Newspaper Page Text
THE WIRE-GRASS REPORTER.
VtTeiTTnilovtTwauAMfcuNTrsw
THOMASVIIJjE, GA: i
WEPKESPAY, WOY’BEH ■ IM.
Declarations in Assumpsit.
Pjr Wo Imre joat printed perhaps
th neatest and most beautiful form of
Declaration in Assumpsit that lint ever made its ap
pearance in Tbouaasville or any where else. )t is a
treat for an Attorney to fill one out. Call and see
them. A general assortment of other Low Blanks
always on hs'nd.
We hare also )uat added couaiderably to oar stock
•f Job Type, and are now prepared to do all manner
of hand-bills, pamphlets, See., in the neatest style
and at the shortest notice,
Both the editor* of the Wtr-
Crass Reporter, are at this time absent
from ThoniMvllle on professional business. r AR
THUR P. WrWST, Esq., has kindly eonaented to
ooeupy the editorial ebalr for two or three weeks
until our return. -
<== FLETCHEH IMBTITTJTE.
The above Institution linsnow about one
hundred and fifty scholars; owing to the
wise management of ita chief, Milton Wil
der, Esq. It ia nHelens for u* to say any
thing of Mr. Wilder or liia able assistants—
they need no recommendation, try thorn,
they are tbo beat references themselves.
If you have a ton or daughter to educate,
send them to Fletcher Institute, and if the
preseut corps of teachers cannot “put them
through” you had better put that boy or girl
to plowing or weaving, for you have then
shifted the responsibility.
Wo intended to give Fletcher a long notice
but we know how averse Mr. Wilder is to
newspaper notoriety, therefore we desist.
Cp* Wo are under many obligations to
I'eterson Thweatt, Esq., Comptroller of our
State, for a copy of his excellent report to
the Governor on the finances of our good
common wealth. For want of timo wo have
had to take a synopsis from the Georgia Tel
egraph. It should bo read by every one who
ia anxiens to know the condition of our fi
nances.
There are bnt few such Comptroller as our
friend Thweatt. for ho puts every thing
in such a form that there need be no erring.
IFIVo are pleased to lcar from the Grif
fin Empire Stale that J. L. Alexander, who
was shot in a difficulty with Wm. M. Cline,
Esq* ia pronounced by his physicians out, of
danger.
For the benefit of our American friends,
we give them the Information that senator
Crittenden of Kentucky, has written a lettor
laudatory of senator Douglas’ position on the
Lecompton question. We know -they will
not see the letter in their own papers.
Ex-Governor Mcßae of Mississippi, the
successor of the gallant Quitmnn, has writ
ten a letter in fuvor of rc-opcning the slave
trade. :
TEMFZBANGS UUJBADIH.
The above paper will be moved from Pen
field to Atlanta on the last of this month.—
The Editor announces the fact that Mrs.
Mary E. Bryan, of this placo, the Editress,
will superintend personally the editorial de
partment. Wc know that Mrs. Bryan will
carry with her the well-wishes of onr citi
zens, and wo know that she will be useful in
any avocation of life.
THO*. B. B. COBB'S IITTEB.
The above named gentleman is out in a
letter in the Southern Banner on the subject
es how the proceeds of the State ltoad
stieuhl lest be appropriated, lie thinks
that they had batter be appropriated for ed
ucational purposes, and his propositions are
as follows;
Ist. That the trustees of the Stato Univer
sity, and other Colleges of the State, should
board, clothe and educate freo of expense a
specified number of your young men selected
by a suitable tribunal in each county in tho
t State.
2d. Requires that tho young man so edu
cated shall return to his own county, and for
a competent salary, to spend the snino num
ber of years in teaching a common school
that ho has enjoyed at tbe University.
lie concludes by an able defence of the
manner in which the Trustees of the State
University have managed tho funds given
to them by the State, showing that they
linvo been doublod in tlib Trustees’ hands in
stead of decreasing, as has been charged.
*
JUDGE HARDEMAN.
The Macon Telegraph of the 2Stli ultimo,
says ; We wero pleased to hoar on Saturday
that Hardeman was convalescent.—
Wc hope he will continue to mend, and soon
he able to resume a position on tho bench
which he bar adorned by unswerving integ
rity, ability, impartiality, and uniform digni
ty and courtesy in the discharge of his im
portant official functions.
