Message of Gov. W. Y. Atkinson to the General Assembly of Georgia, Monday, November 26, 1894

MESSAGE
OF
GOV. W. Y. ATKINSON
TO THE
,GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF GEORGIA.
Monday, November 26, 1894.
ATLANTA, GA,:
GEO. W. HARRISON, 8rATE PRINTER.
H'ranklin Printing unJ Publishing Co.) 1894.

MESSAGE.
ATLANTA, GA., :N"ovembcr 26, 189-1.
Jlfember8 of the Geneml Assembly:
I desire to call your attention to some matters which, in my opinion, deserve consideration, and which I submit to yon to be acted upon as, in your judgment, you may deem wise.
As reports from the variou,; departments of the State have been laid before you, I shall not now make any suggestions which call for special legislation in relation to any of the departments of the government which arc required to report to the General A,.;sembly, but Hhall leave you, in the light of reports made, to enact :-mch legislation as, in your opinion, i;-; neceHsary to properly sustain them and to provide for the exercise of economy in the transaction of the bu,-;iness of each of them.
O"CR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
I call the attention of the member:-: of the General As,;ernbly to the great necLl of reform in our judicial system. Our present sy:-;tem is the same that was adopted in the earlier hi,-,tory of the State, and is now distinctively a pioneer system; it is not abreast with the times, nor rloe,, it adequately meet the demand,-, which the condition of :-;ociety and of lrnsinc:os makes npon it. Om judicial system is antiquated; the machinery of our courts neells tu [U-t more easily and with greater prnmptness.
It cannot be denied that the rate of intcre:-;t paid in Georgia is t\Yo or three times liigher than in some other States of the Union, largely because men who have money to

4
invest prefer to put it where collections are more certain, and where the courts can be relied upon to bring their cause to a prompt hearing. A dollar paid as interest in Georgia is ,vorth to the money-lender in New York, New England, or Europe, just as much as a dollar paid as interest in any other State. Men do not bring money here to lend at as low interest rate as in some other States, because it is not to their interest to do so. \Vhen our sureties are safe and unquestionable, and our courts act promptly upon causes, money will be as cheap in Georgia as in New York. As a penalty inflicted because this is not true, onr people are paying, in high interest and exorbitant credit prices, an immense tribnte. It is, therefore, to the ad\antage of the people that our laws be so adjusted that they will aid in bringing down the rate of interest in this State, which would inevitably re:-;ult in a large saving to our people, in bringing to Georgia a greater volume of money, and in giving impetus to the growth of her enterprises. A properly constituted judicial system can aid in the accomplishment of this result, and secure all other purposes for which courts are established.
EQUALIZE THE WORK OF JUDGES.
I will not now enter upon a detailed statement of what I belieye these reforms should be, because, in my judgment, there is one step that should be taken as preliminary to this. The work of the judges in GAorgia is notoriously unec1ual. In some circuits the jury work done by the judges will probably cover not more than twelve week1, in the year; in others, the jury work itself will approximate forty weeks. I most respectfully urge upon the General Assembly that a committee be uppointe<l to investigate and report, at your next annual session, on the amount of work <lone in each ju<licial circuit, and also to report by bill how this can be equalized. \Vhen this work has been sue-

5
ce;.isfnlly accomplished, the initial step will have been taken which, I trust, will lead to a readjustment of our judicial system, so as to conform to the demands of our commerce and of our civilization.
REPORTS FROM THE COURTS.
The courts are an important part of our government, and yet there is no means by which the General Assembly or the people of the State can ascertain how business in them is being dispatched in the various judicial circni ts. At each meeting of the General Assembly the representatiyes of the people should be able, by reference to the records of the proper department, to ascertain how this part of the public work is being transacted, and what has been accomplished within the twelve months preceding. I therefore recommend that an Act be passed requiring the Clerk of each Superior Court in this State to transmit to the Secretary of State, thirty days prior to the convening of the General Assembly, in each year, a statement showing the number of cases on dockets, how many of these cases have been in court longer than three years, and how many have been disposed of with trial by jury, and how many in chambers or by dismissal within the twelve-month just preceding the making of the report. This report should be kept on file by the Secretuy of State, and a summary of it for each judicial circuit should he printed and laid before the mem l)ers of the General Assembly.
REVISION OF THE CRIMINAL LAWS.
I respectfully urge upon the members of the General Assembly the necessity for a prompt revision in the penal laws of this State. The necessity for this will not he questioned by any one who will study them and look closely to the char_acter and gravity of all offences which are no\V

