Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-27

ask your attention for the reasons pre-
Yiously adduced
Soil Analysis.
More than a year ago under the aus
pieces of the State College Of Agricui-
ture at Athens was begun a soil ana,-
ysis OF various counties in GecrgiaA
This is making slow progress by rea-
son of the small appropriation that can
be allotted to the work.
There is probably nothing which
holds within itself greater possibili-
ties for producing wealth for the pee
pie tnan the analysis of the soil. When
made this shows to the farming eie-
ment the chemical properties of the
soil, and conversely the relative need
Of the various component parts which
supply plant food. A definite know
ledge of the soil not only enables the
former to supply approximately suff1-
Gent percentage of nitrogen, potash,
etc, but also teaches hun how to
/
percentages of one or more properties.
| When we know the needed proportions,
We can, by furnishing them and by
blowing deeply and seasonably on an
average, treble the production of the
acreage now in cultivation.
Educational Progress.
The financial condition OF the state
does not allow the rapid progress in
educational matters which we would
Gesire. However the increased appro-
priations which have been made for
the above purposes are bearing rich
fruit, with future promise. AS rapidly
as the increase in taxable values will
permit, we should extend and improve
the facilities for training the intelleets
ot the youth of our state. This train
Ing, beginning with the common school
education, should ultimately enable the
young manhood and womanhood of this
STATE to attain to the high advantages
of the college and university.
Building of Public Highways.
The building of good roads is I'M
doubtedly one of the main factors i'll
the marked progress the state has
made during the past three years. Yet.
as this progress is mostly due to the
use of the states convcts, the state
has the right to require such handling
OF the convicts as will generally benefit
all the people while increasing the ia
cilities of the several counties.
Therefore, it should be required by
law that, at least, a stipulated proper
ton of the convicts be worked upon the
main roads in each county leading
from its county site to the county
sites of adjoining counties, or that all
of the convicts be worked upon such
main roads a stipulated proportion of
their total time until said roads are
completed.
Furthermore, that the main roads
be laid off and worked in accord with
the demands of public necessity and
modern science. l recommend that
the office of commissioner of public
highways be established, and that It
be filled with an experienced civil
engineer at a salary and travelling ex-
penses, etc, to be fixed by law.
Railroad Commission.
/ respectfully renew the suggestion
made in my three proceeding messages
to the general assembly that the num-
Der of members of the railroad COM
mission be reduced to three and that
the office of special attorney for said
commission be abolished
There is really no more reason why
there should be five railroad commits
sioners than that there should be five
prison commissioners, or a surplus of
officers in any other department of the
state government. Only one of the
railroad commissioners is required BY
law to devote all of his time to the
duties of the office. The attendance of
the others is practically unnecessary
except at stated periods, weeks apart
Yet, the taxpayers must pay their SAL
aries whether they do or do not work.
| In the interest of economy and eff
cheney, | recommend, therefore, that
the number of commissioners be re-
duced to three Even if it becomes
necessary to advance the salaries Of
the two commissioners other than the
chairman and require them to also give
all their time to this work, the ex-
pense would be less than at present.
The attorney general should be the
legal adviser of the railroad commits
sion as he is of the other departments
of state government.
The application of this suggestion
would not lessen the powers of the
roilroad commission OVnr G1nh n0rp0-