Albany weekly herald. (Albany, Ga.) 1892-19??, December 31, 1892, Image 1

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T Y ' > < / * . 1*. — , • ■ -- ■ — VOL.!. ' -V-S. 1 ■•>•»»* t-u W-4Si v * ji * ’ ALBANY, GA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1892. NO.'52. ■ " • •- - m iXFlAftJI Some Faotd aird Figures About Dougherty County. p ; QMA 3M0M Mm rt) Btfots tin .War and Since I THE RICHEST COUNTY l»KR CAIN |f fin A H nplla •/ T«ir*rirr« b Twenty ThonannilH -Tlie Value of the Properly Nol. Ureorered by One Half. be found. The value of. a alave varied fr$IH%-|8l,'t« $1,000, the ablest bodied men brlnging.Uie latter .price, so the .owner of one or twu slaves was no poor nun. Taking'the average; however,' w\* find there,,\vei:e eleVert slaves to Q Richard Hobbs. Hobbs A. W. Tucker & Tucker, ALBANY, GEORGIA. Buy and sell Exchange; give prompt attention to Collections, and remit for same on day of payment at current rates; receive deposits subject to sight checks, and lend money on approved time papers. Correspondence solicited. Finn INSURANCE. We represent a good line of Insur ance Companies and write in surance on all property is. City Chinese Laundry, CHABIiEY OHO LUNG, Prop’r. Only First-Class Hand Work. Look here: Collars, 2c.; Cuffs per pair, 4c., and everything else at remarkably low prices. You will find me on Jackson I fceet, next to Defiance Engine House. Give me a call. I guarantee satisfaction. COMMERCIAL MM, ALBANY, GA fit is not everyone who knows, and yet such is the case, that just before the civil war Dougherty county was the wealthiest county In all Georgia, per capita, of the voting population. It was way back at a period to which those of that generation now living love to refer ns those “good old times;” times when every man was lord of ills manor horn, nml attentive slaves ans wered to his beck and call to do Ills every bidding, and when the South land, from the Potomao to the Gulf, was just budding from youthful pros perity into the full grown, blushing maiden. Many a time linB the younger generation gathered Interesting bits concerning those old ante-bellum days from their sires who lived and loved those days, and many a romance and tale of thrilling ndventure have they furnished for the deleotation of the present generation. But this article is written more to give some idea of property values, and how they were affected by the result of the civil strife, and especially to show that Dougherty county stood pre-eminent among her sisters in point of wealtli in those days buforo the war. Pacts and figures are too often dry and uninteresting, conse quently very little is ever written to show the then and now situation from tliat’polnt of view. But a comparison of the records of the Doughrirty coun ty tax digests shows on Interesting fact or two, whioh may furnish some food for thought, and whioh is well worth knowing, If to know be all. At that time our fathers were just about as irregular, in mnny oases, in giving in their tax returns ns many people are now. For example, in 1800 the record shows that a total of 804,801 acres were returned for taxation, but In 1800 only 264,888acres appear on the records. The number of acres, of course, varied every year, and, in 1802, went as high ns 871,680 acres. So we might say, on an avernge, taxes were paid on about 800,000 acres of land an nually. WHEN SLAVES WERE PROPERTY. There were, at that time, in the county, many wealthy planters, own ing thousands of slaves, the number of whioh increased every year up to the time when the emancipation procla mation went into effect. In 1869 there were 6,494 slaves in the county, which number gradually inoreased, until just before the close of the war there were 6,866. So in other kinds of property there were fluctuations and ohanges, which, however, are of minor Import ance here. The number of white tax-payers was comparatively small. In ’69 the rec ords show 009, from which there is 1 gradual decrease. In ’00 there were 617, in ’01, 476; in ’02, 487; and In (they are only the returns as foflnd u pon the county tax'digests, and there is no doubt but thgt it would have takep far more money to have bought qll of Dougherty chunty than was at any tlme ihdlcated by. the returns on tlie each tux.payer, or, leaving'all !other* tact-books, and there prohatlly has ■' * " *• been a thne when it would 1 have take|i more than- .ten ,or twelve, million ,lh cool-hard currency to.buy |t. . With all thi^t Jljicse arc ilie iaots, in tegafd to the questjoft to.be disoussed, »Now the qnestion'coroes lip "how toiig will it he before,the past valuation Is recovered? .Of course, not the iyitfje valuation of is^v.es an^iilj, hutof.whnt is considered by la ( w, property now nA compared w.it)i, other property then, It will depend upon the energy am! enterprise of. tile people ot Dougherty county, which is to say the people, of Albany. ' , / ATTEMPTED II14-11 WAY ROB BERY. Our Nrurn Fallows Another Ont of ' tlie C’iiy nud Nearly Kill* Him* Paid Up Capital, $100,000 T. U. Carter, President T. Mi Ticknor. Cashier m m a The Barnes Sale and Livery Stables, Godwin PROPRIETORS. Hu new buggies and the best ot twtses, and will furnish yon a turn out at very reasonable prices. Ac commodations for drovers unex celled. These stables are close to Hotel Mayo, on Pine street, being centrally located, ana the best place in town to put up your team. Call on us for your Sunday turn outs. m. Godwin t son. For the purpose of showing the wealth of the county at that time we will take the statistics of the year 1800, that being just before the war had be gun good, and at a time when every body lived in the midst of prosperity. In that year the county had 617 polls, or tax-payers, who owned, as returned, 804,801 acres of land, valued at $2,805,- 882; olty and town property returned at $680,649; 6,928 slaves returned at $4j883,7S0, and other property returned at $1,896,498, making a grand total of $9,726,729 in property owned by 617 men in tbia county, or $18,811.86 per capita, A LAHORE AVERAGE than ever existed in any other county in the State. Of course there were men in the county who had their hon- dreds of thousands and their hundreds of slaves, but, for the average, $20,060 is mighty bard to best. Joseph iiugee owned 203 sieves, valued at $80,800; 74 answered to the beck and call of Joseph Beall, valued at $44,000, while Joseph Bond was monarch of a kingdom on a small scale, 800 slaves answering to bis dinner born, and tbeee $150,000 could not have bought, and, altogether, be paid taxes on property valued at $347,- 180. pn other plantations various num bers all the way from one and two to' fifty and sometimes a hundred were to property oiitofj&oiifddcriition, the tgx- ayeM-ol Dougherty county were 1 ivortjgpg an average, $7,000 to $8,000 ill 8lnvos alone. Bji’tho this traf fic was wiped uut nml with it millions Bf dollars worth of property. io> • perhaps there was not a ooun.ty, even In the Unjfed States which ooqjd have made such a showing as that. Smdi#n average as $20,000 per onpitn coii\,tf not I have been approximated evemln $Ndw York City, where, dwelt the gen^hirst men of the nation. THE DEIMUtci^TION 3n CURRENCY, A,peculiar fact nmy be noted just here, which was the result of the de preciation in Confoderatn ourrenoy. During the earlier years'Of ‘the war 1 confidence of victory on the part of the South kept currency values on a pretty stable basis, ami Confederate hills passed dollar for dollar. They were ns good ns tile silver which Imre the Federal government stamp. Every body, however, knows how this paper motley gradually declined In vnlue un til it became absolutely worthless. s a result or this, money gradually be came cheaper and commodities dearer, until tlie time caino when the paper promises of tile Confederacy beenme only the emblems of a disappointed hope and a lost cause. From ’8(1 to ’08 property values re mained tolerably stable, with only the customary fluctuations which always occur from year to year, fn ’02 the total valuation of Dougherty county property was $7,098,110, but the depre dation in currency caused this value to be more than doubled in ’03, when it wns $10,099,390. In ’04 it hud more tlmn doubled the latter amount, and was $86,727,808, and so it went oil. In ’05 the emancipation proclamation went into effect, and, of course, the bottom was knocked out of all South ern fortunes. Then mime the fall from which, to this day, IT HAS NEVER RKCOVKllEn. I In 1860, when things had somewhat quieted down, and the war wns known only as an effect, the Dougherty coun ty returns show only $8,588,662 of prop erty all told; and, In’08 It had fallen to $2,929,024. AVhat n decline was here can only be seen by a comparison of the former figures with these, Between the valuation