FUSED—MOSAIES—BED WHITE AND BIDE.
The Black Republicans and Know Noth
ings have united on a county ticket in,New
York, and are engaged in large business in
swopping, trading, judggling, &c. Tho pro
gramme seems to give the Black Republi
cans the Congressmen, while the “Merikins”
take the Lion’s sbaro of the county officers.
This is what our opposition friends call “cul
tivating an intense American sentiment.”
Col. Kinney informs the San Antonia
(Texas) Herald that he has concluded his
negotiation with the Mormons for the sale of
his interest in Central America, and has re
ceived an earnest of 8200,000 as part of the
purchase money, He is to receive £2,000,-
000.
AI ELECTIVE JBDICIABY.
Below will be found the manly letter of
Judge Forteiyof Peaaaylvania, resigning his
seat on the Supreme Bench. Let every one
read it and ponder over the suggestions made.
We hare ever been, and expect to continue
to be, opposed to an elective Judiciary, we
are no alarmist, but we believe the tenden
cies es such a system will, if not in tbo pres
ent, in the future be fatal.
We ask of our present Legislature to re
vise this system, and make the term, of office
six instead of four years, snd make the office
ineligible to one who has held it for two
terms, at the same time requiring the Judges
in the Slate to alternate. Our object it not
to go into an argument, but to give to the
Legislature the cause why the present sys
tem was adopted. Well do we recollect a
conversation with the originator of this
change. He was patriotic, and he thought
hia aystem would work well, but his great ob
ject was to remove a Judge from the bench
to whom be was violently opposed, both per
sonally and politically. He succeeded, and
since then he has gone to his long reward. —
Like most men, he had Ins faults, but liia vir
tues shone bright above them. He remind
ed one, in his Legislative career, more of
Mirabeau. as he is described, than any oth
er wo have ever known, without Mirabeau’s
great intellect. -But he of whom we speak was
no ordinary man, and long will bo the time
before lie is forgotten by the legislators of
Georgia. /
” To such hands was thes change submitted,
i and with popular feeling in his favor, with
i both personal nnd political revenge to urge
him on, victory was the result. Let the Leg
islature review this whole system, and make
such alterations as the ago requires.
BEBIONATION OF JUDGE POBTEB, OF PENN
SYLVANIA.
PMLAdklpiiia, Oct. 16th, 1868.
Hit Excellency William F. Packer, Uov
ernor of Pcuntylcania —Dear Hir : On the
first day of your entrance on official duty, 1
received from your hand a commission ns u
Judge of the Supreme Court ot Pennsylva
nia. The event then considered possible,
perhaps I should say probable, has just been
realized. I have little to say of the means
which produced it. On receiving the ap
pointment, 1 thought that being a Judge, ac
tually sitting on the bench and deciding on
tho rights ot men of all shades of political
opinion, I ought not to write a political let
ter, nor to make a political speech. Iu the
first place, I was not willing to hide my
claims to the office, however small, in the
shadow of a mere political question. In the
next place, I was and 1 am thoroughly con
vinced, by reading and reflection, that when
ever a Judge can be cl&ted by reason of bis
sentiments oil any question of politics, that
moment tho real power of the judicial office
will nppenr. Possibly this may be a very
erroneous doctrine, very inopportunely ex
pressed, but I shall maintain it, wiiile 1 pos
sess, a moral sense or retain a rational facul
ty. In the certain prospect of a defeat far
more disastrous, not one lmirsbreadtli of it
should be abated.
The roverso which lias occurred to the
party, is of less consequence than we nro apt
to suppose. The Democratic parly is coeval
with tho Government itself, and it will exist
so long as the Republic endures. Within its
ranks men will always be found, who remain
there only to do with more success tho'work
of disorganisation. The Party itself, though
depressed, is not destroyed. The point of
its lowest depression is that from which it
will, of necessity, begin to rise. At this mo
ment, I solemnly believe it to be the best
and strongest political organization which
lias ever existed for preserving the interests
of the whole country.
Now to the point. lam not weak enough
to suppose that tho enclosed commission has
had much to do in causing the present polit
ical excitement. Nevertheless, it is plain
that the people of Pennsylvania prefer anoth
er person as a Judge of their Supreme Court
In these circumstances,’ it seems to me a
simple dictate of delicacy and propriety to
retire from the office, in addition to this, 1
ought (o stnte that there are several import
ant causes pending, in which I wish to take
part ns counsel, nnd these require immediate
attention. I therefore, enclose my resigna
tion.
