The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-06-16
]. D. PRICE ISSUES
WARNING 10 FARMERS
SAYS INCREASE IN RATES
WOULD YIELD INCREAS-
REVENUE OF 100000 PER
YEAR.

teal bureau OF the Georgia Ship
pers Association today gave out
the following statement concern
ing the revision of Georgia inter
state freight rates proposed by
the railroads of the state in pc
titions on file before the railroad
commission:
Hon. James D. Price, state
commissioner Of agriculture, who
is making a courageous fight on
behalf of the un-organized, I'M
represented farmers in the vitality
important matter of freight rates,
recently issued statement to the
farmers of Georgia, in which he
warned them that the new rates
proposed by the railroads if au-
thorized by the railroad commits
sion, would yield the railroads an
increased revenue Of $4,000 per
year in the transportation of fer
tillzer and, cotton seed meal.
I'm making this statement
Commissioner Price had before
him the records Of his office.
showing the movement of ferti-
lizcr and cotton seed meal manu-
featured and consumed in this
state over a long period Of years,
and showing that the average
movement for the past five years
mas amounted to 1,282,730 tons
per year, or 81 SIS carloads of fer
tilizer and cotton seed meal each
season
commissioner Price also had
before him the petition Of the rail
roads, now on file before the rail
road commission, which shows
that the present average rate on
fertilizer and cotton seed meal,
from ) to 100 miles, inclusive. is
$40 per ton, and shows that the
average rate proposed by the rail
roads. for the same distances, is
'Sl.32 per ton, or an average in
crease of 1914 per cent.
I'm connection with these fig
ures to which Commissioner
Price has called the attention of
Tie farmers of Georgia, it is inter
esting to make few compari-
sons.
"In the year 1915 the total ad
valorem taxes collected by the
State of Georgia, from all sour
ces, were $5,006,720.
Therefore, the increased rev
enue of $4,000 per year, which
the railroads would derive from
fertilizer and cotton seed meal I'M
der the new freight rates which
they propose, is 10 per cent of the
states total revenue derived from
.ad valorem taxes.
in the year 1915 the railroads
paid into the state treasury the
sum total of $50S,O01.51.
Therefore the increased reve-
nue. Of $4,000 per year, which
the railroads would derive from
fertilizer and cotton seed meal,
IS sufficient to have paid their en-
tire tax to the state last year. and
still leave a surplus of $291 ,008.40
per annum.
in 1915 the railroads paid to
the counties, the municipalities
and the school districts of Geor-
gia the sum total of 81 ,428,783.85.
which, added to their state tax
of $50S,O0l.51, made grand to-
tai of 81 ,956,78536 paid by the
railroads to cover all taxes of ev-
cry kind for the year.
Therefore, the increased rev
enue OF $4,000 per year, which
the railroads would derive from
fertilizer and cotton seed meal. is
4l3 per cent of all the taxes. both
state and local, which they paid
in the state of Georgia last year.
In the year 1915 the State of
Georgia's total appropriation to
pensions OF Confederate veterans
and their widows amounted to
$l,070,000
Therefore, the increased rev.
enue Of $4,000 per year, which
the railroads would derive from
fertilizer and cotton seed meal
IS equivalent to "A per cent of the
aid which these old men and wo-
men received from the state in
1915.
AT the present time the state
OF Georgia's total bonded indebt-
edness is S6,21S,2O2.
Therefore, the increased reve-
nae per year, which the railroads
would derive from fertilizer and
cotton seed meal, is enough to re-
tire all Georgia bonds outstand-
ing in a little less than EIGHT