Newspaper Page Text
BY THE JACKSON COUNTY >
PUBLISHING COMPANY. \
VOLUME I.
©is IFfta£u§.
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY,
.. JnckMon County Pul>ll<hing
Compnny.
JEFFERSON, JACKSON CO ., GA.
N. W. COK. PUBLIC SQUARE, UP-STAJKS.
O,H MALCOM STAFFORD,
managing and business editor.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
One copy '2 months $2.00
m “ 6 44 1.00
“ 3 44 50
gaj-For every Club of Ten subscribers, an ex
tra copy of the paper will be given.
RITES OF ADVERTISING.
DNK Dollar per square (of ten lines or less)
for the first insertion, and Seventy-five Cents
for each subsequent insertion.
Up-All Advertisements sent without specifica
tion of the number of insertions marked thereon,
will be published TILL forbid, and charged
accordingly.
or Professional Cards, of six lines
or less, Seven Dollars per annum; and where
they do not exceed ten lines, Ten Dollars.
f'ontravt Adverli^iiig.
The following will be the regular rates for con
tract advertising, and will be strictly adhered to
in all cases:
Squares, tw. lm. 3m. <t i52 u.
One .~ $1 00 $2 50 $0 00 $9 00 sl2 00
Two 200 550 11 00 17 00 22 00
Three 300 075 16 00 21 00 30 00
four 400 050 18 75 25 00 36 00
I ire 500 10 25 21 50 29 00 42 00
Jin 600 12 00 24 25 33 00 48 00
Twelve 11 OO 21 75 40 00 55 00 81 00
Eighteen.... 15 00 30 50 54 50 75 50 109 00
Twenty two 17 00 34 OO 6(1 00 <lO 0O 125 (X)
HajTA square is one inch, or about 100 words of
thetvpe used in our advertising columns.
Marriage and obituary notices not exceeding ten
lines, will be published free; but for all over ten
lines, regular advertising rates will be charged.
Transient advertisements and announcing can
didates for ottice will be Cash.
Address all communications for publication and
ill letters on business to
MAI.COM STAFFORD,
Managing ami lift si ness Editor.
Irofcssinimf i?)iisiiicsß (lank
I. A. B. MAIIAFFKY. W. S. M V.\UTY.
\IAHAFFEY & McCARTY,
iU A T TOR NEYS AT LAW,
Jefferson, Jackson Cos. (la..
Will practice anywhere for money. Prompt at
tention given to all business entrusted to their
■are. Patronage solicited. Oct3oly
IVII.KY C. HOWARD. KOB'T S. HOWARD.
lIOM tHII A IIOWAItl),
II ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
J KFKEKSON. 6a.
Will practice together in all the Courts of Jack-
Inn and adjacent counties, except the Court of
Minary of Jackson county. Sept Ist ’75
i; wii.i.i \iisov
Pi. WATCIIM A KK.R A\D JEWELER.
At Dr. Win. King’s Drugstore, Deuprec Block.
Athens. Ga. All work done in a superior manner,
tnd warranted to give satisfaction. Terms. posi~
ivth/ CASH. July 10—6 m.
STANLEY & PINSON,
JEFFERSON . GA..
)KALERS in Dry Goods and Family Groce
ries. New supplies constantly received.
Cheap for Cash. Call and examine their stock.
June 19 ly
MRS. T. A. ADAMS,
ft road Street, one door abort National Rank.
ATHENS,
’ EEPS constantly on hand an extensive stock
JY of SEASONABLE MILLINERY GOODS,
Uprising, in part, the latest styles and fashions
IjutiiV Hals, Itonnets, Kibbons,
IjteeM, Flawens bileves, Ac., which will be
'old at reasonable prices. Orders from the coun
fry promptly filled. Give her a call. dlß3m
1) F. WOFIOKI), Attorney at law,
J>. BELTON, GA.,
Will practice in all the adjoining Counties, and
I'H prompt attention to all business entrusted to
'is care. Collecting claims a specialty.
Jne 19th, 1875. ly
Thn . oauix
11 HARNESS MAKER. JEFFERSON. GA.
and good buggy and wagon harness always
hand. Repairing same, bridles, saddles, &c,,
“Oncon short notice, and cheap for cash.
junel2—ly
!• nxVl, I J. B. SILMAX,
D Covington, Ga. | Jefferson, Ga.
ATTORNEYS-A T-LA W.
" 'll practice together in the Superior Courts of
counties of Jackson and Walton.