Tho offico was tendered by’ you very kind
ly, without solicitation on my part. 1 resign
it gratefully, and without, ns 1 hope, having
brought upon it a stain of dishonor. Less
was accomplished than I could have wished,
but 1 am not conscious of an act which does
not meet the approval of my own senso of
duty. To yourself personally, and to those
friends who aro sending me their sympathy, j
1 beg to say, in a word, that there is no cause
for regret. I return to a profession which I i
was conscious of abandoning too soon, and to
a position at the bar as honorable as that \
which is now relinquished, and so much
more remunerative that comparison is out of I
the question. Gertaiqly I ought to regard it!
no hardship to exchange for the comfort of
home that wandering life which tho law ot
Pennsylvania compels her Judges to lead.— |
If 1 have Hiiy regret it is in parting with
those pure nnd upright men who will remain :
to discharge their arduous aud unrequired.
work..
Wishing you a prosperous administration
of public ufi'airs, I am
Very respectfully and truly, yours,
Wm. A. I‘oktek.
THE BOSTON BANKS.
Tho system that lias worked so well, by
which the i>uffolk Bank at Boston under
takes to redeem the notes of the New Kng
laud Banks at par for an agreed considera
tion, has recently met with great opposition
by other Banks in Massachusetts, which are
excluded from tho arrangement. The charge
of confederacy against the Suffolk and other
Banks, parties to the arrangement, has been
made. A legal opinion, signed by B. F. But
ler, B. R. Curtis, and Caleb Cushing, is pub
lished in tbe Boston papers—asserting the
association to be a criminal confederacy, sub
jecting those engaged in it to indictment.—
Rufus Choate, Josiah. G. Abbott, SyJney
Bartlett, and other eminent counsel, have ex
pressed an opposite opinion. The above
names are among the moat eminent on the
legal role of Boston, and shows the uncer- j
tamty of legal advice.
SAILBOATS, i
Below will be found ati article from tlie
Atlanta Intelligencer. Citizens of Thomas
vill read and re-read it, and if you will fol-;
low out the example of Atlanta and other |
cities you wilt see what a glorious future is
in store for you. Listen to no advice, hot j
rely on your own practical views, and build
not only your Albany, but make speedily a
connection with Monticello or Tallahassee,
whichever you prefer afler consultation
with those interested. V
From tlio'Atlsiits lutellieencer.
THE EFFECT OF HAILBOADS—ATLANTA.
Every body knows something about the
effect of Railroads, and everybody once ac
customed to them appreciate them as a mat
ter of convenience; but there are but a few
who know and understand fully the wonder
ful effect on the varied interests of society.
Tbcir influence in increasing the value of
property is more tangible than in any other
light, and as remarkable and unreasonable
as the proposition may at first seem, their
influence in increasing the value of property
ndjoined to their localities, is three to four
fold over the increase of population, as a
general tiling. This will appear from the
following facts in regard to Georgia. Accor
ding to the U. 8. Census of ISSO, the entire
property of Georgia of that year (leaving off
the fractious of n million,) was. 000 000
According to the report of the
Comptroller General of Georgia,
iu JB6G, the taxable property of
the State was .8495 000 000
Showing an increase, iu six
years “of. 8160 000 000
In 1857, according to the same
report, the taxable property wasßs2B 000 000
Showing an increase in one
year of 833 900 000
which is at a higher rate of increase than
that shown for the six previous years, and
making nn increase in seven
years, in Georgia of 8193 000 opo
That at least three-fourths ot this increase
is the result of Railroads, all experience and
past history will readily show. And what is
also w orthy of note, is the fact, that not more
than one half of tho State, of Georgia has,
as yet, been accommodated by Railroads, or
felt any benefit from them. So that this vast
increased value of property in the State, of
8193,000,000, is confined to, and enjoyed
by, about one half of the State. An exam
ination of the amounts of the respective
counties, on and off the Railroader-wduckjEfi.
need not take up the room to give, will show
this for distance, Morgan
county, witli its red fields and small territo
ry j it returns 86,705,000, and Franklin coun
ty, with one third more territory, and as good
soil, returns 82,928,000.