in ’68 arid that of ’00 there is a difference of only $0,700,7161 Nearly seven millions of dollars worth of property in just eight years. Frutn tills gignntlo loss of fortune no part of the country has yet recov ered. The tax returns of the State are not near equal to what they were in ’59 and ’60. For example, the Dough erty county returns in ’02 were $3,644,- 804, having grown to that from $2,929,- 014 in ’68; and only a moment’s in vestigation will suffice to show that the loss of the slaves has not been en tirely responsible for this loss. The aggregate value of the property here in ’60 was $9,725,729; of the slaves, $4,- 882,760, leaving other property to the value $5,382,979 between which and the returns of ’92 there is a difference in favor of ’00 of $1,488,175. What has be come of this enormous amount of prop erty? Sunk in a depreciation ot values it may be, but disappeared it haB, in spite of the fact that since that day Albany has grown to three times the bIzc it was in those did days. There can be seen, however, from comparison of tlie records, which may he stated without giving the detail here, that property values are grad ually increasing, and, after all, the re turns In this county bid fair to again attain tlielr old time maximum. From Snltmlav’S VJvkniso IIbiui.ii. From Mr. A. J. Fleetwood, who was In'the city to-day, the Herald learned Of’a desperate effort that was made by one Negro to rob another, out near Mr. Fleetwood’s place, on Thursday afternoon. A Negro named Jaokson, who lives on the Clegg place In Lee county, left the city on foot early In the afternoon, and another Negro, whom he did not know and who has not been idefltltlocl, followed him, Jackson had some money, and tho strange Negro evi dently saw him with it while he wns in the oity, and followed him for the purpose of robbing him. When out about the Kinohafooneo bridge tlie strange Negro asked Jnok- son to exchange aome silver with him for some bills, but, suspecting that they were not genuine, Jaokson de clined to make the exohange. Jackson proceeded on his home ward journey, and the other Negro continued to follow him. When out just beyond Mr. Fleetwood’s place and nenr the Davie plaee. Jaokson was as saulted and knooked down by the other Negro., The weapon used was a huge sarsafras stick, and the first blow brought Jackson to the ground. The highwayman demanded Jaok- son’s money, and the latter told him he would give lt4.p Him. Jaokson was then permitted io rise,'but instead of giving up his money he took to his heels and ran for dear life. His as sailant followed him and renewed the assault, Trailing him over the head witli the huge stiok, but failed to knock him down again. Jackson’s cries as he approaohed the Davis place were heard by some of the Negroes on the place, and bis assailant, becoming frightened, left him and came hack to wards town. Jaokson was fearfully beaten about the head, and presented a pitiable sight when seen by Mr. Fleetwood about three quarters of an hour after the assault. One of the Negroes on the Davis place took him in a buggy and carried him home. The would-bc robber bas not been apprehended. IMMIGRATION. AN OPEN QUESTION IN TUB DIMCUMMION ABOUT TUB BIRjB DKPAHTMKNT. A PrM JDepnrimcnl ( nn lie NalMliilMd op About tbe Nnine Honey nn.U Now Uxpeuded. *•$!: CITY AND TOWN PBOPEBTY. Albany has been from its birth, not a booming town, but one of gradual growth. It may be 'interesting, to know at what its property was valued back in the Ws, and how that com .pares with valuations of tbe present date. Of course, there was a great ap preciation in the value of eity prop erty with the depredation in ourrenoy as has been stated above. There was very little fluctuation in the value of olty and town property before the war, and the value of it In tbia oounty hung close around the $600,000 mark. In ’60, whioh year baa been taken for comparisons, it was $680,649. Citlsens of Albany who were hers then and have remained here ever since say that Albany has grown since that date to three times the site it was then. Certainly its commercial trade bas become more important, and it would seem that property values must increase with time, but such bas not been tbe esse. Tbe oity and town property of Dougherty oounty, now amounts to only $1,875,120. Thus it has been but little over doubled while it should have been more than trebled. ALLOWANCES