Jnel*>—ly
\\ IMIiK, Attorney it Ijiw.
k M • JEFFERSON, JACKSON CO., GA.
Pr etices in all the Courts, State and Federal.
I’rompt and thorough attention given to all
of legal business in Jackson and adjoining
June 12, 1875
Medical Notice.
| \r. .1. o. MUIVT having located in Jeffer
r 7 s °n for the purpose of practicing Medicine,
j-spectfully tenders his services to the citizens of
■'•“town and county in all the different branches
the profession. After a flattering experience
t)'neteen years, he feels jnstifled in saying that
w Prepared to successfully treat any curable
• M ise incident to our climate. He is, for the
Present, boarding with Judge John Simpkins, but
' tnove his family here soon,
yffice with Col. J. A. B. Mahaffey.
Reference can be seen in the office of 1 . 11.
11 Lack, Esq., c. S. C. octlti
PESDEROBASS & HANCOCK,
\Y 'ffl.D respectfully call the attention of the
P'lblie to their elegant stock of
Dry Goods of all Kinds,
Hl: A| V- A■> I! < LOT II lA< ,
, K| NE CASSIMERES. HATS, CAPS,
Trhl a,u * s,,oes ; Ladies’ Bonnets. Hats and
u- Hardware. Hollow Ware, Earthen
en<- r ‘ Books, Paper, Pens, Inks. Envel-
Y P „ S ' ■* | O,, r. Meal. Bacon, Lard, Sugar Coffee,
, K li h’nds Patent Medicines, in fact everything
th< ! ‘ OUn d in a General Store. Prices to suit
" ncs * Jefferson, June 12, 1875. tf
THE FOREST NEWS.
1 lie People their own Riders; Advancement in Education, Science, Agriculture and Southern Manufactures.
GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE.
Executive Dei>'t, State of Geo., I
Atlanta, Jan. 12, 1876. \
To the General Assembly:
In the discharge of my duty under the
Constitution, I proceed to inform the Gen
eral Assembly of the state of the Common
wealth, and to recommend to their conside
ration the measures that are deemed necessa
ry and expedient.
In consequence of the vacancy in the of
fice of State Treasurer, which occurred on
the 26th day of November last, no formal
report of the operations of the Treasury
during that period of the last fiscal year,
ending on the day just named, has been
received for transmission to the General
Assembly. It devolves upon me, therefore,
to present in this communication a full and
particular statement of the affairs of the
Treasury during the period mentioned.
state treasury.
By a Joint Resolution of the General
Assembly, passed at the last session, the
Governor was directed to appoint a “skillful
and competent person to assist the Treasurer
in systematizing the manner of book-keeping
in his office, to make out a full and complete
registration of all bonded obligations in the
Treasury, to ascertain, if possible, all the
outstandings recognized as legal or illegal
by the State, to report to the General Assem
bly a tabulated statement of the same,” and
to do whatever else was necessary “to pro
tect the interest of the State in the conduct
of the business of the office.”
Under the authority of this Resolution, I
appointed James F. Bozeman, who entered
upon the discharge of his duties on the 22d
day of March last. Mr. Bozeman has pre
pared and submitted a full report of the
results of his investigations, which is here
with respectfully transmitted for the infor
mation of the General Assembty.
By reference to the tabulated statement
accompanying the report, it will be seen that
the valid l>ondcd debt of the State amounts
to $8,005,500. The whole amount of
outstanding bonds of the State declared null
and void by legislative enactments, is $2.-
872.000 00. The amount of Ixmds classed
by Mr. Bozeman as “invalid,” is $473,250
00. The outstanding past due bonds of the
St ate amount to $35,500 00. Of these it has
been ascertained that $12,500 00 are in the
possession of Messrs, E. I’. Scott & Cos., of
New York ; SB,OOO 00 in the hands of E. L.
Haves, of the State of Rhode Island, and
$17,000 00 are either in the possession of
parties unknown, or have been lost or de
stroyed. A full descriptive list of these
bonds has been made and recorded in a book
prepared for the purpose. The report shows
that the amount of past due Ikhhls legally
outstanding, is very small.
Books of record have been opened, in
which all the recognized ami valid current
Ikjihls of the State, as well as all the overdue
and paid bonds found in anv quarter what
ever, have been carefullj” registered. A
book has also been prepared for the registra
tion of such bonds as shall be hereafter is
sued.
