Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-08


income tax returns bears striking
witness to the States growth and
prosperity. Statistics just announced from
Washington for 1917, the latest year on which
complete reports have been made, show that
in this Commonwealth there were thirty-eight
thousand two hundred and ifty-two personal
returns, aggregating one hundred and sixteen
million one hundred and seventy-one thou
sand one hundred and twelve dollars of net
incomes, and tax yield of three million one
hundred and seven thousand seven hundred
and ffty-four dollars. The nearest approach
to this record in number of returns is Vir-
ginia, where thrty-seven thousand nine hun
dred and f1fty-one income taxpayers were
listed; and the nearest approach in amount
of net incomes is Louisiana, where the total
reached one hundred and fifteen million eight
hundred and ninety-sx thousand one hun
dred and eighty dollars. The other States
grouped as Southern'-Alabama, Florida,
EIississippi North Carolina, South Carolina
and Tennessee-all made excellent showings,
but in no instance appropriated the Georgia
figures.
Well may we feel proud of holding the van
of such company, for these nine States with
whom it is Georgia's privilege to be joined,
compose one of the most achieving and most
promising regions of the world. NotWithstand-
ing the fact that less than two generations ago
they were devastated by war, they turned in
about six per cent of the country's total tax
able incomes and paid into the national
treasury tWenty-four million three hundred
and fifty-fiye thousand dollars in this one
form of federal taxation. Fifty years ago
who would have predicted such a showing :?
Who, indeed, but the most imaginative would
have dreamed it possible? Men who grimly
followed the Stars and Bars to Appomattox
and went home in rags to land of famine
and ruins have lived to join their sons in pay
ing, and paying joyfully, a tax largess of
millions that the Stars and Stripes might be
borne to a world victory. Stout hearts and
fine spirits no less than rare resources of soil
and sun are revealed in this wonderful record.
Thriftess the South may have seemed with
her instructive open-handedness, but at least
she has managed in the course of few
decades to rebuild her shattered fortunes and
add lion snews to the nations strength In
population, industrial development and CAPT.
tai resources these nine States which Georgia
leads have no such advantages as the New
England group or the Middle West, Nor
have they had any considerable portion OF
the munition and war implement manufac-
turing which from the earlier stages OF the
European conflict brought high tides OF new
wealth to the north and East. Yet they have
mustered nearly quarter of a million payers
of taxes on incomes aggregating eight hun
dred and sixty million dollars.
The resources out of which this admirable
record has been made are of a basic and last
ing character. They are largely agricultural
though their industrial and commercial
aspect grows continually more pronounced.
They are the sort of resources which time
will enhance; wherefore, the prosperity which
springs from them will gather volume and
power with the flow of the years. There is
nothing of boom fever in the stir and
growth of this region, but rather the newt
able activity of forces which in their very ma
ture are richly creative. 1t is priceless priv
ilege to dwell in such land, especially IN
the State which is its center and crest, and
to take some part in bringing its great destiny
n