The effect on market towns has kept pace
with the increase of the country. Augusta
and Savannah, each, have tliribblcd in pnptt
j lation and wealth within the era of railroads.
! Macon nnd Columbus have both improved
I under their influence, anil Atlanta has sprung
| from nothing to what she is, lrotn the same
: cause.
Full statistics from all parts of the Uni
ted States can only he obtained once in ten
years, through the United States Census.—
But an evidently accurate estimate was made
by the “ Railroad Record,” a few years ago,
of tire increased value of property iu the
State of Ohio by Railroads, and the amount
was placed at 8300,000,000 in six, or seven
years.
From a pamphlet, published in Pittsburg,
which we have before us, we gather the fol
lowing facts in regard to Western’ towns;
and as it will be seen, the increase of pop
ulation in those towns has been in proportion
to the number of Railroads of which they
are the centres. That the increase of wealth,
even in these towns, lias been greater than
the increase of population, there can bo no
dunbt. ~7~
Tho population of
I'hicuK” Cincinnati! Louisville St. Louis Pittsburg
1840 4,470 46,338 21,210 16,46.0 28,9:ll
1850 29,963 115,435 43,149 80,598 79,873
1857 110,000 200,000 85,1KK) 120,000 138,5:!4
Chicago is the centre of 14 or 15~KaiU
roads; Cincinnatti the centre of 10; Louis
ville the centre of 3or 4; St. Louis the cen
tre of 7 or “8; Pittsburg the centre of 9.
Roads. Thus we. find, that while these
Western cities have increased in population
with greater rapidity probably than any oth
er cities of the world, this increase has been
iu proportion to the number of Railroads of
which they have become the centres. A
line run around these five cities, straight
from city to city, would enclose but very lit
tle more territory than is contained’ ill the
State of Georgia. The aggregate popula
tion is over 750,000.
, There aro other towns in the vicinity or
j intermediate of these cities, tho centres of
I Railroads, of considerable importance. In
| 1856, Sandusky contained 10,000 people;
j Telledo, 15,000 ; Columbus, 30,000 ; ludi
j aunpolis, 25,000 ; Cleveland, 55,000.
| It may be said that the resources, mineral
| nnd agricultural, arc greater in that than our
j region of country, nnd wo will suppose they
are ; but ia these reports the difference, when
I we take into account cotton nnd soino other
i productions not suited to that country, is nest
Iso great as is generally supposed,
i It may be said that emigration like a flock
: of sheep turned one way, has been rushing
that direction. But it is safe to say, that
; town in any free country can only grow as
! the resources of the surrounding country are
| developed, and it is also safe to say, that
J Railroads, by rapidly developing the rcsour-
I cos of theconntry, cause towns to have a rap
id and prosperous growth.
M by, it may be asked, have not Railroads
| tlieu caused towns to grow up rapidly
Jat the South? Well, the truth is, taking in
jto cousidciation the barriers, such as a want
j of necessity for wealth, barren regions, fcc.,
which nature has thrown around our sea
| board cities, they have grown with rapidity.
and bcCii paid tenfold for their enterprise in
Railroads. As to the interior our own
city is no mean example, when it is known
to be an incidental result of Railroads, built
exclusively to promote the prosperity of otli
:er cities. Why, it may be asked, have not
towns of the interior of the South had a
! growth somewhat comparable with Western
towns ? Onesjrand reason is, we have only
about .one third as many roads, according to
territory, as they have in the West. In the
next place, we have found but few, it more
than one centre, with other conditions favor
able to the growth of tbwns—that one ex
emption wc may say, is Atlanta, which has,
as yet, been under the ban or leading strings
of older towns. *
But whether we look to climate, health or
resources for trade, manufacturing and me
chanical arts, few, if any towns of the West,
surpass Atlanta, and there is no good reason
why a city should not spring up here to ,ri
val many of the Western cities, if the same
means that have caused them to be great
| were employed here.
The county of Alleganey, in which Pitts
■ burg is sitnated, is said to have done more
! in a county capacity, for the construction of
railroads, than any other county in the Union,
and well have the people been -paid for
therr enterprise and liberality, Pittsburg is
| the centre of nine Railroads, carried through
| mountains and over rivers.
This little work, from which we have quo
ted, gives a full account of the mercantile
and manufacturing operations of the places.
