Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-25

tn HERE is a respected cOlored man in At
lanta, dependable, substantial citizen,
who owns property to the value of a
half million dollars, so 1 have been reliably
informed. He Is engaged in various fnan-
cial activities. He inherited none of this
wealth. but accumulated it by honesty, Thrift
and intelligence
Savannah also has a colored citizen, who
is occupied in banking and other business
lines, and so successful has he been by rea-
son of his integrity, prudence and good
sense, that he is worth, so my reformation
is, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Other cities in Georgia likewise have re-
liable colored citizens who are large taXpay-
and conduct prosperous businesses. There
are numerous of the race who possess rich
and broad acres of farming lands, have titled
the soil so advantageously that they are in
dependently well to do, and view life happily
and contentedly.
Large Increase in Property Values
I invite attention to the following state
ment of property in ten-year periods return
ed by colored taxpayers in Georgia, accord
ing to figures which l found in the office of
the comptroller general of this state:
1880 ...........~...$ D, Ib4 ,z93
1890 ............... 12,322,0O3
1900 ............... 14,1l8,72O
1910 ............... 32,233,985
1871 06,bZ0,0I4
These figures show an increase in assessed
value of property of nearly siXty-three mill
lion dollars from the year 1880 to the year
1920, a period of forty years.
If negroes in Georgia were cruelty OPP
pressed, If they were not protected in their
rights under the law, if they were not per
mtted to make progress and development, If
they were not increasing in enterprise and
wealth, If they were not encouraged in the
practice of thrift and industry, how would it
have been possible for them in 1920 to have
paid taxes to the state on nearly sixty
million dollars of properly?
OF course, the property of the negroes,
like that of the whites, has shown great de-
probation during the past year, under de-
pressed farming conditions particularly but
when the next ten-year period has rolled
away, and 1880 has come the property val
uess of the negroes will no doubt show great
enhancement, and will be keeping step to
the music of the white mans prosperity.
Fine Deposits in Banks
Thousands of negroes have deposits in the
savings banks of Georgia, and thousands
conduct stores and operate various industries
which belong to them. Thousands in towns
and cities own the comfortable houses in
which they live, and many other thousands
the farms upon which they reside and
proftably cultivate. Many successfully
pursuing the professions of medicine and
dentistry and pedagogy, and some are prac-
ticing law and others engaged in the
sciences. Thousands are proftably engaged
in the trades and mechanics.
If any northerners think Georgia negroes
are not keeping propor+ionate pace with the
general prosperity, progress and happiness of
the state, let them be near one of their nu-
merous churches on a Sunday when the oon-
gregation is dismissed, and look upon their
excellent attire, their contented counte-
nances, and see the large number who drive
away in their automobiles. And then fol-
low some of them to their attractive homes,
nicely furnished, pictures on the walls, car
pets on the floors, curtains at the windows.
magazines, newspapers and books on tables
or in Libraries, yictrolas, pianos and other