6
puni,;hed as felony. The last General Assembly took hold of this question and acted upon it, in the House, with practical unanimity, in the passage of a bill introduced i)y Honorable ,John I. Hall, which, for some reason, failed to pass the Senate. The penalties imposed under our law are in many instances too harsh, and I respectfully nrge that yon revise them in a spirit of justice and humanity. In numerous casef:' the law demands punishment for a felony when the offence should, in the discretion of the judge, or the jury, be punished as a misdemeanor under section 4310 of the Code.
COUXTY CHAIN-GANGS.
I desire to join my predecessor in asking that the county chain-gangs be brougllL under the supervision of the Penitentiary Department of this State, and that, to enable this to be done, you giYe to the Penitentiary Department an additional officer. That so large a part of our citizens, who have been deprived of their liberty by the courts of the country, should in many instances be left to the mercy of priYate individuals to whom they are intrnsted without the superYi8ion of a public officer, is a reproach to our people which I trust will not be permitted longer to exist. I cannot more strongly urge this upon you than to say that I most heartily commend what was said by my honored predecessor upon this snbject. If each member of the General Assembly will read what he so clearly, forcefully and wisely say8 in the message transmitted to you just before he retired from office, I feel confident that this great eYil will be corrected, and our State relieved of this stigma upon her honor. Whether the convicts are in control of local authorities or in other hands, the duty to provide for State supervision is urgent. Our delay in meeting this duty is not to the credit of our character as a people.

7
CHANGE OF VENUE.
I recommend that the law providing for a change of venue in criminal cases be so amended that the ,Judge of the Superior Court may, in his discretion, change the vcnne of any case without first examining all persons in the county liable to serve on juries, when, in his opinion, the condition of the public mind in the county where the offence is committed is such that a fair trial cannot be had, and that snch removal of the car-e be permitted at the instance either of the ~tate or of the defendant.
REWARDS.
I recommend that section fi8 of the Code be so amended as not to fix the amount of the minimum reward that the Executive is required to offer where offence charged is ginhonse burning, and that the amount of the reward in each car,,e be fixed by the Executive, sn~ject to the other limitations in said section.
PENSIONS.
In the recent election, the people ratified the amendment to the Constitution which pro\'ides that the Legislature may pem,ion a clasr,, of veterans not heretofore pensioned in this State. Up to this time, the State has pensioned only those veterans who were disabled in the Confederate service, or whose disability is a result of such service. In the amendment to the Constitution to which I call your attention, yon are authorized to pension also those Confederate imldiers who, by reason of age and poverty, or infirmity and poverty, or blindness and poverty, are unable to provide a living for themselves. It matters not, yon will readily understand, whether this poverty is traceable to the war or not. In carrying into execution this provision of law, I ask that you provide liberally for

8
all worthy applicants, prevent any of the old heroes from dying in want, and yet that you do not enter upon a wasteful pension policy. This amendment is supplementary to the Battle Bill, a law passed by the General Assembly, and which can be found on page 118 of the Acts of 189:3. I therefore suggest that you take such steps as you may deem advisable to get thorough information as to the workings and operations of this statute, and a8 to the probable number of pensioners who would be entered upon our pension rolls on account of the legislation carrying into effect the provisions of thi:,; amendment, and that when such information has been obtained, you act upon that subject in such a manner as to deal justly with the tax-payers and meet fully and generously the needs of that class of our honored fellow citizens whom the generous people of Georgia intended to aid by authorizing you to enact such legislation.
SHOULD CORRECT THE EVILS OF THE FEE SYSTE:\1.
To remove our officers from unnecessary temptatio11, provide just compen:,;ation for them, and effectually prevent a wasteful extravagance in the expenditure of public moneys paid as fees for public service, I earnestly recommend that the General Assemby have instituted an inquiry into the compensation of such State officers as are paid in part or in full by fees, and to report by bill, or bills, fixing the compensation of such of said officers as are receiving sums m excess of the value of the services rendered. This matter is worthy of your serious attention. I earnestly ask that you correct such evils as hav{! grown out of the fee system.
BALLOT REFORM.
Under the election laws now of force in this State, it is in the power of every man to see that his vote is counted a1o,

9
cast. There is a certainty that under this system the real result of an election can be ascertained, and the will of the people declared as expresser! in an election. \Vhile this is true, the process of contesting, where there is no registration law and no requirement that men shall vote in their own districts, makes the matter of a contest a herculean task. While the right of the legal VPter to have his vote counted as cast is secure, it is an extremely difficult matter to purge the ballot box of illegal votes. I therefore urge upon you the necessity of changing our election laws, and providing a system wherein any unfair or fraudulent practices may be easily detected and effectively prevented. I cannot too strongly impress upon you, however, the necessity of deliberate action in this matter. Let it he done after a thorough study of the election systems of other States, and when the mind of the General As,embly is mature and clear a;.; to what system can be best adapted to the necessities of the case, and will be satisfactory t~ a people with the idea;.; and customs of the people of Georgia.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
It is hardly necessary for me to urge upon you the necessity of meeting the troubles which are now confi:onting the common school interest;.; of the State, as I know you will do this promptly and wisely; but in addition to thi;.;, I respedfully urge that you look to all our educational interests and
of make it the duty the State School Commissioner to visit
the higher educational institutions of thi;.; State and, as far as possible, the high schools and p11blic schools of the various towns and cities of the State, and req nire that a short and succinct report on the University and its branches be embodied in hi;.; annual report to the General Assembly.
It should be the duty of the State School Commissioner

