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BAINBRIDGE, DECATUR CO., GEORGIA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, jaoi.
ONE UAl.l..' I. A UAi,
IN AllVANI K
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF DECATUR COUNTY AND OF THE CITY OF BAINBRID6E.
secuteliome Industries.
duct of the l’o rd Of Couuty
uers of Decatur County in
on matter of the Georgia,
Alabama Railway Co., former-
r .,ia Pine, is inexplicable, un-
W rd was absolutely dominated
te and prejudice of some of
ers. lu justification of this
u , let the critical public con-
e facts.
.ptroller General of the state
Bonds of the G. F. & A. were
for taxation purposes, the val-
latters property, with every
f a satisfactory adjustment
County Board of Decatur
it side of its prescribed duties,
jbstance a written demand on
iroller General, that the main
(j. F. & A. be assessed at
,usaud ($7000.00) dollars per
is demand of the com mission-
the arbitration. Otherwise,
is, the probability is there
je been none.
a ptroller General alone under
charged with the duty or re
tax returns of railro ids. The
oimUsioners ha\ e nothing to
iis matter whatever. To have
as they did was unwarranted
luce, to say the least,
jre many private parties in the
ctably certain members of tne
unmissioners themselves, wuo
their property at less than its
hy did they not go before the
isor and object to such returns?
ty Commissioner reoeutly pur-
iract of land for which he paid
e hundred dollars, and this
id fur taxes as the Tax Digest
$5110.01), and when confronted
ivideuce, said that he intended
the land ot $2.25 per acre, but
Injure was less than one third
What an admission! That
ity Commissioner*had made a
That he had returned his
it less than one third of its
yet he demanded that rail-
ild be assessed at a fictitious
twice as much as he a few
ifore had put on its stock, by
iself a large block of stock at
er titty cents on the dollar;
'ards, no longer owning any
swore in substance that it was
hundred cents on the dollar
thou art a jewel. It is au-
of 'whose ox is gored’.
County Commissioner returns
let at $3.00 per acre, for which
shows he recently gave
icre.
admit that the County Com-
and others officiala, who
jo of the revenues of the
lould above all others return
irty at its true value, so as to
mple to the tax payers. If
Is are derelict in this particu-
■ n you expect a strict com-
ith the law on the part of oth-
inty Commissioners have not
ith the assessments of private
r taxes, nor have they inter-
the assessment of other rail-
irporations.
ire other railroads in the Coun-
the Georgia Florida Sc Alabum
^hy did they not file their ob-
ith the Comptroller General as
tens? W ere they too big for
ickle? Or did they favor them
ley are owned bv non-resident
' 0; wer e they predjudiced
eGl it A because it was a
itutiou and owned by native
• W h. did they discriminate?
er wouid be interesting,
mcial statistics of the railroads
»ty clearly prove that thecon-
that county commissioner
i6 d in the arbitration case,
11 re turn3 of railroads should
eh their capitalization, dis-
’ justification of the attack
lutle home road. If , here
- r uitty on this point, examine
•om, e t a . nualre P° rt8 of the
tehusston, and that of the
mission at Washington D.
of iv,? ui % Go., which is
he Plant System from
Georgia Southern Military College,
Bainbridge, Georgia.
The Leading Co-Educatioal Military School of South Georgia.
I 1 h 0 r f^? ,n,8e8: -^ n « h8h - ClaB8 “ !al » Sug^bSoientific and English-Commercial,
f 1^5 will cover all expenses for nine months session. Full and competent Faculty
of Eleven Teachers. Literary, Military, Musio, Physical Culture, Commercial,
Stenography and Typewriting, Expression and Art Departments
SUPERIOR METHODS OF DISCIPLINE AND STUDY AND THE FINE BEARING OF ITS
STUDENTS ARE SPECIAL FEATURES OF THIS VIGOROUS
YOUNG INSTITUTION.
Handsomely illustrated catalogne and full information upon request.
Lieut.-Col. JAMES E. DUNN, C. E., President,
Bainbridge. Georgia.
Bainbridge to Cairo, is assessed for taxa
tion on its main line ten thousand dollar
per mile, and the main line from Climax
to River Junction seven thousand, eight
hundred dollars per mile, and the main
line of the Alabama Midland Railwav
Co., from Bainbridge to near Jakiu at
eight thousand dollars per mile. These
are objected to by the Plant System,
and we see in the papers will again be
arbitrated. The writer believes that
these assessments are too high, more
than the market values of the proper
ties, but if the assessment of the G. F.