Under an Act approved December 11,
1858, entitled “An Act to provide for the
education of the children of this State, and
to provide a sinking fund for the extinguish
ment of the public debt,” $350,000 00 of
bonds were prepared and placed in the
custody of the Secretary of State. I would
respectfully suggest that the public interest
dose not require that these bonds should be
longer kept, and it is therefore recommended
that they be destroyed. I also recommend
that the $268,000 00 of 7 per cent, currency
bonds, numbering from 1 to 268, inclusive,
now deposited in the Treasur}’ as security
for the school fund, be destroyed. These
bonds were deposited as a pledge for the
replacement of $242,027 62 of the school
fund taken on the 6th day of August, 1870,
by authority of the Legislature, and applied
to the payment of legislative expenses. It
is not probable that the school fund will be
materially increased by this deposit of
bonds ; they should therefore be destroyed.
The second section of an Act, entitled
“An Act to set apart and secure the school
fund,” approved July 28, 1870, is as
follows.
“ That, from time to time, without delay,
as definite amounts are ascertained by the
Comptroller General to be due said fund, he
shall report the same to his Excellency, the
Governor, who shall thereupon deposit with
the Treasurer 7 per cent, bonds of the State,
to such an amount as will perfectly secure
the school fund.”
Under this section 150 7 per cent, curren
cy bonds of SIOOO each, dated May 1, 1872,
and due July 1, 1892, were prepared for
execution in the summer of 1872. They
were never executed, however, because it
was feared that a compliance with this law
would injure the public credit. Never hav
ing been executed and issued, or even de
posited as directed by the Act, they do not
form any portion of the public debt of the
State.
It is also shown by the report that an
amount of 6 per cent, bonds, not exceeding
$375,000, was executed, probably in the year
1854, for the purpose of being exchanged for
the outstanding bonds of the Central Bank.
For some reason these bonds were never
issued, but remained in the Treasury vault
at Milledgeville until November, 1864, when,
it is supposed, they fell into the hands of the
Federal troops. A rumor exists that at
tempts have since been made to put them in
circulation in a Western State. For the
protection of the public against fraud and
imposition, 1 recommend that appropriate
action be taken, declaring these bonds null
and void.
The attention of the General Assembly is
especially invited to that portion of Mr.
Bozeman’s report which refers to the State
bonds redeemed by Henry Clews & Cos., as
former financial agent ot the State. It is
shown that in the years 1870 and 1871 this
a o>ent redeemed bonds of the State amount
ing to $272,250.00, of which $98,250.00
were afterwards cancelled. Ihe remaining
$174 000 together with SBOO,OOO of void cur
rency bonds? and £15,000 of sterling bonds,
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY, GA., SATURDAY, JAN’Y 22, 1576.
which had also been redeemed, were, on the
13th day of December, 1873, sold by the
said agent at public auction, in New York,
on one day's notice. At the sale, the $174,-
000 of bonds mentioned were nominally bid
off as follows, viz: $156,000.00 by J. D.
Hayes; $12,500.00 by the Misses Clews,
(said to be sisters of Henry Clews,) and $5,-
000.00 by Messrs. Chittenden & Hubbard.
The amount realized from the sale of these
bonds was $18,625.00. The sterling bonds,
and the void currency bonds mentioned,
were also disposed of for a trifling sum.
It cannot be doubted that this pretended
sale was a mere device resorted to for the
purpose of obtaining a color of right for
placing these already redeemed securities a
second time upon the market. After the
sale, they all went back into the control of
Henry Clews & Cos., and it is alleged that,
early in the spring of 1874, a portion of the
same bonds, amounting to $149,250.00, was
presented at the Treasury of Georgia and
again redeemed by the late Treasurer.
It has not yet been ascertained when or
by whom these bonds were thus presented
for payment. The late Treasurer himself
declares his inability to give any information
whatever upon these points, lie represents
that no written entry or memorandum,
throwing any light upon the subject, was
made by him. lie further professes to be
entirely unable to recall any fact which
would serve as a clue to the person or per
sons who presented these bonds for payment.
His possession of them seems to be the only
evidence within his knowledge showing that
he redeemed them. In addition to the prin
cipal of the bonds, the Treasurer claims that
he also paid interest thereon accruing after
maturity, amounting to $24,782.15. This
alleged payment of interest is not verified
by proper vouchers, nor is the Treasurer
able to state, from memory or otherwise, to,
whom the same was made.
