Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-22
Capital
News and Gossip
BY Ralph Smith

WASHINGTON, d. C, Jan. aO.-Ihe
current issue Of the Crop Reporter,
which is issued monthly by the depart
ment Of agriculture, for the dissemina-
ton OF information pertaining to the
farming industry. contains interesting
data bearing upon the tobacco crop OF
southern Georgia and Florida, where the
industry is comparatively new.
only shade tobacco for cigar wrappers
and filler is cultivated in south Georgia,
principally in Decatur and adjoining
counties The total production for 1905
In Georgia and Florida was s,274S75
pounds, worth thirty-five cents per
pound. or S2.SS6.OSl.25.
It is shown that 81 per cent of the to-
tai crop had been marketed by December
20. 1908 The quality Of the tobacco, it
is stated, was much better last year than
for the year before. although it did not
command as high a price by 1-2 cents
on the pound.
Cotton, potatoes and hay are listed as
the principal crops of Georgia, and the
prevailing price of each is given. though
there appears no estimate as to the guam
tity raised The prices are based upon
prevailing quotations on January i, 1909,
and follow: Cotton, Sc cents per pound;
potatoes. sues per bushel; hay. $l45O per
ton.
Celebrates Tooth Birthday.
Representative George Burgess. last
Friday. wired HIS congratulations to Ste
phen Herbert. of Columbus. Colorado
county. Texas. who upon that day cele-
brated the Tooth anniversary of his birth.
Representative Burgess describes his con-
stituent as being hale and hearty, despite
his years. He chews tobacco, smokes reg
ularly, enjoys his mornings morning
and takes his might cap" every day in
the week. He has served in three wars
first, as a soldier in Texas fight for
independence; second, in the Mexican
war; third. in the war between the
states. Also. he served in a number OF
Indian campaigns.
Some Rapid Takers.
Several newspaper men were talking
the other day with one of the, official
reporters OF the house of representatives.
cussion of rapid takers among mem
bers of congress. The reporter handed
the palm to one of the new members
Representative Carter. of Oklahoma He
recently spoke for half an hour. and
maintained an average speed of 240 words
per minute, which is going some. And
Mt. Carter. so the reporter said, enunci-
ated CLEARLY all Of his words and the
stenographers experienced no great
trouble I'm taking him." though they
necessarily had to push their pencils
much faster than usual.
Mr.. Carter was on HIS feet for an
even thirty minutes. and he put a speech
in the Record of 1910 words" said the
reporter. 1T was a bona fide speech,
too; no extension Of his remarks. He ut
tered every word that appeared in the
Record. and the members who listened
heard and understood every thing he
said.
But the case was unusual. Mr.. Carter
had been given Just thirty minutes
time. and he had an hours speech pre-
pared Though disappointed at being linn
tied to half the time he expected to get
Mr.. Carter determined to make his
speech, and he did"
The reporter continued by declaring
that the orators OF congress speak more
rapidly today than they did ever five
years ago. The speed is gradually in
creasing. he said. which is accounted for
by the fact that the business Of con-
gress is increasing. and time IS more
limited. Then, too. the people are send
ing more speakers to congress, and
they demand to be heard.
The reporter agreed that Bourl1e Cock
ran. OF New York, used more sylables
than perhaps any other member OF the
house. in speaking. Mr. Cochran is with
out an equal as an orator in congress, and
has a vocabulary covering the whole
Of the English and a part Of the French
dictionaries Not infrequently in speak
ing Mr.. Cochran draws on his vocabu-
larry 10 the extent that many are unable
TO understand just what he is saying.
Two Will Be Missing.
When the sixty-first congress assem-
bled In extra session on or about March
l5th.as President-eiect Taft contem-
plates two well known and extremely
popular members OF the present house or
representatives will be missing. They are