to endeavor to systematize all of our educational interests, harmonize and form of them or.e perfect and complete system.
NORl\IAL TRAINING.
I am gratified to know that the people of the State now recognize the value of normal training, and am also gratified to be able to report that the work of the_ normal department of the Georgia Normal and Industrial College at Milledgeville, is progressing satisfactorily, and resulting in immense good to the common schools of the State. The great disadvantage that the Normal and Industrial College i:;; now laboring under, and which is seriously embarrassing it, in all its departments, is a want of sufficient buildings, both for class-rooms and for the boarders. The State can make no wiser investment than to make an appropriation to supply the needed buildings. I herewith transmit to you, as a part of this message, a letter written by J. Harris Chappell, President of the Georgia Normal and Industrial College, urging the necessity for additional buildings. The arguments stated by him are clear, strong, and convincing. I concur in what he says, and most respectfully ask that this appropriation be made.
The work being carried on by this institution is important to the State, not only because it adds to the general intelligence of the people in the education given to the individuals who attend, but it prepares our women for new fields of usefulness, for becoming independent bread-winners; and equips our young women to become efficient and successful school teachers, thereby carrying its benefits to the children of the State and giving new impetus to the advancement of our commons schools. There are so few vocations open to our women in Georgia that the State can do no better work than to prepare them thoroughly for those to which they are now admitted. She has

11

so thoroughly demom,trated her fitness for the flchoolroom

that the tendency, not only in Georgia but all over the

l: nited States, is to leave this field chiefly to woman. The

best equipped schools in thifi State are those which are being

operated nnd'"r local fiysterns, wher,) the local tax raised,

supplemented with the Srate scho,,l fund, is sufficient to

properly sustain the schoob. Of the thirty-two local sys-

tems in Georgia, I have at my command only the statistics

of the number of teachers in twelve. Out of 456 teachers

in these twelve schools, ;HJ6 are women and 60 men; 87

out of e,-ery 100 of these teachers are, therefore, women.

I have obtained statistics as to the proportional numbers of

male and fern ale teachers in several of the States of the

Union. Maine ______ _

FEMALES,
84

}IALES.
16

New Hampshire ___ Yermont _____ _

91

1

88

12

Mw,sachusetts _. Rhode Island_

91

9

88

12

Connecticut New York __ _ Kew ,Jersey _________ .-

87

13

83

17

82

18

District of Columbia_.

87

13

To further illustrate this idea, I give you some figures

showing the sex of those who are attending some of the

leading normal schools of the country:

Massachusetts (all told) Connecticut (all told) ___

FE}IALES,
D96
401

}!ALES,
42
1

Cook Co. Normal School, Parker's __ } Great School, Inglewood, Ill . _ . ___

195

20

California (all told) ___ . _.. . - - - - - - - - - 986

110

Louisiana (all told) __ .. _... -

122

18

New Jersey (State .Normal ----------- 305

:31

New York (all told)--------------- ___ 4,154 788

Peabody Normal College, Nashville __ . 190

72

12
'.Vithout attempting to justify or approve the practice I, state as a fact that where men and women are each equally qualified to do work in the school-room, that, on account of the few vocations open to women and the multiplicity of applicants for each position which they can fill, to do the same work woman can be employed for much less money than man. Leaving out of question all higher and nobler considerations and looking at it from an economical standpoint alone, it cannot be denied that it is. good policy on the part of the State to spare neither pains nor money in the education of our daughters for work in the schoolroom.
Two things are necessary for the perfection of our common schools; one is thoroughly equipped teachers, and the other is money to pay them, that they may be induced to enter into the business of teaching. Until these two wants are supplied, our educational interests must fail to accorn pl ish the desired result.
The power of any section, of any people, is measured by the productive power of individuals. The uneducated and unskilled bborer who earns but fifty cents per day bring,; into circulation--adds to the wealth in existence-but one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, while the skilled laborer who can earn five dollars per day adds to the wealth of and bring8 into circulation in the community where he lives, fifteen hundred dollars per annum. One such skilled citizen creates in one day as much wealth as is created by ten of his unskilled neighbors. To properly utilize this great factor in the distribution of wealth, we must-educate our people thoroughly, increase their productiveness, and thereby increase the products, the wealth and the power of the State. The words ''Normal and Industrial" in the name of this instiution, clearly indicate the scope of the work done by this school, and are sufficient to commend it to all who desire to foster the material and intellectual growth of our beloved State.

THE UNIVEHSlTY.
To advance the educational interests of the State is by far the greatest work within the reach of the State government. The lI niversity at Athens, the School of Technology, the common schools, and every department of our educational interests should receive your aid and the fostering care of the State. They are not beggars. Money wisely spent upon them is not waste, nor is it a gratuity; it is the best investment which the State can make. The proper support of them is essential to the progress, the development and the dignity of our State and to the intellectual greatness of our people. The quantity of wealth and happiness which the future will bring to this people depends upon the character of the education which they are to receive. The power and prestige of this people in moulding the thought and formulating the policy which guide and control this nation depends upon the course pursued in developing the brain of our people. \Ve cannot look to philanthropists, we cannot look to rich men for the sustenance of our educational institutions, because the colossal fortunes from which such aid sometimes comes, do not exist at the South. \Ve m118t look to the State to properly sustain our institutions. It is the duty of our State to edu<mte the people and perfect these educational institutions.
THE l\IILITIA.
I most earnestly recommend and urge that this General Assembly grant the necessary aid and proper encouragement to the military of this State.
The existing condition of nur domestic affairs will undoubtedly encourage the growth of lawles,me8s and increase those unfortunate occurrences which sometimes make the pre.,ence of the military necessary to the enforcement of