In addition to the foregoing, it would
seem the late Treasurer also redeemed a
second time other bonds of the State amoun
ting to a large sum. On the Bth day of Jan
uary, 1873, Alton Angier, clerk in the Trea
sury, received from the Fourth National
Bank of New York, $21,000 of uncanelled
bonds which matured in June and July,
1872, and in January, 1873. These bonds
had been redeemed by the bank, as agent
for the State, by exchanging therefor new
7 per cent bonds, issued under the authority
of the Act approved January 18, i872. Mr.
Angier states that he brought the bonds from
New York and placed them in the vault of
the Treasury. It should be here remarked,
however, that no entry of the redemption of
these bonds was made on the records of the
Treasury, either by the Treasurer or his
clerk. The then Treasurer went out of offiee
shortly after the bonds had been received in
New York by his clerk, but failed, it seems,
to take any receipt showing the delivery of
them to his successor. The latter denies
that the bonds were turned over to him by
his predecessor, and claims that he redeemed
them in good faith after he came into office.
It is proper to state that he dose not remem
ber from whom they were redeemed, nor
does he recall any circumstance from which
the fact of their redemption by himself can
be ascertained. lie also claims that he paid
interest on these bonds amounting to sl.*
080.00.
The ascertained amount of the alleged
made by the late Treasurer in
second redemption of bonds, was $196,612.15.
a particular statement of which is presented
in the accompanying documents.
Before passing from this subject it is
proper to state, that in the latter part of the
year 1874, the Treasurer obtained warrants
in his favor for the amount of the alleged
payments mentioned. The payments, them
selves, had been made before the warrants
were applied for. and without the knowledge
of the Executive. It is not intended by this
statement to imply that the special consent
of the Executive is required to authorize the
Treasurer to redeem the principal and inter
est of the public debt. Each outstanding
bond, and coupon, also, when properly sign
ed, is, itself, a lawful warrant upon the
Treasury, which it is the duty of the Treas
urer to pay upon presentation at maturity.
Paragraph 11, section 92 of the last Re
vised Code of the State, is in the following
words:
“ AYhen he (the Treasurer) pays the interest or
principal of the State debt, upon a warrant issued
in his favor, lie shall deposit in the Executive of
fice coupons or bonds, on which the payments are
made, there to be marked ; paid’ and tiled away,
subject to the order of the General Assembly.”
Section 955 of the Code is in the following
language:
“ When bonds or coupons are paid, they
must be stamped as paid, and preserved in
the Treasurer's office with the same care as
the funds of the State.”
The first section is a codification of the
Act of 1845. The second was introduced bv
the Code of 1863, and materially changed
the old law. The first does not require the
redeemed bond or coupon to be cancelled un
til after the same is presented by the Treas
urer for an Executive warrant. The second
requires the cancellation to be made at the
time the bond or coupon is paid. The first
implies that the cancellation should be made
under the direction of the Governor ; the sec
ond that it must be made by the Treasurer
at the time of pajunent. The first provides
that, after the Executive warrant has issued,
and the redeemed bonds or coupons have
been marked “paid” or cancelled, they shall
be “filed away” in the Executive office. The
second prescribes that, after payment and
cancellation, the3" shall be “preserved in the
Treasurer’s office, with the same care as the
funds of the State.”
Under the law, as it now stands, the Treas
urer is clearly the custodian of the redeemed
bonds and coupons of the State. It has been
the usage, when the Treasurer applies for a
warrant to cover the payment of bonds or
coupons, for the Governor to cause such
bonds or coupons to be carefully counted by
one of the Secretaries of the Executive De
partment. When the count, which frequent
ly consumes many days, is completed, the
vouchers are sealed up in a package, and a
memorandum of the contents and amount is
indorsed thereon. A warrant, based upon this
memorandum, is then issued in favor of the
Treasurer, and the package itself remains in
the Treasurer's office, “subject to the order
of the General Assembly.” The warrant
thus issued, it will be borne in mind, is not
intended to give authority to draw money out
of the 1 reasuty. Its only effect is to certify
that the Treasurer is entitled to credit on the
books of the Comptroller General for the
amount stated in the warrant. The allow
ance of such credit, however, is not intended
to conclude the right of the State to reopen
the transaction for the correction of anv er
ror that may have been committed, it is
proper here to observe, that the usage just
mentioned was conformed to, in every respect,
when the warrants covering the improper
payments referred to were issued. No sus
picion had then arisen that the Treasurer was
not entitled to the whole amount of the cred
its claimed by him.
