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VOL 1 --NO 84. THOM AS VILLE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 20, '880 $5.00 PER ANNUM FACTS AND FIGURES. 1 O % I 1 B & CD o a W 8 H B P £> a : ST * (D ts Ul V 1 I «j o 0 x t| • s *i a & <D “ II W H s» 0) 5* H' 4 8 I. o | g ! rh ts* Ul CD P Ul H' I !>i i 0 o w Aro the Farmers Growing Poorer or Richer ?—The Tale Told by 100 Average Farmers in Thomas County—An Interesting Statement. Editor Times-E5terpri.se : Many years ago Mr. Stephens made the statement that the farmers of Georgia were growing poorer. It is more than probable that .this state ment was true at the time it was lirst made, for at that time the larmcrs of Georgia were bravely struggling to adjust themselves to the hard condi lions of a new and strange environ ment. No people ever had to meet and solve the problems £of life and progress under more difficult and em barrassing circumstances, and it is not strange that for a time the drift was backward-and downward. But strong arms and brave hearts soon changed and gave an opposite direction to the current of their his tory. This assertion of a temporary condition has been stereotyped and made to do service in many a public address- It has been a sort of porta ble, ready-made platform, from which public speakers could, with advantage, declare with grace and eloquence an honest sympathy with the great mass of our people. It has been made to do service for the statesman, the pa triot and the demagogue alike, hut the industry, intelligence and econo my of our sturdy larmcrs and their good housewives have long since de nied its truth, and this denial has been sealed with an oath anaually made in due and solemn form. The companion statement, that the rich arc growing richer, contains an almost unconscious appeal to an nn- confessed prejudice which, in its truth and inflaming influence, causes the assertion that the poor arc growing poorer, to lie accepted also as unchal longed truth. .The fact is, the rich are growing richer and the poor a r e growing richer ; the unfortunate and ill-meaning fact of this question lies, however, just here, that flic distance between poor and rich is undoubtedly growing greater. But l must beg pardon for digressing. I do not mean to discuss the question of poverty and riches. That the farmers of Georgia arc not growing poorer, I think the tax hooks will abundantly prove. To make a test of the maftcr, so far ns Thomas county is concerned, I wrote down, the other day, the names of fifty farmers. In preparing this list 1 tried to select men who lmd been engaged ia nothing hut farming ferr the past ten years. As far as I could do so, I tried to select men who had inherited nothing within this time, and who lmd not given any portion of their property to any child or child ren. I tried, nlso, to select men who live now on the same land they lived on ten years ago. After preparing this list of repre sentative Thomas county farmers, I went to the tax hooks, and here is the story told by these good citizens, each speaking under the solemn obligation of his oath. As a basis I took the tax hooks for 187!) and 1889. I found that seven farmers nut of the fifty.showcd a decrease. The ag gregate returns of the seven in 1879 amounted to 828,791.00, and in 188!) to 825,033,00. The decrease in ten years was, therefore, 8)1,159.00. The largest individual decrease was 8910, and the smallest 85, In 1879 tho other forty-three lar mcrs returned 880,420.00, and in tho year 1889 they returned 8145,001.00 —an increase in ten yenrs of 804,- 581.00, or an increase of eight per cent, per annum, The nverage indi vidual wealth of the forty-three, in 1879, was 81,871.00, and in 1889 it was 83,372.00. When we remember that these forty-three farmers have met con stantly increasing family expensos, have educated their children and so on, and in addition have increased their wealth at the rate of eight per. cent, per annum, the showing made becomes a striking and instructive one. Here is a list, Mr. Editor, of these farmers, and a comparative statement of their returns for the years named. I designate the farmers by number, as it would he improper to give their names. These, however, are at the service of any gentlemen who may desire to verify them : >v comparison with the hooks : No 1870. 1880. No. 1870. 1880. I . .87,oik...$11.riii5 20.. $2,375. ..$ 2 .. a.iiiti... 0,548 27.. O.O.’u*. .. 5,080 3 .. 5.550... 5,000 28.. 2,8 To. . 2,170 1 .. 1,240... 2,585 20.. 0,780. .. 5,805 r» .. 4,805... 4,815 00.. 1,188. . 4,014 <; 100... 1,108 01.. 0,055. . 7,175 7 .. 785... 1,055 02.. 70.0. .. 2.505 s .. 045... 2,150 00.. 0,402. . 2,402 :» .. 872... 2,000 01.. 710. 040 10 .. 2,180... 5,525 05.. 0,000. . 4,700 tl 007... 1,800 00.. 478. . 1,100 12 .. 1,240... 2,580 07.. 1,400. . 0,100* 1:1 082... Miff* as 1 7,011. .■.1,8,11.7 11 .. 1,005... 1,000 30 1 1 15 .. 001... 5,418 40.. 700. . 2.775 Hi .. 410... 1,000 41.. 5,800. . 7,185 17 .. 1,785... 2,700 42.. 010. 1,850 18 10 .. 010... .. 1,775... 1,045 2,005 10.. 41.. 1,107. 1,454. . 1,075 .. 0,174 20 .. 448... 