14
la,v and the preservation of peace. The militia is an essential part of the State government; it is the arm of the Executive upon which he must, as a last resort, rely for the enforcement of law. The existence of an effective militia force is a conservator of the peace, and diminishes the number of outbreaks and the frequency of lawless acts.
THE EXPOSITIO~.
In the Exposition which is to be held in Atlanta, in 18Ui"i, Georgia has the greatl,st opportl!nities which haye come to her dlll'ing her existence as a State.
I recommend that the General Assemblv, use ever.v effort
and all proper means to secure for it an extraordinary success and enable Georgia to attract the attention of the civilized world to her climate, her resources and her advantages, and reap from it that rich harve,;t which will ripen for her if yon meet the foll measure of the obligation 1d1ich now rests upon you.
NORTHEASTERN RAILROAD.
The dispoeition of the Xortheastern Railroad, now 111 the control of the State, deserve,- yollr careful consideration. It i:-; being operated by the State at com,iderable loss. According to the fig-mes submitted to you in the message of my predece,.;sor in offi<'e, it has, under the light expenditure heretofore required for repairs, paid somewhat more than operating expenses, but its earnings do 1wt pay the fixed charges upon the rnad, and are not sufficient. to pay operating expenses and cancel the interest coupons on bonds of the road indorsed hy the State.
That I might a,-,ccrtain the pre.~ent physical condition of said road, I m1gaged l\Ir. Cecil Gabbett, an expert mid able
railwayofticcr,toexamineandrcport to me upon it,.;condition.
A copy of his report I tramm1it to you 1ritli this mcs~age,

1.5
and to it I invite your special attention. The report is a most excellent one, and is a clear statement t)f facts which should he in your possession in dealing with the important questiom, growing out of the State's relations to this roperty.
I desire this General Assembly to advise whether or not this property shall be now sold and, if not, what course should be pursued by the State in its management of it, and what should be done to meet the State's obligation on bonds indorscd by it. It i,, worthy of note in determining thi;.; question, that while but a small amount has been expended in repairs upon the road up to this date, according to the report of 1\Ir. Gabbett, to which I have referred, it will be nece::.;sary to expend during the next year a sum considerably in excess of that expended during this last year.
I ask you, also, to inquire into the condition and value of that part of the road (upon which the State also has a claim to secure the bonds indorsed by it) lying beyond Lula and reaching to Tallulah Falls. I n10;;t re;.;pcctfully ask that your honorable body institute inquiry, and gi,e me such advise as yon may deem wise, as to what course the State should pursue with reference to the part of the road in question.
In pursuance of my official duty, I submit these suggestions to you, the representatives of the people, whose prerogative it is to enact legislation, to perfect our laws, promote our growth, an<l advance our eivili,mtion, and leave them to be disposed of by you, as in your wi,;dom yon may belie,e to be to the best interests of the State.
\\'. Y. ,\TKI~so~, Goyernor.

16
MILLEDGEVILLE, G_--.., November 8, 189--1.
Hon. IV. Y. Atkinson, Governor of Geor,qia, Atlanta, Ga:
MY DEAR Sm-Allow me to call your attention to the urgent necessity of an additional dormitory building for the Georgia :Xormal and Indm,trial College. The present dormitory is totally inadequate to the needs of the school. \Ve usually have in attendance over three hundred boarding pupils. The dormitory will accommodate only a hundred and eighteen, and so two hundred or more of our students are compelled to board out in private families in different parts of the town. Thi,, arrangement, especially in a girls' school, is very objectionable on several accounts. In the dormitory the cost of living i,, mnch less and the discipline much better than it is possible to have in a private boarding-honse.
I have been forced, during the past year, to turn off from the dormitory for want of room considernbly more than three hundred applicants. Many of these, when they found that they could not get into the dormitory, secnred board in private families, but a very large number, who were unable to come unless they could get the low dormitory rates of board, were, on this account, turned away from the school entirely. Thus it happens every year that scores of poor, but earnest and noble young women from all parts of Georgia, who are anxious to come to this school, are turned away from its door,;, simply because the State has failed to provide a house for them to live in. This is the very class of girls and young women for whom the school was established, and it is a pity that they should be deprived of its privileges from such a cause.
Board at the dormitory, including fuel, lights, and washing, costs only $9.50 a month, while in private families it ~osts $1~{.50. By a very accurate calculation, I find that

