The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1921-04-21
SCHOOLS AND ROADS
PAY IN CALIFORNIA
DR.. J. D. Malone, Who Has Just
Returned From Visit There
Tells About Progress.
IMPROVEMENT BY BOND
Japanese Are Exceptionally Industri-
ous and Hard to Compete With
In Farming.
Editor Journal:

Editor Journal:
Having just returned from a three
months sojurn in Southern Califor-
mia, you ask that l give your readers
some of my impressions of that coun-
try. It is big subject and win con-
fine myself to such things as l think
will be of interest to the majority
OF our people, and especially to those
Who are trying to develop and ad-
vance Marietta and Cobb county.
Los Angeles, where we stayed, is
the center of section that has made
marvellous development during the
past ten or fifteen years, and is still
advancing with rapid strides.
The last census gave the city about
100000, and they claim hundred
thousand more now, and confidently
predict million inhabitants by 49,
80.
What accounts for this wondeful
gowth in population and wealth?
The climate, of course, has some
thing to do with it, but not all by
any means.
I Their public improvements in the
way of roads and schools, and their
successful efforts to beautify, and
make things attractive, are in my
judgement, some of the main rea-
sons.
Asphalt streets all over the cities,
and from Los Angeles out in every
direction leading to the smaller cities
are wide, smooth, asphalt-covered
concrete roads. y.
With the speed limit of 35 miles
an hour on the country roads, dis
lance don't count for much, One
very seldom sees a horse drawn We
hicle on the streets or country roads.
The number of automobile licenses
issued in Los Angeles county for 49,
20 was 161 900, about one car to
every four of the ponlation.
4 Handsome, large public school
buildings are seen everywhere.
In the High Schools they give
courses in businss, domestic science,
manual training, ETC., besides the re-
gular courses, and there are no tut
ton charges. School books and sup
plies are furnished to all the pupils
free of charge.
One is impressed with the way
they handle public improvements.
Whatever is necessary to be done,
:, they do it, and they do it right, and
in the best way, regardless of cost.
How have they accomplished such
marelous things? Largely by voting
big, long time, bond issues, for the
public schools, and for building per-
manent roads. Doesn't that make
taxes mighty high? Yes, their pres
ent city tax rate is $1.6O and their
resent county rate is $2.41, making a
total of $500, but it is based on a
1 SO per cent property valuation
They have tax appraisers for both
city a'd county, who appraise all
property at fifty per cent of it's real
value, and the tax levy is made ac-
cordineiy.
Such things that l have mentioned
come hi1h, but it has certainly paid
in California, for they have what
people want, and they hold what citi-
zens they have, and are drawing 9TH
ers from every part of the compass.
talked with scores of the people,
and failed to find one that was not
satisfied, and apparently happy, and
had no desire or intention of ever
coming back east" as they call it.
Space forbids me from speaking
of the great and diversified agricul-
tural products of that section, and
their improved farming methods. I'M
proved lands range from $500 to
$500 per acre and perhaps more. 1t
only costs about $500 per acre for
water toll for irrigation. The Jap
does most Of the truck farming, leas-
/ ing the land and on account of his
intensive methods, and his wonder
full industry, the white tenant can't
compete with him. This accounts for
a great deal Of the fight, that is cen
stantly waged in California against
the Japanese.
We have here in North Georgia
an all the year climate, far better
!! than in many sections of the United
! States, and we also have country
of great possibilities. If our people
could only get a vision, forget the
past and look to the future, and be-
gin to do things, we would soon have
a country Of contented and posper-
GUS people, and one that would draw
and hold others as well.
]. d. Malone.
Marietta, Ga.