0,24 I 45.. 2,757. . 2,805 21 .. 4,025... 4.505 40.. 8,840. . 8,225 20 .. 012... 1,270 48.. '2,100. 4*058 24 .. 2.502... 1,880 40.. 1,420. . 2,102 -• .. 1,080... 1,470 50.. 2,150. . 0,710 Since the foregoing was w ritten I have had the sheriff, tax receive)- and tax collector suggest the names of li fly other farmers from among those of small means- After these names had all been put down, the lax books were resorted to, and herb is the interesting storv: No. 1870.- 1880. No. 1870. 1880. 1. .$ 528.. .* 1,448 20.. .* 12". .*■ 1,070 2.. . 205. 870 27. . 10. 007 . 004. 515 28. . 1,000. 4. . 440. 005 20. . 074. . 1,205 5. . 1,157. . 1,100 00. . 000. 080 0. . 781. . 1,010 31- . 740. 002 7. . 801.. 1,070 1,800. . 1,470 8.. 710.. 1,051 00.. 108. 805 0.. 2(,2.. 000 01.. 225.. 185 10.. 102.. 505 05.. 110.. 500 n.. 215.. 510 00.. 200.. 1,125 12.. 882.. 0,001 07.. 1,254. 125 10.. . 002.. 2.480 08.. 1,101. . 1,550 11. . 158.. 2,225 00.. 847. 004 15. . 750.. 1,200 10.. 2,81 1. . 2.605 10. • ««»•• 1;800 41- 1,205. 2,082 18.. 80.. 180 40.. 020: 510 10. 508.. 858 44.. 000.. 1,100 20.. 220.. 550 15.. 4 75.. 1,200 21. 000.. 007 10.. 020.. 1,717 22.. 020.. 040 47.. 75.. 0,507 20.. 100.. 1,710 18.. 700.. 800 21.. 000.. 2,005 10.. 010.. 2,050 25.. 784.. 800 50.. 2,070 It will he seen that these fifty small farmers returned in 1879, 830,990.00 worth of property, and in 1889, 804,- 233.00, or their average individual wealth in 1870 was 8013.80, and in 1889 it wvs 81,284.00, Only fonr out of this fifty fell he hind, tlmir aggregate return in 1879 being 87,474, and in 1889 85,955, a decrease of 81,519. The forty-six who advanced, were worth in 1879, 823,210, anil in 188!) they were worth 858,278. These figures arc small, but they arc weighty with argument and re splendent with hope. They demon strate several most important facts. l-'lrst, that the farmers arc not growing poorer. Second, that the towns are not growing rich at tho expense of the country. Third, that farming pays, for these ! men have lived and supported their families on the product of their labor, and have saved enough to add an av erage of neatly ten per cent, per an num to the corpus of their property. Now, Mr. Editor, if it is true that the farmers are growing pooroi, what a great county and a great people we must have here in the wirograss! I believe an examination of the tax books in a majority of the counties in Georgia would show a similar encour aging state of facts. The record for Thomas county indicates a growth that is wholesome and fixed. The value of all the taxable prop erty in Thomas county in 1879 was 82,532,703.00, and in 1889 it was 84.751,935.00. Most assuredly Thomas county is not retrograding. 8. G. M. THEY DID NOT MARCH. But They Rode, Not to the Promised Land However, The false Messiah’s disciples in Liberty county did not start on a march for Canaan yesterday, hut they went on an excursion to Thomasville instead. *L. M. Pleasant, an ex-office holder of Savannah, had worked up an excursion, and he got a big crowd from around Walthourville and Mc Intosh. Two young gentleman from Savannah went out to Liberty to spend the day, and they report that there was scarcely any excitement. A friend ot theirs went over to the Walthour plantation just to see if the worshippers in the wilderness would assemble and march off, but they did not collect about the old oaks. The arena was deserted. Apparently the demorlalizalion has died out. Cer tainly no one except a few who were drawn by curiosity went to the spot where the fanatical band was wont to worship. Some of those who went on the excursion to Thomasville were disciples of Dell. They would not have been much suprised had they seen him, big they did not have any idea they were obeying him when they started for Thomasville. That was in the wrong direction. lie had promised to lead them north. Some of the wilderness worshippers did be lieve the world was coining to. an end yesterday. They did not go to work in the morning, but prayed. In the afternoon a terrific thunder storm came up. A party of ladies and gen tlemen who were caught out in it a few miles from Walthourville, were objects ol the sympathy of a few of Bell’s people, who saw them and seem-, ed to Believe that they were doomed. Now that August 16 has come and gone'" just as any other day Bell’s memory will not be revered as it was. His people were disappointed when he did not show or send a representa tive to lead them North. Bell is in the lunatic asylum and James Ed wards, his successor, and Shadrach Walthour who played King Solomon, are in Hinesvillc jail with some 20 more.—Savannah Times. As they failed to get off to heaven, they selected the next best place, Thomasville. This shows that the Liberty county negroes know some thing, alter all. The Brady Bill. This hill, which passed the house last week, and which may pass the •Senate, is one of very general interest 10 the farmers ot the state. The bill provides for pleading and proving a failure of consideration of any promissory note, or any instru ment in writing, given for commercial fertilizers, guanos, or other manures. The bill is as follows : lie it enacted by the general assem bly of the state of Georgia, That any purchaser of commercial fertilizers, guanos or manures who shall give a promissory note, or any other instru ment in writing, for the same, may plead and prove, when sued in any court ol the state, a failure ot consid eration of said instrument when said fertilizers, guanos or manners, have- proven worthless or of no practical value. