Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1926-09-23
UTILITIES POUR ADDED MILLIONS OF
CAPITAL INTO STATE FOR DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA, COMPTROLLER -CENL SHOWS

Some striking facts are brought
out in the estimates of income OF the
state, just filed by Comptroller Gen.
eral William A. Wright, illustrating
the faith of utility corporations in
the future of Georgia.
Values of these properties, shown
in the figures compiled by the Comp
trolIer General, tell the story in the
increased investment, improvement
of properties and expansions by the
utility companies representing more
than $24. .OO0. 600 in two years past.
Analysts figure this the result OF
two outstanding realizasiens; first a
growing appreciation and use on the
part of the public Of the various util-
tiles, and second. the realization on
the part of the utilities of necessary
preparations to meet the increasing
demand for service from the people.
Property values for the year 1926
as compiled by the Comptroller Gen.
eral sho wall properties in the state.
other than utilities, to have valua-
ton of $1,O61, ,745,570, compared
with a total valuation of the same
properties in 1925 of 1854, ,374,620.
an increase in these values over 1925
of $7,37O,950, which is found to be
directly attributable OF engagements,
new developments, new buildings,
ETC., in the more populous centers.
The total value of the properties of
utility corporations for 1925 is 1884,
S68,577, compared with $186,473,642
in 1925, or an increase in their val
ues, due to betterments, improve
ments and investments of $8,394,577
over the year 1925; a larger increase
in values than was attained in the
same period of time by all other
properties.
Further comparative figures from
the Comptroller Generals office even
more forcibly illustrate the great
progress and development these
properties are undergoing. Com
pairing the years 1925 and 1926 do
not show as broadly sthe compari-
son of 1924 and 1925.
In 1924 the total value of all prop
critics other than those of utilities
was 81, ,042, ,659, 1857 while in 1925 the
same property values were $1,054,-
374,620, indicating an increase in
1925 over 1924 of $11,714,763. The
total value of utility properties in
1924 was $17O,763,216, compared
with $186,473.642 in 1925, being an
increase of $15,71O,426, or nearly
one and one-half times as much in
crease as in all the other property
values.
In the past three years there has
been an increase of $37, 100000 in
values of all properties in the state,
other than utilities, while in the same
period the utility properties have
been expanded nearly $4,000, 900,
indicating that the greater. activities
in these latter growths and expan-
sions have come in the past two
years, in which they have been great
er than the increases in other proper
ties.
In 1916 the values of utility prop
critics was $152,653,482 while in
1925 it is $194,S68,577, an increase
for the 10 years of $42,215,O95 and
yet of that increase the past two
years growth and expansion in their
property investment values, on actual
returns made and compiled by the
Comptroller General, has been $24,-
1O5,OO
Back of the figures is, of course,
the wonderful story of faith in fu-
ture of the state; progress in its de-
velopment which has made the pro-
gress indicated in the figures quoted,
and the index it is to a great state
wide growth and expansion in the