17
if all the students who attended our college last session could have been accommodated in th~ dormitory, it would ha\'C sand them in hoard, in the a:greg,1te, $7,980.00. This 8aving would 111can a great deal for our students, bc('allSl' ncarl: all of them are poor girls or girls in \'CI')' mmlrratc ('ircumstanccs whose parents all(l friends have to practice great self-denials to send them to this institution.
Be,-iclc:-; the greater cheapne,,:s of boarding at the dormitory, it i,-; on cit'Veral other accounb infinitely better for thP stu<ll,nb than lwanling out in tO\rn in private familie,-;. En)n in the hest regulated prirnte hoarding-lwuse,,;, it i:-; irnpo;,:;,ible to maintain thl' l'xccllcnt discipline, the regular habit, and hour:-;, and the ,-;ystematic domestic training that ,n, have at the dormitory. Furthermore, it is of the highest importance that girb and young women attending ,.,clwul a 11a: from home i 11 a town of strangers shonld be a part of the household of the presi<lent of the ;;chool, and shnnld lw at all times under thl' eon,-tant watehful care of the teacher., all(l otli('ers of the sdwol. Thl!re is prnhahly no other female ('Ollegc in .\mcrica where the student,.; are eompcllecl to board out in variou,; boarding-hou,;cs, in different part,; of the town. Ro ,,;trong i,; the feeling against this plan, that I am confitantly receiving letters from citizens in all part,.; of Georgia saying in effect: "I a111 anxious to ~end my daughter to your S('hool, hut positively will not do so unless slw can be taken into the dormitory under yom direct care and supervi,-;ion.'.' To be responsible for the deportment of two hundred young girls scattered over a large town in a score or more of boarding-hou;;es i,; an appalling duty, and one that should not be impo,-;cd upon auy principal or corp,; of teachers. The States of Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina have established State Girl;;' Xormal and Industrial Schools precisely similar to ours, and in each case the State has provided at great {'Ost dormitories large enough to accommodate all pupib

18
from a distance. Shonld Georgia do less for her daughters than the;-;e States have done for theirs!
Speaking of the cost of dormitories remind!-- me to ,-ay that the pre:,;ent dormitory of the Georgia Xormal and lndu,-trial College has cost the State practically nothing. The old governor's mansion, which wa:-; entirely useless to the State ancl \\hich was fast going to ruin, wa;;; turned onr to the school for dormitory purposes. \Vith momy derived from the matrienlation fee,- of students, and not from the State, the building wa.~ sufficiently rqiaired to make it habitable. :-;nlisequcntly a large annex costing 812,0()() ,ms adde<l to it, but the money wa.~ donated for the pnrpose by the c:ity of l\lilledgeville, and it did not co:,;t the State one eent. \Yhen this coliege was establishe<l only three years ago, it wa:,; ,-omewlrnt in the nature of an experiment. lt was a prngrcc;siw and aggrcs:.;ivc ,;tq> in the e<hwation of Georgia ,nmwn. It ha,.; pronn a ,,onderfnl sneees.~. lt has c-urpa:-:-ecl the hest C'xpcetntion,; of its mo~t "angnin<' friends. So other college in Georgia, male or fernak, ha.~ <'Yer lwen ,m large!:, or :-o wide!: patrnnize<l by tlw people of the State. \Yc cnrnll e,cn year from three hundred and tifty to three lrnndre(I and H'\'ent_, ,;tll<knt,-, llinet: per <'ent. of whom arc boanling pupib. La,-t ,-p,;,;ion \l"t' luul r<'pre,-;(ntatin!:- from one hundre<l eonntie:- in (ieorgin, nn<I thi.,.; ,;e,-;.-ion we shall go beyond that. ( )ur student.~ <0111e mainly from the farming c]a,;,.; of peopk and from thP rural districts where good ,-choo\,; are :-cane. The\' are a ,ron<lcrfnlly earne,-t lot of girl,-, who <ome hem for th< pnrpo,-e of preparing thcmselYes to earn their own li,clihood. Although the ,;chool ha~ been in existence only t !nee ,Hm,oYcr two hull(hed of its former students are now making, or haYe been making, their li,ing by means of one or another of the profr,sion,.; or industrial arls that they han learned in thi:-; in.~titntion. Onr proficients and graduates mny be founcl in ,a1iou,.; parts of Georgia, and in other :-iatc,,,

19
working successfully as stenographers, buokkeeper;;, dressmakers, and school-teachers. I wonld lay special stre,;s npon the splendid and beneficent work being clone by our normal department. There are now one hundred and seventy-fiye young women in attendance npon that department, ancl they will nearly all become teachers in the common schools of Georgia, and they haYe colllc here to prepare themsel yes for that ,rnrk; seventy-two of them have already had more or b,s experience in teaching, an(l ove1 sixty of them are paying every cent of their expenses here, ,rith money earned h: themsehes a..; :-chool-teachers. l\Iany more yonng women of this noble cla,-,s were anxious to come to the collq~c this ,-,cssion, hut were tnrned away for want of room in the dormitory, all(l ;-;o it happens every year. I am snre that during the three years of the life of the school mnn: more than one hundred ambitious young wompn school-teacher,-, ,,ho were anxious to co111e here to fit thelllselves better for their rcspon;;i\ile 1York, ha1c been turne<l a,rny :-imply for want of room in the dorinitory. Thi,.; i:- a pit_Y, a great pity; an<l it 1yil] be a :-;hallll) if the State allow,- it to <'011tinne to be .~o. Th<' crying neF<l of the cau,-e of cdn<'ation in (icorgia to-day i,, better erlucatecl and hettf'r trained teachers, e,;pecially for the common country selwob. Thi.~ need our normal clcpart1}1(1nt i,; already beginning to ,;upply, and it will .~upply it much more alrnn<lantly and llltH'h more efficiently iH the future if the State will only proyide a roof to shelter the earne,-;t young \Yomen who 1rish to come here to prepare them,.;elye,; for thi,- noble 11ork.
The Georgia Kormal and In<lustrial College i,-, accomplishing the purpose for which it was establi,-hed far nwre efficiently than is wmal with public institutions. It i,-, giving to lrnndrecb of Georgia girls a better, wi,-,<'r, more practical, and valuable eduC'ation than was ever known before in any 1101nan's school in the South, and that at a eo;;t so low that a great many poor girb arc able to ayail them-