And among others, the county contained, in
“ 1857 five Cotton Factories, having 33,660
spindles, 659 looms, and employing 1,330
hnnd. These mills consume 13,600 bales of
cotton, and produce article in that line to the
value of $1,269,655, among which are 8,-
j 100,449 yards sheetings, and 82,870,000 lbs
! of yarns.
Correspondence of the Wire-Grass Reporter.
THAT BPRIMG.
“ I am not able to inform you what will be
the virtues ot this spring, but it is the pre
sumption that some medicinal properties will
he attributed tu it, as it is the intention of
the proprietor to have it dealt out at a dime
a glass. As the spring will be located hut a
few yards from the public thoroughfare and
great mail route from Savannah and Bruns
wick, via Dry Lake, to Thoinasville, it may
he well for travelers (on this line) when wea
ried and fatigued from staging, to inform
themselves of the virtues of this spring. 1
have no doubt it will he a favorite watering
place.”
Ho ! travelers on the Brunswick line—
will it, can it, be well for you to inform your
selves of the virtues of that prospective
spring, whose waters will, be teeming with
that poison that “ biteth like a serpent and
stingeth liko an adder 1 ?”
Virtuosi well, well, I know one who was
young and beautiful—is young still—alas!
for a dreary life; but the roses have faded
from her cheek, her step is languid and toil-’
worn.” She knows, she can tell you of the
virtues of a like' 1 institution. She under-
•sta-nds its medicinal properties. For many
-tunes has taken care of a husband in his fits
of beastly intoxication; and he, even he,
can testify, when sober long enough, aside
from those plain indications of a bloated face
and downcast eye, as to the particular virtues
of his “ favorite watering place.” The same
old story ; yes, the same old story—only
adding one more to the thousands upon thou
sands now’ on record, as a loudly crying pro
test against such establishments. Husbands,
do not go in there; carry not, into the sa
cred precincts of home, the contaminating
odor of a drum shop. Brothers, pollute not
j a sisters lips with a breath of that verily
j soul-staining ten cent drink. May mv fel
low passengers taste it not, lest-you go away
more thirsty than you came. “ Dealt out at
a dime a glcss !” Ha ! the waters of God’s
springs are free. Come sec it dripping tempt
ingly. Jiom the • old Oaken Bucket” by the
road side, tip up the Bucket, put your lips to
its mossy side, it is good. No matter if you
do disturb the lofty perch of the mocking
bird, you will not interrupt his song—a few
airy eirclcstjuid a wilder, richer burst of mu
sic—and ere the pole has stopped its swing
ing from the impetus givan in letting go your
hold, he will he again in his accustomed
place, on the sweep, as sweetly inviting oth
er weary ones to partake of the cooling
-draught below.
Look yonder bubbling from the hillside—
see it sparkling and glittering in the sunlight
—the oak shades the fountain head—the
willow dips its pendant branches in the glas
sy tide, and sprinkles the blossoms on its
edge.
The red bird chirping in. the boughs
above, hops lightly down, and clinging to
some tangled root, reaches bejow, ripples the
surface a moment, then tin owing hack his
head, lie seems to look upward ns if iu silent
thanksgiving for the precious drop.
Jump out fired traveler, take off your hat.
down on your knees man, this is God’s
spring ; dip your hand in tbo bright water,
bathe your fevered brow and throbbing tem
ples, and distracting business thoughts are
lulled into a calm, it is not quite so far home
as you had thought, the driver is not so cross
after all, the passengers are more sociable the
rest of* the way ; in fact, you begin to think
you will at ltomc to tea, whereas, a few mo
ments before you impatiently exclaimed,
a half the night on this horrible road!”-
Ah ! ha! blessings on cold water.
Tkktotai.hr.
- Thomas county, Oct. 22, 1858.
THE SUCCESSOR OF HON. JAMES L. OHR.