TO BE MADE. Of course there are some allowances to be made in all these valuations, as Col. J. O. Waddell aad Cel. C. J. linden to flpeab la Albaar Jan. 14, The Herald is requested to an nounce that Col. J. O. Waddell, Presi dent of tbe Georgia Agricultural Society, and Col. C. J. Qaden, of At lanta, will visit Albany for tbe pur pose of addressing the people of this city and vicinity on t£e subject of im migration, on the 14th> of January. These gentlemen have a scheme for securing German and English immi gration and Investment for Georgia which is meeting with the strong in dorsement of the people of the State wherever It is laid before them. Let everybody turn out and hear them on the 14th of January. WOMAN’S CHAT. A New Use Bar ■■ Old Ceeler—Weeh- Img ike Heir. “See," said a woman recently, “what I have done with an old-fashioned sil ver caster. I dld’t need a fern dish, to whioh use these things usually lend themselves nowadays, but I bate been sighing for a silver lamp, aild now I have it. The bowl of my esster was high, as you see, and it was very easy after the handle bar was unsorewed to have a glass oil receiver fitted to it. “Then with shade, chimney and burner this lovely boudoir lamp, At whioh everybody exclaims in admira tion, was easily evolved." BOW TO WASH TBS BAIB. For washing the heir, particularly suoh as is inclined to be oily, nothing ’is better than the common hard soap of the kitchen. A woman who bas used it frequently herself and seen its benefits tested in other oases, pre scribes it with strong faith. “Make a strong ends,” she says, “rub it quiokly on the hair and wash it off again at once. After that, any scented soap or wash may be need in the way of an or dinary shampoo.” There is not inuoh doubt now/but that. theincoming council will take up tlie question of improvements in the city Jjre department. [ The topic linB come to be one of gon- criil discussion, and all those who take ‘a strong interest in city blatters liOvo some suggestion or oilier to innkc. “I am confident,’’’said a citizen this morning, “that a fnlrly good paid tire department can be maintained at abolit the cost to the city ns the presont one. “ l’ho present lire department costs tlie city from $1,800 to $2,600 n yenr, nml this year It will cost from $2,600 to $2,700 on nocountof the purchase of extra hose. Besides this, money Is lost every year from the fact that there are nbout seventy-five Negroes who belong to the company for the express pur pose of getting nut of pnylng tlielr street taxes; and then, insurance rates, I am reliably Infurmed, nru higher than they would be If the elty had a paid department. Now, with those nmounts saved, together with the an nual cost of the present department, there would he ample funds for the iimintennnce of such n department as Albany needs, “Two reels, eight men, nml one steamer in reserve will be nil the force needB, and they can do the «urk far better than when It Is done by volunteers, very few of whom even turn out to a fire when thore is one. Not half the members of the two com panies turned out at the last fire, and I am told that there was only about a handful of men on hand when Mr. HJb- ley’s house burned down sometime ago. “Tills sort of thing won’t do for a olty tho Bljie of ^Vlhany. Those of the volunteer department who are sincere in their efforts sometimes do good work, but under tho oiroumstnnoes they cannot do the work as qulok as It ought to be done. I, for one, am heartily in favor of a thorough reor ganization of the fire department, and hope the new Council will take the matter thoroughly under consideration early In the fray,” There are a good many opinions be ing expressed upon this subject just at tlie present time, but Clio general desire seems to bo to see the Council take a hand in tho matter at the begin ning of its Administration. , Trouble on tbe Cnn. Some of the oonduotors who make daily trips to Albany report that they have trouble every now and then In enforcing the regulations whioh pro vide separate compartments for Ne groes and whites on the trains. It Is well known that there Is a stat ute In the Georgia laws.whlch requires this separation of the two raoes on the trains, and police powers are confer red upon the conductors for enforc ing It. The trouble in that the Negroes think they are entitled to rido in the enr with tbe whites because they pay the same fare. In