I recommend a careful revision of all the
laws governing the State Treasury, and that
such amendments thereof be made as will
guard more effectively the public interest.
The law itself should require that itemized
monthly reports of the condition and trans
actions of the treasury be submitted to the
Governor, and the information contained in
these reports should be, in his discretion,
from time to time, given to the public. The
laws should create a lien in favor of the State
upon all the property of the Treasurer and
of his sureties, from the date of the execution
of his bond. Provision should also be made
for the issue of execution against a default
ing Treasurer and his sureties, without the
intervention of suit, as is now allowed in ca
ses of Tax Collectors and Receivers.
The report of the Treasurer, submitted at
the last session of the General Assembly,
showed a balance in the Treasury on the Ist
day of January, 1875, of $1.003,128.88. The
amount received into the Treasury from all
sources from that time to the 25th day of No
vember, 1875—the date of the Treasurer's
removal—was $1,287,277.37. This sum, ad
ded to the balance on hand on the Ist dav of
January, 1875, amounted to $2,290,406.25,
With this gross amount the Treasurer stood
charged at the time of his removal from office.
The aggregate amount of his disbursements
in the year 1875. as the same appears on the
Comptroller General's books, was SBIO,-
401.79. This sum deducted from the gross
amount with which he stood charged, left a
cash balance against him at the time of his
removal of $1,480,004.46. The amount of
disbursements just stated includes only the
payments made under Executive warrants.
In addition to these, the late Treasurer claims
that he is entitled to a large amount of cred
its for which no warrants were issued. To
the following statement of the items of credit
thus claimed, the attention of the General
Assembly is respectfully invited :
On the 24th day of June, 1875, the Treas
urer presented his account for interest paid
upon the public debt in the year 1874. This
account consists of the following items:
8 per cent, coupons for interest due
October 1. 1573 $ 46,360 00
8 per cent, coupons for interest due
April 1. 1871 47.210 00
8 per cent, coupons for interest due
October 1, 1874 44,690 00
7 per cent, coupons for interest due
on or before January 1. 1875 259.700 00
7 percent, coupons for interest due on
bonds issued under Act of Janu
ary 18,1872 39,007 50
6 per cent, coupons for interest due on
and hefore Feb. 1, 1875 62,145 00
7 per cent, on gold coupons due on or
before October 1, 1874 99,207 50
Miscellaneous coupons for interest on
past due bonds. &c 34,207 50
Aggregating $632,527 50
Of the coupons last mentioned, $6,645 ma
tured at dates prior to January, 1873, and, in
some instances, as far back as the year 1861.
The records in the Treasurer's office show
that the bonds to which some of these cou
pons pertained, were paid at dates varying
from seven to sixteen years ago. After the
year 1808, the State paid the interest on her
old bonds, from which fact the presumption
arises that these coupons were paid prior to
January, 1873, the date of the late Treasur
er’s accession to office. In many instances
the dates of maturity are carefully and in
geniously clipped, or punched, from these
coupons, in a manner strongly suggestive of
a doubtful claim. A portion of them had
been twice cancelled, and the records in the
Treasurer's office indicated that many of
them had been paid by a former Treasurer.
In many instances, original entries of pay
ment on the records, in the handwriting of a
former Treasurer, are altered and overridden
b}’ second entries in the handwriting of the
late Treasurer. A further suspicion of the
validity of these coupons was raised by the
admission of the Treasurer, frequently re
peated, that portions of them were not proper
credits, and had probably been gathered by
his clerk from the sweepings of the vault, and
carelessly placed among his vouchers.
Objection was made also to allowing the
$93,570 of 8 per cent, coupons presented, as
already stated, with the Treasurer's account.
These coupons represented all of the first
year's interest upon the whole issue of 8 per
cent, bonds, except $41,000. It was a fact
within my own knowledge, that a large amount
of these bonds was not disposed of until after
the first coupon for the semi-annual interest
thereon had matured. It was hence reason
ably inferred that when they were sold, the
matured coupons pertaining thereto were cut
off and retained by the Treasurer. No amount
of coupons so cut off and retained was re
ported, however. It was not doubted that
the Treasurer was entitled to credit for a
large amount of this interest, but no data was
furnished from which this amount could be
ascertained. llis books ought to have fur
nished the desired information, but no full
account of the sales of bonds was submitted.