The Anderson (S. C.) Gazette, of the 20th
j inst., uses the following language in refer
ence to Col. John 1). Ashmore, elected to
| Congress from the Fifth District in South
j Carolina, and the district formerly represent
i ed by the lion. James L. Orr :
Col. John D, Ashmore has been chosen
by the people of the Fifth Congressional
: District to succeed our present able and dis
tinguished representative, the lion. James
L. Orr. And it is not for the purpose of en
lightening our citizens, to whom he is most
favorably known, but to give to the whole
j country our estimate of his character, that
jwe indite this article We have takeu no po
sition in our paper during the recent cam
; paign for Col. Ashmore, because we regard
the contest entirely on the personal merits
of the candidates, and think that editors, at
least, should keep aloof from the public- ad
vocacy of men, when there were no practi
cal measures involved, moreover, his com
petitor, Maj. T. 0. P. Vernon, we regarded
|as an honorable and worthy gentleman, en
titled to the confidence ol an intelligent coni
stitucncy, If they saw proper to place him in
office. For these reasons, then, we did not
wield our.pen in behalf of our fellow-towns-:
man. Now, the people of our Congression-.
al District have selected him as their future
representative, and it i proper that we ex- j
press our .gratification .at tbq result, and ac-j
cord to Col. Ashmore the just jneed of praise.
Tcol. Ashmore, as the majority of our rea- j
ders know, was born in Greenville district,,
and lived there until about the ago of four
teen years, when he went to Pendleton, and
became a clerk, we think,|for a firm still ex
isting there. He afterward left this district,
locating in Sumpter District, pursued the
study of law.
Soon after being admitted to the practice
of law, lie married. At an early age, the
citizens sent him to represent them, in the
lower branch of the legislature, which posi
tion they repeatedly assigned him, and
which lie filled with marked and consummate
ability. For several years, although a young
member, he was chairman of Ways and
Means, the most important committee of the
House. In 1853 lie was elected by the leg
islature to the responsible office of Comp
troller General of the State, the duties of
which he discharged with admirable exact
ness and correct understanding. Iu 1854 lie
removed his family to our town, bought lands
a few milesin the country, and while com
pleting the term of his office, pursued at the
same time the vocation of a farmer, in which,
wc have heard his immediate neighbors aver,
he was most successful.
Asa politician he has ever upheld the :
principles of pure, consistent, Jeffersonian
Democracy. Iu 1851 lie was a co-operation
ist, and during the recent canvass, he has re
peatedly declared himself a States Rights
Democrat, and willing to supprort the present
organization of the Democratic party, believ
ing it to be the only true and reliable party
in the Union. In all respects, so far as we
have heard his speeches, wc see little difler
cnce between his political creed and that of
nur present Representative. Col. A. is fear
less in the expression of his views, a ready
debater, and possessed of the cncvgy and
force of character . which foreshadow the
working and useful member.
lif person, Col. Ashmore is above the me- j
dium height, commanding figure, dark hair
aud black piercing eyes —affable and courte
ous in manners, lie speedily wins the affections
of bis fellow-men, and their admiration of
him where best known amounts to enthusi
asm. Asa public speaker, lie lias a gallant,
dashing style that interests the hearer, am*
asserts that lie is imbued with the true graces
of oratory.
We p'edict for Col. Ashmore an honor
ed career in the Federal Legislature.
■ “ From the Georgia Telegraph.
STATE FIHAHCEB.
We are indebted to the courtesy of the in
defatigable Comptroller General, for a proof
impression of his furthcoming Report, to be
laid before the next General Assembly, and
glean from it the following interesting tacts :
Ot’the Reccpts into the Treasury during ttic fis
cal year, 1858, there was received :
tin account of the (ieucral ’fax, 1857.. (§6190,897 20
Net earnings. Western and Atiaiitie
Railroad 200,000 00
Hank tax...... 51,120 M
From Bank dividend* 20,575 00
Railroad tax ..’ - 0,204, 01
From miscellaneous items 5,775 88
Sale of bonds to the Atlantic ami Gulf
Railroad... 100,000 OO
Totnl reeeipts $700,570 10
Add to this balance available liinds in
the treasury. 21st Oct,’ 1857....... .112,102 10
And wsi have a total fund of $*7,5,835 20
Os the disbursements of tbo Treasury during the