20
,;elves of it and develop into a cultured womanhood, who, but fol' this school, would have remained always in henightell ignorance. It is slowly hut surely raising the stanclar(l of woman's education. It is equipping many young women with honorable means of making a livelihood. It i,- supply_ing Georgia school,; with bettel' tead1er.~. To a girl \\ho lives in the dormitory, the entire cost ,Jf a year',-; attenllancc, incln<ling matric1dation fee, board, foe!, lighb, and wa,-;hing, i:-; lc.~s than one hundred dollar,;. To those who al'c compelled to board in private familiec:, it i,- consideral>lv more than this.
The arlllitional lrnilding, of which 1 lut\'E' spoh'n, is ab.~olutel_v nece.~,-;ary to the continued welfare, growth, anll deVl'lopmcnt of the school. \\'ith it the attendance will be lal'gel_v incl'easell; hnmhed,-; of poor girls, \\ho al'l' unable to co11w, will be a(lmitted; thl' cost of attendance will bt' 1ell11ced to a minimum, and many thousan<ls of dollal's will hl' ,-;ave(l annually to the ;-;ti1dcnt,;; they will he betkr taken cart of~ an<l nn<lel' better disciplinl' and training than i,; p1Jssible with the pres<'nt ,-;y,;tem of boarding ont in town.
Be:-;ide., ti}{\ absolntc nccP:-i~ity of more dol'mitory room, the ,;chilol gl'eatly need~ additional c]a:-,,-;-room :-;pace, especially for the ~ornial Dqiarttll('nt. The work of this depal'tment, the mo:-;t irnpurtant in tlw school, i;; 110w greatly crarnpe(l :111d inconvenienced fol' 1yaut of room; so if th<' lll'W bniding is granted, it shonl<l be so con:-;tructed as to contain, hesi(les the dormitorie,-,, recitation halls specially arranged for the no!'mal wol'k.
-wc ha vc here om' of tlw best, most practical, and thor-
ough-going normal orteaeher-training ,;chools in the t'."nion; it has been ,-;o pr<mounced by distinguished normal Pducators who ha\e ~ecn its wol'k and who arc familiar with the best institutions of the kind at the ~orth. With the proposed a(lditional building, this work will be rendered still n10t'c efficient and will reach a mnch larger number of

:21
:-;tudents. Our Normal Department shonlrl then, by all means, be thrown open to young men as well a,-; to young women. 'IVhen we ,-hall have all of our girl,; together in one clormitorv household u1Hler the immediate care of the Prcsillent and teacher,-;, all pos,-iblc sound objection to the eo-
Cllttcation of the sexes in this department ,,ill he nmoved,
and Georgia can ha,c what ,,helm~ long greatly needed, a complete, efficient, thorough-going normal eollege for both men and women, and one- that will an;-;wcr admirably the neells au<l demands for tead1C'r-training in Georgia. The rnak students could board out in private familie,-, or, better -;till, if the State ,-ecf-- fit to do it, otff pre,-;cnt ,-;rnall dormitory could be turned onr tu them, and the m,, onP made large enough to accomm<Hlate all of tlw girk The two buildings would he a consiclerabll' cli,-tance from eal'h otlwr. Thi:-; co-education illc-a, h<l\rnver, i,- onl~ a ,;ugge,-;tion; I do not mean to urge it hen, although l am pl'l'foctly "'atisticcl that it mrnld he- a wise thin: for thP State to do. If it ;.;houl<l ever <onclmle to adopt the plan in the fnture, thi,.; additional huiltling ,rill make it po,-silile to carry it out ill a thoroughly srtti~factory way.
The for<'going i,-, a ,-implc pre.~tntation of fal'b, hut l hope- is ,mtlicient to ,-how the urgent need,.; of the l:a,.:e. I earnc,-;tly bqr that you will call the- attention of the pre~ent kgi,-:laturc to the matter and do all in your power to persuade them to grant an appropriation of fifty thousallll
to <lollars erect an additional building for om college, to
contain dormitory room for two hun(lred an<l fifty or three hundred studl"nt,; aml special recitation halls for the Surma! Department.
Very truly yoms, ,J. I--Luuu:-; CIIAPl'ELL, Prcsid<"nt.

