Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-29

million-or ten times over. In 1880 there
out the United States seventy-eight million
dollars In 1920 the South expended for
public education two hundred and four mill
lion dollars; and during the last two years
has markedly bettered this record, Facts
like these bear witness, not only to vast
treasures of nature, but also to expanding
energies of mind and character, and pledge
anew a greater nation through greater
South.
What of Georgia's part in this epic OF
progress? Before touching upon the more
usual evidences of activity and growth, let
us note a significant thing or two out of the
beaten track The patents granted to Geor-
gains in the period 1915-1921, &C
cording to the Blue Book" number one
thousand two hundred and ninety-four-an
annual average of more than two hundred
and fifteen. This is remindful that 1t was
on a famous Georgia estate near Savannah
that the cotton gin was invented, and from
that port that the first steamship crossed
the Atlantic, and that this state was the first
to adopt manual training in the public
schools. When 1t comes to providing firm
foundations, Georgia excels, having pro-
duced in 1920 upwards of three million six
hundred thousand dollars worth of stone.
In production of porkers she leads all the
South with the exception of Missouri and
Texas. AS for health, she has the lowest
death rate east of the Mississippi.
Consider now a few facts concerning Geor-
gia's industrial and agricultural develop
ment. Her active cotton spindles have in
creased in number from S15,545 in 1900 to
2,56S,594 in 1922; while her looms have in
creased during this period from 1898 to
1880 In these items, and also in capital
investment in cotton mills Georgia Is third
among Southern states, being much behind
the Ccrolinas. But when we see that she
has in her rivers and streams a potential
maximum of six hundred and twenty-seven
thousand horse power, the vaster part of
which is yet to be utilized, we can but feel
confident that the commendable endeavors
of the Georgia Industrial Bureau to hasten
her development in textile and other indus
tries, will be abundantly rewarded.
In value of farm products Georgia's record
for 1922 suffers from the severe reverses of
cotton. Still, it is gratifying that her crops
for that year were some ifty-one million dol
lars above the aggregate for the year pre-
represented total of two hundred and
eighty-nine million dollars. Gratifying 1t is,
too that the live stock on her farms, with
the exception of sheep, have substantially
multiplied in recent years. The census of
the last twelvemonth credits her with 2,152.-
geo swine, 100000 mich cows, 100000
other cattle, and $4,000 sheep. 1t must be
said, however, that for all her improvement
in this respect Georgia is still far behind
her needs and her opportunities in the pro-
duction Of food supplies.
Rejoicing as we well may over Georgias in.
creased expenditure for public schools from
four hundred and seventy-one thousand dol
lars in 1880 to eight million eight hundred
and seventy-seyen thousand in 1920, we can
but note at the same time that she is sur
passed by number of her neighbors-by Ala
bama, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina,
and North Carolina. Whatever else may be
neglected, we dare not lag in education if our
hearts set upon true progress and true
prosperity.