many instances they are furnished with just as good accommodations, and tbe whites are not allowed to ride in their car.' In some oases, however, the accommoda tions are not quite so good and this brings a protest from the Negroes. As yet, no trouble of any moment has grown out of tbe matter in this section, but frequent oases are report ed inhere conductors have been com pelled to force Negroes to leave the whites’car and go into the one pro vided especially for them. Some arrangement should be made by whioh all such difficulties could be avoided, as they have been known to result seriously in other parts of the country. ' Albany society, or that portion of It, at leait, that dances tbe german, Is sadly in need of reform. We have referenee to the hour at which the young people gather for an evening’s pleasure in tbe danoe. ■ These very nice but misguided young devotees of nitre swelldom seem to think that it would $>e a breach of good form, a real innovation upon tbe unwritten but supreme law of fashionable society, to leave home to attend a danoe before o’clook at night. And here in Albany there is no reason in the world why they, should not start from home at half past 7 and begin the dance at “ o’clock. Dark comes at this season of the year at half past 5 o’clock; tea Is generally over in most families by half past 6, and my ledy and my lord, too, onght to be able to get their ball attire on by half past 7 o’clock. Sen sible parents onght to take this abuse of young society In hand and institute a reform. They can do it by simply decreeing,that their daughters shall not attend these late-hour dances, Will they do it? i fit* ■ LOOK OVER Our Furniture > '■ n6f beyond it, but directly at it, closely, carefully, minutely. IT ^oii don’t ' give the matter your undivided attention, you may overlook what it most coiicerps you to see. When you've examined our stock, , you'll have a dozen excuses for congrat ulating yourself at finding such Bri ng 1 grogntioii of opportunities. This is the season of good dinners and general sprucing up. Dori’t confine yourself to the tailor and dressmaker, but give your - bouse a new dress as well. Our Btock 1b fine enough to make a castle of joy out of every bouse in Albany and surround ing country, aud low enough in price to be within tlie reach of all our citizens. Don’t miss half the pleasure of the holi days, but fit up your bouse now. here iu the ceaseless flight of time, and now, as heretofore, wo keep pace with the almanac; and are here, too, with a stock of furniture us new ns the year and up to date In every particular. Don't make any mistake about the style when it comes to furniture. This is some thing which strikes your eye at cvi point; it's never out of view, nnd don’t care to always he reminded you are out of dute. Our stock study in style, arid current styles at tl nml not a collection of relics of sous, ' , -.4. ' - —Mr. Blaine is reported to be muoh better, and is quoted as saying. “I’ll get well yet." SP ; 'v*- 1 1893 , g BACKED BY STYLE w; indicates a very pleasant position to oc cupy ; in fact, it doesn't pay to occupy any other position. That’s just where we sWnd in the furniture trade. There's nothing suggestive of a hack number about our establishment. We don't ilea in eccentricities and survivals. Ou, stock admirably illustrates the beuuty and artistic elegance of the new styles. Our parlor, bedroom and dining room suites are full of surprises; you will be surprised at the varied and novel de signs and patterns, aud at the low pric~ at which we are selling the goods, we shall be surprised if you don't 1 a purchase after inspecting our st How does this strike you ? All children are given to lying 'Though not to the telling of fibs. To this point there is no replying It is'well if they lie in our cnbs. Ml tl is worthy qf the highest human ambi tion, but only a few can reach it We are offering something as fine as a p idential chair in our atock, every a- of which touche# a point away ' high-water mark. Ortly a winne occupy a presidential chair. ■ Our 1 are presidential in every sense; y A winner, if you buy them. No how big or how little the man, w chairs that will fit him. Sitting on chairs isos easy as sliding (down arid don't mske you think you' have : ridden over the “rocky road to Dub on a springless wagon. Goods sold on installme Terras easy, and to suit th tomer. INDSTINCT PRINT