same time, there has lieen paid :
On account ofeivil establishment 1H57 16,990 00
Contingent fund, 1857 2,1 *2 82
Printing fund, 1857 1,7 J 5 67
Pool school fund j 1857 . .. 110,604 00
Special appropriations of 1856,... 750 47
Civil establishment, 1858 40,205 OO
Contingent fund; 1858 8,181 70
Printing fund, 1858 18,449 85
Over payments, 1858 /1.......... 2,054 57
For pay of members and officer* of the
Legislature 114,242 25
Redaction of the public debt 40,722 22
Interest on do do 161,990 83
Subscription to Atlantic and GnlfKail-
Road 100,000 00
Lunatic Asylum—for building 57,500 00
do do do furniture 5,000 00
do do do support of
pauper
patients........ 15,000 00
do do do sal. snp’t 1,800 00
do do do of officers
and nerv’ts 9,412 50
Deaf and Dumb Asylum—for support
of the pupils 8,000 00
Academy for the blind, —for buildings. 15,000 (SI
do do do support of pupils. 4,500 00
Georgia Military Institute—support of
cadets 2,000 00
Savannah Medical College, for build
ings, Sc 15,000 00
Atlanta medical college, for build
ings, &c 15,000 00
Penitentiary—for purchase of provi
sions. e. 2,500 00
Other miscellaneous appropriations,
which will be seen in an abstract
accompanying this report,amount
ing in all to. 57,706 50
T0ta1...... $715,474 64
Showing an available balance in the Tre
asury of $130,360 65 To meet balance un
paid on appropriations of $110,130 43. The
estimates for the Fiscal year, 1859, amount
to $548,575, and the estimate State revenue
(inducing $500,000 income from the W. &,
A. Railroad) is $7119.921 04. The State
debt, including $900,000 bonds yet to be is
sued to the Main Trunk Railroad, is $3,531,
000. On the principal of these Ronds. $45,-
000 falls due next year ; $40,0(\0 in 1860 ;
$30,000 in 1861 J $142,500 in 1862 ; and
$lll,OOO in 1863.
The following are the consolidated Tax
Returns for 1858 :
Rolls. 97,040
Professions ....... 2.978
Free persons of ejahus ...... .’ l ,093
33,780,505 acres of land val’d at. $1.38,859,000
,432,124 slaves 227,468,927
Money and solvent debts . 89,762,798
City or Town proprrty G. ■■ :;()■! 10.244
Foreign Bank capital 77.3.41.3
Merchandise 10,462.511
Capital cmp’ld in ship’g &. tonnage. .763.235
, ‘ ■ do Manufactories, &c.. .3,866,736
Household and Kitchen furniture
over S3OO. 2,064,505
Other property not enumerated. -34,928,856
Ag’gate value of wbol pro’ty. .$539,055,114
Valuation in 1857.... 527,828,963
Increase in 1858 ‘....$ 11226,151
Average value efland per acre in 1857,
#4 10; average value of slaves per held,
$524 97. Average value of land per act #in
1858, $4 10 ; average value of slaves per
bead, $526 39.
These returns, however, the Comptroller-
General thinks very defective. Ho says on
the supposition that tho population__of the
State maintains the ratio of increase from
1840 to 1850, there should he 110 to 115,-
000 polls—some 50,000 more slaves than are
returned, and some 6 to seven million jof
acres of land are also nnreturned
. 1 }•• present rate of State taxation in Geor
gia is extremely low—being only three
fourths of a mill on the dollar, or seventy-five
cents on every thousand dollars’ valuation.
In Kentucky it is 17 cents on the hundred
dollars valuation-in Texas 12* cents—in
Mississippi 16—in Florida 16 2-3—in Vir
ginia 40—in Alabama 20—in Ohio 31—Illi
nois 67.
‘1 he Report is a voluminous document
compiled evidently with great care—and ap
pended to it are statistical tables made up
with much patient labor, developing the re
sources of each county in land, slaves, town
property—population, &c., number of poor
clnldreu—the total amount drawn by each
i county from the State Treasury— the total
! “mount contributed by each to the State rev
enue, and various other material and interest
ing facts collected together, not under stress
l ot official duty—(for the law has imposed no
such laborious task upon the Comptroller)
but Volunteered in a desire to be serviceable
, lb® State, which lias ever characterized
’ this able and patriotic officer. The Report
j also furnishes at length numerous suggestions
upon remedial legislation necessary in equal
j izing taxation or facilitation its collection.
. A zealous, able, indefatigable and oblig
ing officer iu the position of Col. Thweatt,
has rare opportunities for rendering public
service, which increase every year with his
increasing knowledge of the resource’s and
condition of the State and people. Wc hope
Col. 1. will long illustrate and adorn his pre
sent position, and the value of a model Comp
troller, which we certainly hold him to be.
MAJOR COOPER’S RAILROAD COMPtETED.
We find the following note from the Hon.
