,000. Today there
are six banks with a total capital
stock of $155, GEO. In 1903 there were
only three corporations, other than
banks, in Jackson county, with a to-
Sui Ndp1So1 oIOSh vi DOOsOOO 1Oudy
there are fifteen corporations, other
than banks, with a total capital stock
of SS5S 900. All these interpretations,
except the first three named, have
been instituted since Sept 1, 1904
The total amount of Incorporated bust
ness in Jackson county, including
banks, before ther county went dry,
was $143,000. The total amount
n M IL
son county since the county went
dry, including banks, is S1,013.-
O00- Today there were forty-twO
miles of railroad. In 1908 there were
only two incorporated towns in JACK
son county. Today there are seven
incorporated towns
washing you success in the fight
you are making for prohibition, and
L q ~ .-r.n. u l. 4