Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-28
Where Georgia Stands

Y N their notable survey Of farm statistics
l for Georgia the rural economic classes
: of the State Normal School at Athens
bring forward certain facts of which all
thinking citizens should take heed.
In the matter of debt-free homes Georgia's
rank among the States is ninth, seventy-eight
and two-tenths per cent of her owned homes
being unmortgaged. This is indeed cheer
ing. though it must be added that still bet
ter record is held by five Southern States
North Carolina, Virginia. LOUISIANA, Tennes-
see and South Carolina. Gratifying, too, is
Georgia's production Of crop wealth, her
rank therein being fourteenth and the value
of her output for 1921 aggregating one hun
dred and seventy-seven million, nine hun
dred and eighty-six thousand dollars Only
two States Of the South, according to the
Texas and North Carolina 1t appears,
moreover, that in the last decade the State
eax values of Georgia increased sixty-six
per cent, while the per capita wealth grew
from two hundred and forty-six dollars in
1910 to four hundred and eight dollars in
1920. Add that in value Of manufactured
Uroducts the State stands twenty-first, with
a years total of six hundred and ninety
three million, five hundred and fifty-six
thousand dollars, and it is plain that the
land, If not flowing with milk and honey. is
at least long way from the lean kline and
the empty bin.
But the story is not yet done. Our as
siduous young students have rare and
wholesome regard not only for TRUTH but
also for the whole truth, believing that not
until all the facts are brought forth can we
know Georgia Alright and serve her most eff
fectively. Hence they point out that in the
federal census reports for 1920 this State
ranks, in live stock values per farm, forty
fourth; forty-fourth, too, in the percentage
of farms having pure-bred live stock; and
also forty-fourth in value of farm buildings.
AS to importation of food and feed supplies,
only six States spend, proportionately, for
this purpose more than Georgia does. 1t is
.reckoned upon a basis Of census values in
1920, that Georgia paid to other regions up
wards of three hundred and twenty million,
two hundred thousand dollars for bread,
meat, and staples of farm, orchard and gar
den Here assuredly is pabulum for the wise
to chew on.
One other fact should be noted for the
light it throws on those Which have gone be-
fore: In farm tenancy Georgia ranks forty
eighth. That is, with sxty-six and six
tenths per cent of all her farms cultivated by
renters, and with sixty and nine-tenths per
cent of all her farm lands in the hands of
tenants" she leads in custom which would
be vastly more honored In the breach than in
the observance.
The rural economic classes of the State
Normal School are heartily to be congratu-
lated upon the diligence of their research,
and upon the motive which prompts them to
bring these facts, both credtable and other
kind, to popular attention. Self-complacency
lis not the meat on which great Common
wealths feed, nor the stuff of which work
manly patriotism is made. Rather, it is in
knowing the truth that we shall be made free
ito do our best for Georgia.