22
REPORT OF THE PHYSICAL CONDITIOX OF THE XORTHEASTERN RAILROAD OF GEORGIA.
ATHENS, GA., November IG, 18D-l.
Hon. lJ'. Y. Atl.:inson, Governor, Atl((nta, C-J-a. : DK\TI SIR :-In compliance with your request, f made
to-day a thorough inspection of the aboye named property, f'ituated between Athens and Lula, Ga., ancl respectfully submit to yon the following information relative to the same:
That portion of the Northcastern Railroad of Georgia from Athens, Ga., to Lula, Ga., distance thirty-nine miles, was open for traffic in September, 187G, being laid with forty-five-pound iron rail, purchascJ from the Atlanta Holling l\Iills.
Its equipment con,;i,;ted of: One Baldwin locomotive, with c_dinders 14x24 inchef'. One firRt-cla,-;s passenger coach. One baggage and mail car. Eight box ears. Eight flat car,;. Five hand cars.
The road cost upward of $520,000.00. There was place(! on it a first mortgage of $2G0,000.00, also ~ second mortage (limited to $25,000.00) of $18,100. Tlie interest per annum on the first mortgage bo11ds wa,-; $18,200.00, and 011 the second mortgage bonds $1,3:37 .00; total in-
terest per annum, $rn,!i:3i.00. fn .January, 1878, the Governor of G1orgia placecl thP
indorsement of the State on 7 per cent. 20-year, $2G0,000.00 fir:-;t mortgage bonds of ti1e railroad company, m pursuance of the proyisions of the charter.

2 "i )
lJp to 1881 the road was operated by a local boa rel o t directors, chosen from time to time; after which the management of the property pasRed into the hands of the Richmond & Danville Railroad and remained thus until Xovcmber 20, 18\l:3, when the management of the property was a,-;snmed by Mr. IL K. Heaves, State Agent, an appointee of our late Governor, Hon. \\'. ,J. Northen.
The following table "ill exemplify the earning capaeity of this road <luring the tirnt year" of it1-; operation:
i 1816-ii.1 lSii-iS. 1SiS-i\l. ]Si\J-80. 1S80-Sl.
<,ross earning~ '$31,.iS:? 3S,Hi,Wl0 ,0 *~s,il03-\l:\-~.J i, (iill- 71~~(i6;i:m7-4.J Expenses......... ) 2S,:2o0 H :?G,-t\J+ 1:2 :?ti,\IS<.; ~t\ 30,:?38 OS :-m.114 ss
1
~t~ar_i1ings__... _ 3_._32_! \~l _21,_1_8_(i__ti:I :?l,!ll.5 17 liA~:? ~;3 __:?U,HS:? iii!

I Earnings. Expenses. :'\et Earnings

I :\o\ewber ..--.....~ ............... ~
]lecember ................ J:muary .......................... '. F~ l.Jrnary . ...... .... .. ........ j
March ........................... ' April.. ............................ ' :\lay.............................. .Tnne ............................. 1 ,Jnly ......... .......... ... . .. ... Augnst ........ ............. ..... ;-eptember. ........ ........ .....
i ktoher ..........................

~,~~f !_I
,,S83 1 .5,\J\l,i tiG .i,0:?l ii 1
t\,8-14 :!7 .'l,\177 -i8 :l.O\Hi O.J :\,321 O.J 3,29!i l!i :~.n.J:--: :-i; 3,ti(J\l 3.J
8,000 00

* 1,fl3ii ,i:? ,"i.:?ii!l .JO 3,/ifli iiH 3,\l:\2 8-+ ll,\! 3 22 :l,73!! 8l :?,\ll:i 18 2,1):?8 i5 3,:?07 OG :;,,:2:--: O:? :l,3\l(i ,iO
.J-,(ill,5 Hi

1
_ :rot_[!~.._._.._...= ......... 1*_ ,i7,347 S:! 1!I, .J-:2,,"i:--:D o:--:

i$ SIS ,i8 1 :?,(i:?.J 3-t / :?,,ms lli
1 088 (ii
,I :?,\JOJ Q,j 287 7.J 180 :--:ti 302 20 :?S!l 10
, :?:!O 35
II :212 :--:- 3,:-l!'.~
* l_,75:--: 1

The origin of the <knca,;c in the earning capacity of thi;-; road i1o due to the construction of the Georgia, Carolina & Xorthern Railroad, giYrng Athens thereby a dired line to Atlanta.
The earning:,; and expen,;es for the past t\rn months are approxirnnte<1.

