Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-05-04
WHAT ABOUT
YOUR RECORD
How One Family Was Wiped Out
And Facts Couldn't Be
Supplied

Under the dome of the Capitol, pro-
tected by walls of solid masonry and
guarded by steel door, are the rec.
ords of more than 10000 citizens of
Georgia. In this vault, side by side,
with the birth records, are death rec
ords of more than 10000 individuals,
who died since the Bureau of Vital
Statistics was organized in 1919, and
many are the tragedies to be found
in these records, while few comedies
are also recorded there.
Many records are not complete. The
record of the little family, on the way
to an adjoining state, whom fate leads
to hotel, which was destroyed by
fire cannot be completed for none
were left to furnish the necessary in
formation. The death record of the
recluse of a noble family, known only
as John in the community, caused much
trouble or no one knew his parentage
or birthplace and his relatives were
put to much expense in completing the
record.
Little was known of Bukumba Ka-
lamba Wakanauga, but the record of
Tiney Bugg was complete. She was
near one hundred years of age and
had resided in Georgia all her life.
Many peculiar names appear on
the records. Combinations which oc-
cur by accident when looked at care
fully, although the record is one of
death, causes a smile. There was one
whose name was Polly Pod, another
Ivory Hooks, another Rosie Posie.
With very common names the colors
or fruits were mixed. There were
Pink Brown, Green Yates, Green
Berry, Henseta Blue, Little Bit White
and Loved Cherry. Other combina.
lions appear on the records as Cry.
stal Music, Early Guest Noble SHAY.
er, Morning Mayes and among the sur.
names are to be found Eyestone, Bean
row, Colddough, Pickles, Eeasterbug,
HOgtimihon and HandalOng.
The ultimate aim and final purpose
of all public health work is the limita.
ton of preventable diseases. Com.
plete death records are necessary to
the checking of such work, for with
out such records properly tabulated,
it is impossible to tell whether the
number of such deaths are on the de.
cline or the increase and likewise
whether the appropriation for SUCH
work has been judiciously expended
or not.
In the enforcement of the Compul
sorry School Attendance Act and the
Childs Labor Law,sthe officials will
find the birth records an unerring
basis for its administration. It is be.
lieved that by such records the
scholastic census may be purged of.
thousands of names of those who are
not within the scholastic age to the
detriment of those children who are
justly entitled to participate in the
division Of the school funds. The
legitimacy, the age and the percentages
of each child so recorded is establish.
ed and many questions as to its right
may, in the future, be settled by
simple reference to the birth record.
The Federal Government, in the issu.
ance Of passports, is now demanding
the establishment of citizenship,
which can be most easily done by a |
certified firth certificate and in the
settlement of the Veterans claims
for additional compensation a birth
record is required in such cases.
The solution of many social prob
lens now confronting the State may
be found in these records. The lin.
itation of the family to one or two
children among the better class with
an average of six children among the /
negro race means that
tht State must double her educational
fund or that the voter will, in the next
generation, be more easily controlled
by INSCRIPTIONS politicians. With