Neither his written nor verbal explanations
furnished any satisfactory evidence of the
specific amount of credit to which he was en
titled. In the absence of this information, it
was manifestly improper to assume a fixed
amount; and hence, this whole item was held
up for further investigation. I respectfully
submit, herewith, for the information of the
General Assembly, a particular statement of
the coupons so disallowed, and of the Trea
surer’s written suswers in explanation of the
objections thereto.
REMOVAL OF tllE TREASURER—IIIs ASCER
TAINED LIABILITIES.
From facts which came to my knowledge
during the Treasury investigation, l formed
the opinion that the surety on the official
bond of the Treasurer was insufficient. There
upon, an Executive order was issued and
served upon him personally, on the 15th day
of November Inst, requiring new bond and
surety to be executed in terms of the law.—
AVith this requisition the Treasurer failed to
comply, by reason whereof his office became
vacant, by operation of law, on the 26th day
of November last. During the period allow
ed for the execution of new bond and surety,
the receipts into-the Treasury were deposited
in the Citizens’ Bank, of Atlanta, and dis
bursements during the same period were made
directly from this Bank, upon Executive war
rants only. The sums so received and dis
bursed are particularly stated in the report of
the Comptroller General, herewith trans
mitted.
Within the time prescribed by law, the late
Treasurer made a statement of his accounts
and delivered the books and papers of the
Treasury, together with an amount of money,
to his successor, taking his receipt therefor.
This statement of settlement was duly record
ed in the Comptroller General’s office; but
the receipt taken, as just stated, for the prop
erty of the Treasury, has never been present
ed for record.
By referring to this statement of settle
ment, a cbpy of which accompanies this com
munication, it appears that the late Treasurer
stood charged, at the time of his removal,
with a balance of $1,480,004.46. This state
ment of balance is verified by the Comptroller
General’s books. The credits claimed by
the late Treasurer in his said statement,
amount to $1,544,930.95, from which it would
appear that the State is indebted to him, on
account, in the sum of $64,926.49. A care
fid audit and statement of accounts, made
since his removal from office, shows a net
cash balance against the late Treasurer, how
ever, of $110,274.84. This balance, it should
be here remarked, is exclusive of all illegal
and improper payments made by him, and in
cludes only the ascertained amount of cash
actually remaining in his hands at the date
mentioned. The entire amount for which lie
is liable on all accounts, as shown bv the
carefully prepared statements accompanying
this communication, is $291,969.05.
By a joint resolution passed at the la-t session
of the General Assembly, the Governor was ili
lectedtohave suits instituted against the Treas
urer and his securities on their several bonds for
the recovery of the amount appearing to be due
from the former tt> the State. The institution of
these suits was attended with unavoidable delay,
on account of the great difficulty in ascertaining
the true condition of the Treasurer’s accounts.
So soon as the necessary information upon which
to predicate suit was obtained, however, the At
torney General was instructed to lay the cases be
fore the proper courts. These instructions have
been complied with.
The Governor was also instructed, hv a Joint
Resolution, passed at the last session, to cause
certain bonus and coupons, in said resolution
mentioned, to be burned, and to report the fact of
their destruction to the General Assembly at its
present session. This direction has not been com
plied with, for the reason that these bonds and
coupons will be required as evidence in the sever
al actions now pending against the'Treasurer and
his securities.
A vacancy existed in the office of State Treas
urer from the 25th day of November last, until
the 4th day of December following. During this
period, the Comptroller General acted, by Execu
tive appointment, as State Treasurer. The amount
received by him while so acting was 8204.287.97.
The amount disbursed during this period was
821.730.16, leaving a balance, to be turned over
to the new State Treasurer, of $182,597.63.
APPOINTMENT OF A NEW TREASURER.
On the 4th day of December last, the Hon. John
A\ T . Renfroc, of 'Washington county, was, by Ex
ecutive authority, appoinred and commissioned
State Treasurer, to act until the next meeting of
the General Assembly.
UKUKIITS AND EXPENDITURES.
'Die whole amount received by the present
Treasurer, from the date nflii.s appointment until
the close of the last fiscal year, was $782,240.07.
The disbursements during the same period were
$270,434.86. leaving a balance in the 'I rensury. at
the beginning of the present year, of $511,785.21.
For a more particular statement in regard to
the receipts and expenditures of the last fiscal
year,, the General Assembly is respectfully refer
red to the report of the Comptroller General.
I commend to the favorable consideration of
the General Assembly, the several recommenda
tions of the Comptroller General, suggesting
amendments of the law exempting certain kinds
of property from taxation.