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, etc . That no waiver of warrant, or any other waiver, promise, agreement, condition or undertaking expressed in any promissory note, or other instru ment in writing, given for commercial fertilizers, guanos or manures, shall defeat the right of the maker thereof to plead and prove a failure of con sideration of the same. Sec. 3. Bet it further enacted, etc., That no transfer of any promissory note, or other instrument in writing, given for commercial fertilizers, guanos or manures to any person claiming to be an innocent purchaser without notice, or holding the same under any other contract or agreement, - shall defeat the right ol the maker thereof to plead and prove a failure of the consideration of the same. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, etc., That any agent for, or dealer in, com mercial fertilizers, guano or manures, or any other person who shall sell the same, and who shall take a negotiable promissory note, or any other negoti able instrument for the same, and shall fail, refuse or neglect to state in the face of said promissory note or instru ment in writing, that the same is giv en for commercial fertilizers, guanos or manures, shall he guilty of a mis demeanor, and on conviction shall be punished as prescribed in Section 4310 of the Code of 188 2. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, etc., That all laws, and parts ol laws, in conflict with this act be, and the same arc hereby repealed. Fun with tho Ohl Man tle -was a mcck-looking old gentle man from’the country, says Buck, and as lie took his seat at the dining room table the drummers looked at him over their soup spoons. They noted his weather-beaten face, his wet lmir carefully parted and brushed around over his cars, and his air of diffidence as he nervously fingered his fork ; and when the waiter-girl stood at his side and wirtked at the hoot and shoe man, they were all attention. “Soup ?” she asked. The old man seemed a hit surprised at the brevity of the hill of fare, and fidgeted about as though waiting for her to say something more. “Would you like sonic soup!” said the girl with a side glance at the cof fee and spice man. “I ain’t particular about soup, as I know of,” answered the old man. “Boil’ mutt’u capcrsauce, roas’bccf, rV Iamb, r’s’ veal, fricassc chick’ll, cold lmratonguc, chick’11 salad, fritters, boil’ ’11 baked p’tatus,” said the girl with lightning-like rapidity. ' The old man looked kind of help less, and the hoys felt a little sorry for him as lie kept his eyes fastened on his fork, which he shoved from side to side with his fingers. “I guess I’ll take—I guess you’ll have to say that again,” lie said, look ing up, and the girl rattled the whole thing off in exactly the same time as before. The ohl man looked around the tnbl mid caught sight of a drummer winking at the girl. Then lie jerked his head around, and, looking her straight in the face, he said : ‘’You may gimme s’m bile corn beef ’11’ cabbage, roas’ beef, veal V mutt’u, cole chick’11 ’a’ turkey V tongue, ’u’ s’m ham ’11’ eggs ’11’ cod fish cakes V sassage ’11’ beefstakc .V a piece o’ puukin pie ’11’ cup o’ coffee, sis, ’11’ now see if ycr kin make yer little legs fly’s fast as ye kin yer tongue, for I wanter git home ; there’s a shower cornin’ up.” Thor girl hesitated, turned red, and then made a break for the kitchen, while the drummers laughed and Bic oid man gazed out of the window at the gathering clouds. The Difference. Small Boy—I’a, what is the differ ence between a pessimist and an opti mist? I’a -Well, let me see if I can illus trate. You know 1 am often discour aged, and tilings don’t look to 111c as if they’d ever go right. Well, at such times I can be said to bo a pessimist. But years ago when I was a young man, everything looked bright and rosy, and I was always hppeful. Then I was an optimist. Now, iny son.can you understand the difference between a pessimist and an optimist? Small Boy—Oh, yes; one is married and the other isn’t. held km PRICES! AT— LEVY’S One question, at least, will he defin itely settled by next year’s census. It is whether the blacks are gaining ou the whites in population in the south, or vice versa. Bat shooting is a popular sport late in the afternoons. Our Mi*. Levy is now in Ncw^York making Fall purchases, and lie has sent us word to KNOCK DOWN PRICES on all sum mer goods, and make room for our immense Fall and Winter’stock that is coming. So, from now on, all Spring aud Summer goods go at old “Knocked Down Prices.” Remnant table full of choice bargains every week. Levys DryMsHoost Mitchell House Corner.