Mark, A. Cooper, iu the Cartcrsville Express
of the 22d inst:
Etowah, Ga,. 0ct.,19, 1858.
To the Editor of the Cartcrsville Express :
Dear Sir railroad has this day
been completed, and the trains are regularly
running in j connection with the passenger
trains of the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
This being an era in our history, the event
was distinguished by the firing of a salute,-
from ordinance made afrd cast at Etowah
Foundary. Mr. L. Kendrick was our con
tractor for the'building of the road, and Eu
gene LeHnrdy the chief Engineer.
As soon as arrangements are made we will
duly celebrate the occasion.„ Morning guns
will be fired till the celebration.
Yours respectfully,
Mark A. Coopkr,
President Etowah Railroad.
Major Cooper is a Napoleon of work, and
docs whilst others speculate. At the last>
session of the Legislature, he applied for aid
to build a railroad from his Iron Works at
Etowah to the State Road,, upon conditions
which would secure the .State from the possi
bility ot loss, and showed that his enterprise
was entitled to it, if any is, from the fact tint
lie gives to the State road, from his own b -
siness at Etowah, us much freight as it re
ceives from any of the. way stations between’
Atlanta and Chattanooga. 11 is application
was considered and rejected, and ip the mean
time he has taken all the stock oil the road,
S which is several miles long, built it himself
I without aid from any quarter, atul celebrated
its completion with a salute from ordinance,
; which he has cast for tho purpose. We take
great pleasure in publishing and endorsing
: the remarks which the Express appends to
j his note :
It will be seen from tho above that Maj.
j Cooper has completed his railroad. And
while it reflects the highest credit upon him,
it stands as an evidence of shame to ihgso of
our citizens who refused him the little aid ho
asked, to bring this road to our town. The
incredulous hooted at tho idea that a road
would ever be built to the Etowah Works,
and this very incredulity has thrown our
town beyond its benefits. It was a shame,
j we say, that a people so vastly interested in
j this movement, shriuld have stood idly by
: and allowed Maj. Cooper to bear the entire
| burthen, when tlie benefits to them would
j have been so great. The Stqte, too, actua
i ted by a blind- policy, lias ever refused to
render the least assistance to Cooper—
a man that has done more for her than any
’ other. Her legislators will now have an of-- 1
portunity to show their statesmanship, for
; this road will be extended, and is destined
to pay more and do more for tho interests of
our people than any enterprise we know of.
W e extend to Maj Cooper our sincere con
gratulations that his road has reached its
completion. He certaiuly deservesfthc ad
miration and kindest wishes of all who have
the good of our State at heart. Long may
he prosper, and may this be the dawuing of
a brighter and more glorious future for him
ami lhe enterprises he has cmbnrkcd-in. Wo
believe that the great heart’ of our people,
with its warmest enthusiasm and sineeie ad
miration, will domand for him the just claims
he so richly merits, from the hands of our
legislature. We can assure Maj. Cooper
that Hie Express—one of his best wishers —
will gladly be one of those to celebrate
with, him his jubilee. ■*-
GEOEOIA—"THEBE SHE STANDS LOOK AT HER.”
Georgia has over twelve hundred miles of
railroad built and paid for, and yielding to
the stockholders more than an average of se
ven per cent, yearly dividends. ; -
Within the next year, two hundred miles
of additional road, completed and equipped,
will bo in operation. These roads, with but
<a single exception, are mainly the results of
the enterprise, the cqprgy and capital of pur
own people.
We have cotton, and wool, and paper sac-.
torie6, rolling urilb, foundries, and machine
shops, merchant mills, marble yards, gold and
copper and coal mines, all in a Nourishing
condition and remunerating the proprietors
by handsome retjurhs on the capital invested.
Tim cotton ertip of the present j’cnr will
bring twenty-five millions of dollars at pies
ent prices. The crop of cereals is worth
twice that some—the sugar and tobacco
cr#ps not being included in tho acoount.
The State tax is not quite one-twelfth of
ne per cent.—the net income of tho Stato
road will be three hundred thousand dollars.
The State debt amounts- to about two mil
lions, and a tax of one-fifth of one per cent,
would pay it -in two years. Our banks are
solvent—our mcrohants in the best of credit,
and the people generally out of debt, with
full crops of cotton, corn, &a.. on hand. Tim
country is healthy, with tho exception of the
epidemic iu Savannah. Wc have six malo