The table.s accompanying the report of the
Treasurer contain a particular statement of month
ly receipts and expenditures in the year 1875 : and.
also, a distinct statement of the amounts received
at the Treasury since he came into office, and of
the sources from which the same were derived. A
tabular statement of the public debt, with amounts
of interest thereon, payable quarterly and semi
annually. is presented. The Treasurer gives a
detailed description of all the maturing bonds of
the Stale ; and, also, of the bonds of the several
railroad companies on which the State is bound
by indorsement.
KKCOMM.ENDATION REGARDING BONDS.
I would respectfully call the attention of the
General Assembly to’the following extract from
inv last annual message :
To prevent the injury to the public interest
likely to result from any unauthorized or unlawful
negotiation of our securities. I would suggest that
all the bond* recognized as legal and binding on
the State, issued, during the late administration,
be withdrawn from circulation, and that other
bonds, of similar amount and of proper tenor and
effect, be issued in lieu thereof."
The reasons which induced me to submit this
recommendation at the last session, still exist,
and make it my duty here to renew it. For causes
needless to he mentioned, the bonds issued during
the late administration are not equal in value to
our other public securities. It is manifestly to
the interest of the State that all her bonded obliga-
tions should, as nearly as practicable, be made of
equal value in the markets of the world. It will
be remembered that a large amount of the gold
quarterly bonds of the State in the hands of
Messrs. Clews &. Cos. have been declared null and
void by legislative enactment. Coupons of these
bonds, amounting to #2.625 00. it is alleged, have
already been presented and redeemed during the
administration of the late Treasurer. It has not
been determined whether the same were redeem
ed at the State Treasury, or at the Fourth National
Hank in New York. From the close similarity
between these coupons and others pertaining to
valid bonds of the same issue, there is great danger
that repeated frauds will be practiced upon the
Treasury.
T also recommend that bonds of the State be is
sued for redemption, by exchange, of the securi
ties of Uic Macon <fc Brunswick and of the North
S TERMS, $2.00 PER ANNUM.
i SI.OO FOR SIX MONTHS.
A: South Railroads, upon which the liability of the
State is acknowledged.
Estimates of the probable receipts and expendi
tures for the present fiscal year are submitted bv
the Treasurer and Comptroller General, to the
consideration of which I respectfully invite the at
tention of the General Assembly.
ATTORNEY GEN ERAL.
The accompanying report of the Attorney Gen
eral shows the disposition made of the official busi
ness in his hands during the last year. The item
i/.ed exhibits attached to the report contain a state
ment ol the several amounts received and paid out,
the cases for and against the State now pending in
the courts, the cases pending against the Western
Atlantic Railroad, and of the executions issued
by the Comptroller General against the late officers
and agents of this road. The body of the rejKirt
contains an explanation of the various items em
braced in these exhibits.
Particular attention is invited to that portion of
the report which refers to the sale, under the di
rection of the Governor, ol the house anil lot in the
city of Atlanta, formerlv owned by Foster
Blodgett. Ihe net proceeds of this sale amount
ed to £4.504.50. The two remaining lots in said
city, purchased as the property of Foster Blodgett,
arc still owned by the State. The Attorney Gen
eral recommends that these lots he sold before
the building season of the present year begins.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.
The accompanying report of the Trustees of the
l liivcrsity shows that the amount of money re
ceived from all sources during the collegiate year,
was £38,858.70. The expenditures during the same
period amounted to £38,150.35. The attention of
the General Assembly is invited to the very full
reports of the Board of Visitors, and of the Presi
dent ot the Georgia State College of Agriculture
and the Mechanic Arts, which will he found among
the accompanying documents. 1 also submit tho
report of the Prustees of the North Georgia Agri
cultural College, located at Dahloncga, showing
the application of the appropriation made for the
benefit of that institution, at the last session of
the (iencral A ssemhly. This College is under the
auspices of the State l niversity, and receives an
nually therefrom a portion of the interest accruing
from the Land Scrip fund. Satisfied that this in
stitution is managed with ability and efficiency, I
invite attention to the suggestions contained in the
report, and earnestly recommend that such an a|s
propriation he made as will not only meet its
present wants, but will also increase its capacity
for future usefulness,
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The report of the State School Commissioner
shows the operations of the Department of Educa
tion during the past year, and exhibits the grow
ing efficiency of the Common School system. Ac
companying the report will be found an able and
exhaustive argument in favor of the system, pub
lished during the last year, in letters addressed by
the Commissioner to the public. I invite the at
tention of the < iencral A ssemldv to the suggestions
in the report pointing out the defects in existing
school laws, and indicating t' e amendments ne
cessary to correct the same. I concur in the views
expressed by the Commissioner in reference to the
propriety of establishing normal schools. The
lack of competent teachers is. without doubt, the
greatest drawback to the efficiency and beneficent
operation of the present school system. I respect
fully suggest that a portion of the fund annually
appropriated for the support of Common Schools
be used for establishing schools for the education
of teachers. There should be at least four in
number, and located at convenient points in the
State. Under proper regulations, they would fur
nish annually a large number of competent teach
ers. fitted to take charge of the Common Schools.