Sc A. is correct, theo they should be as
sessed double that much. Why? Mark
you, the testifying County Commission
er and his assistant witness, basedw their
estimate of the value cf G. F. & A. on
its capitalization. Apply this rule to
the statistics of the other railroads in
the County and what is the result?
The 8. F. Sc W. is capitalized at $38,-
763.00 per mile, and the G. F. Sc A. at
$8750.00 per mile. Now the equation.
If $38763.00 per mile, demands $10,000.
00, per mile assessment, what will $8750.-
00 demand?—Answer.—$2,257.00- per
mile. ‘
The Alabama Midland Railway Co.,
is capitalized at $86277.00 per mile, and
its assessment is $8000.00 per mile. Now
make the same equation with the G. F.
Sc A. and its assessment should be $1932.-
00 per mile. If the assessments of the
8. F. Sc. W. and the Alabama Midland
are correct, then the assessment of the
G F Sc, A. compared with the former
should be $2257.00 per mile, and with
the latter $1932.00 per mile,
Apply another test. The gross
earnings per mile of the S. F. A W,
are $4,285.54, which is about 11 per
cent of its capitalization and the gross
earnings of the Alabama Midland
are $4,377.87 per mile which is 12
per cent of its capitalization and that
of the G. F. A. is $1,517.85 per mile
which is 17 percent of its capitali
zation. Now form the equations.
If II per cent earning* of the 8. F. &
W. require an assessment of $1U,UUU
per mile what will 17 per cent earn
ings of the G. F. A A. require?
Answer.-$1,546.00 pe*; mile. If 12
per cent earnings of the Alabama
Midland Hy. Co., require an assess-
ment of $8,000 per mile, what will
17 per cent earing* of the G.F. & A
require? Answer—$2,133.00 per
mile. As compared with one road
our assessment should have been
$1,546.00 per mile and as compared
with the $2,133.00 per mile. Our
road, the G. F. & A., however, has
been assessed at $4,250.00 per mile.
In view of these facts, why is it
that the County Commissioners pro
truded themselves in this case and
made objections to the assessments
of the G. F. A A.’s property and
made no objections to the assess
ments ot the other railroads in the
county? They run the county to the
expense of hiring lawyers to take the
evidence ot the enemies of the G.
A A. at Bainbridge and even send a
lawyer to Atlanta to appear before
the Board of Arbitrators. All this
is done without warrant of law, and
about a matter that did not concern
them and that pertained solely to
the duties of the Comptroller Gen
eral, No objections made to the
assessments of the property of pri
vate citizens and no other railroad*
in the county. Why this discrimi
nation? Even-handed justice de
mands that all properties and all
tax payers be treated alike.
The animosities of individuals are
expected and not surprising, but
when they crystalize into official con
duct they are not to be tolerated,
Is it jealousy, envy, disappointed
averice, or spite, that is poisoning
the official mind to the detriment of
our countv and city. Surely, it is
no secret that t'lese things are very
much resented by the stockholders of
the G. F. & A.
There was an order given to erect
at Bainbridge very large and expen
sive shop*; this order is now coun
termanded, only temporary shops
will be built, so that they can be
easily moved to Tallahassee or Cutb-
bert or some other friendly commun
ity. The general offices of the rail
road are now located here, for the
same reason they will go elsewhere,
i this bitter antagonism on the part
of our official* does not cease. These
things are not said as threats. They
are cold facts thit the good people,
of our community should consider.
While it is true that the friends
of the G. F. & A. in this community
greatly outnumber its enemies, it is
also ttue that they in the past have
been passive while its enemies have
been very active.
We are glad to see that the Bain
bridge Board of Trade has taken
friendly action in our behalf. We
trust the infiueuue of its members
will be inch as to assure for us in this
community that justice that we have
a right to expect.
G. F. A A.
Stockholder.
Georgia Seed Rye and genuine
Red Rust Proof Oats, specially
adapted to Decatur county soil.
Guaranteed the best. For sale by
H. G. Draper A Co.
Bainbridge, Ga.
The Bainbridge Navigation Com
pany makes application for charter
in this week’s Search Light and
while the petition is short, it does
not follow that the petitioners them
selves arc. On the contrary they
are among our enterprising citizens
and the success of this undertaking
is assured.
Genuine Red Rust Proof Seed
Toole Bros, haye an ad. in this issue.
Bead it.
DROVE INTO RIVER,
WM. SWORDS DRIVES INTO RIVER--MAt
AND HORSE BOTH DROWN.
