Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-07-24
MUST KEEP OPEN
AGRI. COLLEGE
Failure of Tag Increase
Bill DepIOred.

| disapprOval of the action of the SEN
ate in declining to agree to the raise
of the tag taz on fertilizers from 10
cents to % cents, were heard in Am
ericus yesterday The proceeds from
these tag sales go to the agricultural
schools, hence the Third district
| school would have been greatly bene-
fitted by the additional revenue, which
| is badly needed to meet the require
ments of the college.
Some of those who discussed the
matter had not lost hope that another
| bill, drawn on different lines, and
providing a smaller increase in tag
tax, would yet be passed. Until the
legislature adjourns these gentlemen
will not give up hope
Another sentiment expressed was
| that the present sum available for
the agricultural college might be sup
plemented, and thus the Third dis
trict school be kept open. 1t was uni
versally recognized that the closing
of the school would be a public
| calamity which should be avoided if
possible The large sums already
contributed have been a big drain on
the city and county, and the failure
of the senate to MAINTAIN the schools
properly will be strongly resented
here.
Sees Chance to Keep Ope
Among those who made the opening
Of the Third District Agricultural Col
Iege possible, no one did more than
Mr.. Crawford Wheatley. He, as a
member of the Legislature, had been
active in behalf of the plan, and when
it looked like the opening of the
school was somewhat uncertain last
winter, he put his shoulder to the
wheel, and with Mr.. w P. Wallis,
raised the funds necessary to get the
institution started off.
Though not a member of the board
of trustees, Mr.. Wheatley has a deep
interest in the success o f the school,
In an interview yesterday Mr.. Wheat
ley stated that he thought the Third
| district school should open this fall
on scheduled time, and continue
throughout the year. While he did
not see any chance for the expansion
and the new dormitory desired, he
thought that nearly hundred stu
dents can be cared for and educated
the coming session in spite of the
failure of the Senate to authorize the
increase in fertilizer tag tax
q see no good reason why the
school should open this fall" said
Mr.. Wheatley yesterday "The law
creating the agricultural colleges
provides that the school in each dis
trict shall have the revenue from fer
tilizer tags, oil inspection and pure
food receipts. This amounted to
respectable sum during the last ses-
sion, just how much do not know.
Farm Yield Will Help
This district is a large consumer
of fertilizers and will get a much
larger revenue from that source than
some districts By the practice of
economy, the school can, in my opin-
ion, get along in some shape. The
dining room and household expenses
are paid by the students themselves
This year they will have the benefit
of half of the crop raised by them
on the 200 tillable land provided by
Sumter county and Americus. Be-
sides this, each boy was allotted an
acre of ground to raise whatever he
pleased on. and this will be his in it's
entirety
Nucleus Still Remains
while the bill which was SO much
desired by friends of the schools did
not pass, the old law is still in force,
and several thousand dollars will be
available for the use of the Third Dis
trict College to pay salaries of teach
ers. This will be a great help.
Under the original bill it is pro-
yided that county donating 200
acres shall have complied with the
provisions, but Sumter and Americas
added another hundred acres. This
land is mostly in the city limits and
was valued at $4,000, while it's real
worth is much more Besides this,
$4,000 in cash was donated to have
the school located here
Some of the counties have con-
tributed even more largely, and the
state has been enriched by more than
$500 900 by means of these colleges.
Tax Paid By Companies
After the colleges were launched,
Gov. Smith, recognizing that the
scheme had developed in an amazing
manner, and that larger sums were
the higher plane desired, recommends
ed the increase in fertilizer tags from
10 to 25 cents This tax is borne
by the manufacturers of fertilizers.
ms Is proven Dy the IacC IndC Ala
bama, with tax of 35 cents, buys fer
tilizer for exactly the price which pre-
walls in Georgia, where the tax is on
ny 10 cents per ton.
Though the Colleges feel particul-
aay sore over the refusal of the sem
ate to increase the tag tax, yet this
| does not mean the death of the agri-
cultural colleges. The appropriations
under the first bill still remains at the
disposal of the schools. This sum
will be sufficient to enable the Third
District Agricultural College to run,
it seems to me, though not on the
broad lines desired