1 respectfully commend to the consideration of
the General Assembly the objections urged by the
Commissioner to the annua! appropriation for the
support of the Atlanta University. ,
ELI NI) ANI> I >KA FAXI > lUME I NSTUI UTfOXS.
The Academy for the Blind and the Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb have been conducted, du
ring the year, with gratifying success, and with
due regard to economy. I recommend to the care
ful consideration of the General Assembly the
suggestions in the reports herewith submitted.
LUXATIU ASYLUM.
A most gratifying exhibit of the operations of
the Lunatic Asylum during the past year, is pre
sented in the accompanying report of the Board
of Trustees. According to the report, the cost
to the Treasury for maintaining the itstitution in
the year 1875. was over 20 per cent less than the
average cost for the three previous years; while
the number of inmates was 20 per cent greater
than the average number for the same period. This
diminution of expenses is due. partly, to the re
duced cost of subsistence and clothing, and, ma
terially, to tin judicious economy exercised by
the Steward and by the Medical staff of the Asy
lum.
Attention is called to the necessity existing at
this institution for a constant and abundant sup
ply of water. It is required for healthfulncss and
comfort, as well as for assurance against loss by
fire. The Trustees have caused to be made a re
liable survey and estimate. and have ascertained
that an ample supply can be had at an expense
of from SIS.<XK) to SIB,OOO. If, upon examina
tion. it should be ascertained that this work is
needed and practicable, the appropriation asked
lor by the Trustees should be made.
PENITENTIARY.
The whole number of convicts received in the
Penitentiary last year was three hundred and
ninety-one, and the whole number remaining
therein on the 31st day of December, 1875, was
nine hundred and twenty-six. The number of
pardons granted during the year was sixteen ; the
number of deaths, forty-nine, and of escapes, fif
ty-three. For the reason set forth in my last an
nual message. 1 renew the recommendation there
in made, to the effect, that there he a thorough
reorganization of the Penitentiary. The adoption
of a permanent system of government for the in
stitution, should not be delayed beyond the pres
ent session. The views of the Principal Keeper
upon this subject, set forth in the accompanying
report, are expressed with great clearness, and
with a force of reasoning which entitles them to
the fullest consideration.
TIIE MACON AND BRUNSWICK RAILROAD.
By a joint resolution of the General Assembly,
approved March G. 1875. the Governor was direct
ed to sell the Macon and Brunswick Railroad, ei
ther at public or private sale, on such terms and •
for such price in money or in bonds of the State
or of the Company, as he might deem consistent
with the public interest. In accordance with this
requirement, all the property and franchises of
the Company, after proper notice, were publicly
sold, in the city of Macon, on the first Tuesday in
June last. To prevent the sacrifice of the prop
erty at this sale, the same was purchased for the
State at and for the sum of $1,000,000. A deed
iof conveyance for all the property so purchased
has been duly executed and recorded on the min
utes of the Kxecutive Department, and also in the
proper offices of the several counties through
which the road passes. After the purchase was
made, the road was placed under the management
and control of a Board of Directors, consisting of
E. A. Flewellen. of the county of Upson, and W.
A. Lofton, and George S. Jones, of the county ot
Bibb. Among the accompanying documents is
submitted the report of this Board, showing the
operations of the road since the same was placed
under their management, 1 also transmit, here
with. the report of the Receiver covering the por
tion of the year 1875 prior to the date of said sale.
The net earnings of the road during last year
were very small, in consequence of the large ex
penditure for repairs. The track is now in good
order, and a considerable increase in the business
of the road is reasonably expected.
In the exercise of the legal power vested in
them, the Directors have advertised that they will
offer the road for sale on the 25th day of January,
instant. The law provides that any contract for
the sale or lease of the road, to be binding on the
State, must have the approval, in writing, of the
NUMBER 33.