On Friday night of last week
Wm. Swords while under the influ
ence ot intoxicants drove into the
Flint River just below the public
bridge uni was drowned together
with his horse. When last seen
Swords was driving at a reckless rate
in the direction ot the river on the
above named night, and the follow
ing morning his horse and buggy
were found lodged against one of
the piers of the new bridge of the
G. F. & A. liy.
Diligent search wvs made tor ’the
man, but bis body was not recovered
till Tuesday of the present week,
when it was discovered by the crew
of the Steamer Three States on its up
trip. The coroner immediately sum
moned a jury and a full investiga
tion developed the fact that the man
had oome to his death by accidental
drowning.
At first it was suspected by some
that he had been robbed, as it was
known that at the time of his disap
pearance, he had a considerable sum
of money. However when his body
was searched $80. was found on his
person, a convincing argument that
he had not met with foul play.
The remaius were interred in the
city cemetery Wednesday and it is
not probable that they will be mov
ed, although bin brother has been m
the city investigating his doath.
Swords was in the employ of the
E reka Medicine Co., and was mak
ing headquarters at DonalsonvlUe.
He was returning to that place from
the eastern portion of the county at
time of his death. He is a native of
Randolph uounty and his home was
in the vicinity of Shellman in that
county.
STRIKES A RICH Flap.
•‘I was troubled for several years with
cbionic indigestion and nervous debili-
tr.” writes F. J. Green, of Lancaster,
N. H., "no remedy helped me until I
began using electric bitters, which did
me more good than all the me .deities I
ever used. They have also kept my
in excellent health for years. 8he say
electric bit ers are just splendid for le-
male troubles; that they are a grai.d
tonic and invigorator for weak, run
down women. No other medicine can
take its place in our family.” Try them
Only 6oc. Satisfaction guaranteed by
R. L. Hicks.
For Rent.
Rooms furnished or unfurnished-
Apply Mrs. Jane Wilson, Shot well st.
IMPORTANT MEETING.
QF CITIZENS HELD LAST THURSDAY AT
COURT HOUSE.
At an important meeting of the
citizens of the town called to meet
in the Court House on Thursday
night last, Hon. John D. Harrell
was made Chairman and Mr. F. 'It.
Graham, Secretary. The object of
the meeting was tersely stated by
Mr. J. S. MuRee and oil era, and waa
held tor the purpose of entering a
vigorous protest against a reported
understanding between the Plant
System and the Central of Georgia
Railways whereby the freight rates
and the shipping facilities of the
town were greatly to be hindered if
not permanently impaired.
Addresses were made by a dozen
or more of our citizens both pro and
con, after wluoh the subtended reso
lutions were unanimously passed and
ordered turned over to a committee
from the Board of Trade to be used
in convincing these rail roads of the
damage they would bring upon 'he
town in onse alleged discriminations
were true.
A committee from the Board of
Trade has been appointed and 1. is
hoped that they will be successful in
their efforts to reach a satisfactory
agreement between the roads and
citizens of the town. Under the al
leged agreement all shipments to
Bainbridge via the G. F. <fc A Ry.
would be advanced, in that the Cen
tral would charge regular rates to
Arlington, which alone is higher
than the present Bainbridge rate,
plus local freight charges over the
G. F. A A. as that road would have
to receive some pay for haul.,
Just hpw far the new departure
would effeut Bainbridge and Bain
bridge rates of freight cannot bo
*een, bin it is not anticipated that
the Plant people care to advance
their schedule of rates any lime soon.
However it seemed to be the
the sentiment of the meeting that
Bainbridge meruhauts should not be
forced thus into exclusive shipment
over the Plant System.
The committee appointed from the
citizens meeting were: Max Nuss-
baum, L. F. Patterson, R. B. Rus
sell, E. J. Perry and R. G. Haris-
fleld.
Our readers will be given in due
season the outcome of the efforts of
these gentlemen.
Resolved, That a committee of
five representative business men of
Bainbridge be appointed to investi
gate the alleged proposed discrimi
nation of the Central of Georgia Ry
and the Plant Sytem and if the facts
are as they appear to be, that said
committee are hereby authorized to
draw up suitable resolutions pio-
testing in behalf of/our citizens
against disorim nation, and forward
them to the proper officers of said
Company* through the Board of
trade.
That said committees be empow
ered to takesuch action as they deem
proper in the premises in connection
with said Board of Trade and also to
o ill another meeting of the citizens
of Bainbridge to consider said mat
ter, if in their judgement they see
proper.
W ANTE 0—board at good pri
vate boarding i oise. “h”, sai#
this office.
I wish to buy all of your eggs an
will give you 20 oents for same.
H. B. Brocket.