24
E<znPMENT.
There is only one engine, Xo. 271, with cylinders l-tx:24 inches, in good condition. This engine being unable to handle the traftfo, it "as found neeeEsary to rent two nwn', which ,ms done from the Southern Haihrny Company, at a eost of $4.00 each per day. One of the,;e engine.~ can be returned to its owner in a month or two. It requirl'c' tm> engine:- in con,-;tant u,-e throughout the year to 1110Ye the traffic of the roa(l.
Tlw pa,-sengc1 equipment cou,:i,;ts of: Pa:-;:-enger eoache,; ::\1"os. (570 and Gil, in good condition. One ('Ombination mail and expn,-:-, Xo. :l,!l, in good <omlition, which latter ha,-; been rented to the Southern Haihrny Company, and one rented fron1 them in return. Freight equipment: One hox car, Xo. 107, in fair eondition. 1n eon seq uenee of not ha ,i ng enough freight C<J ui pment, $2,(i 11.1 :l was paid to foreign road,; for Ill ileage on tlui r ean, during the last twehe month:-. This amount ean he
.-rn neclited with ~FJ:37 reeeiYed fro111 foreign road.~ on ear
milcagE, leaving ~2,07:3.li\ whieh 1rn,: included in op<Tat1ng exp<n:-e~.
lt()A D DEP AHT.\IE'\T.
In the ,\then:- yar<l there are about :l,22:3 fret of t--idctra<'b, mo:,;t of "-hich j,., laid with --l-,>-ponn<l irnn rail in a laminated condition, but which ean remain in :-;ervice for two year,; longer hy being patched from time to time. The track room in thi.-; yard is not sufficient during the bu,,, ,-eason. Two additional track:-; c'.an be provided at an t'xpen.~e of about $:300.00, by u:-;ing old material on hand, Five hundred ties are needed in the track in this vard.

2-5
At the nol'theast end of the yard, on Cleveland avenue,.
there is located an old, uuused wo0<len warehouse, known as the Carlton Guano \Varel10nse. Thi,.; building is partially on the railroall's right of way, which i;.; one hundred
feet wide at that point. Thi,; warehouse is owned b~- out-
side parties. At thi,-, point the traeks of the Macon and ~orthern Hailroad join tho~c of the Xorthem;tcrn Railroad, which, togctlwr with another trat'k of theirs connecting
with the yard n frw hundrecl _nnd,-, north, fc,rm,- a "Y"
which is u,-ed jointly by the Xortheastcrn Hailroad nn<l
thl' 1\Ia,ion and Xorthern Hailroad for turning the trains nt
the two roads, thereby <lispen,-ing with the u.,e of a turn-
table in the Xorthen:.;tern yard, the irnns of which are found
on hand in fairly goocl co1Hlitio11.
On the ,;outh side of Cleveland avenue, tlw Xortlwast ern Railroad own,- a lot of lan<l <"onsisting of about onP and om-lrnlf acre,-, through \\hich the tra<"k of the 1fa<'on
and Xortll('l'll l{ailrnad pa,;sc!,-, (right of ml_Y having lH'cn granted them sen'1al years ag-o). On thi., lot i,-; located the Rcxinger Ice \\'ork,;;, which pa~s a ,-mall annnal rental, al.~o the \Ioclel Gri,-t \Iii! 01rne(l and operatell hy the Talmatlge Brothers.
On l{iye1 :.;treet thl're i:,; a ,-mall Lit <"on~i~ting of abrlnt half an acre, yaln<id at $lo"'i0.00, ancl on ( 'olltge a\enuc a lot eontaining half an ane, both belonging to the Xorthea.~tPrn Railroad. )leither of thc.~e lot,; i.~ in use.
One of the tracks from the yanl lea cl.~ into the ( )rr and Hnnter eompre,-;,.;, Onbide railroad eornpauie,.; in .\then;-; pay two dollar.-: per car to the Xorthcastern Railroad for ,mitching tlwir car:-; into this com1wcs,-.
Located in the center of the Yar<l i,; the traC'k :.;ca:c~, whieh i.-: in good conclition.
The entire yard in Athen,- contains alwut four aml onehalf acres.
t\ection 1, which cxten(l:'i 1'c:ven mill's from Atlieu~, ii-o

2(i
laid with fifty-8ix poun<l steel rail, which is in good condition, and appears to have been rolled in 1891. This section will require about 2,4{i0 cross-ties during the next year. The banks, ditches, line, and surface of the track are in fir,,t-class condition. On thi,; section is located a spur track leading to the water works, with capacity of two cars. Also a spnr track into a brick yard, capable of holding nine cars, situated about two mile,; from Athens.
Section 2 i,, eight miles long, laid partly with sixty pound and partly )Vith fifty-six pound steel rail, all in good condition. This section requires 2,800 cross-ties during the next twelve months. The ditchc,-, banks, line, and surface of the track arc in good <crnclition.
Section :3, which is eight miles lnng, i,; laid with sixty pound steel rail, with line and sul'lace in good condition. The ditches and banks of thi,-; section are in fair condition.
Them are uecde<l :i,oon tics on this r-cction.
Section 4, which i,-; eight miles long, has fin, miles of old forty-five pound iron rail which is about eighteen years old. The rest of thi,-; section is laid with tifty-:-;ix pound ;..;tee! rail in good condition. There is neede(l one mile of fifty-six pound steel rail, ot eighty-eight ton:--, on thi,; section, to enable one mile of the iron rail to be taken up and used as patch rail. Thi,: eighty-eight tons ought to be pur<'hased for about &;;2,;nG.OO delivered. ThP road-bed, also line and surface of the track on this .~ec:tion, is in good condition. The iron rail begin,-; at about the twenty-three and one-half mile past. There an! needed on this section 2,00U ties during the next twelYe;; month.~.
Se;tiun ,"j, being eight miles long, carrie;-; ~-O]I to Lula. 011 thi:-; section there i,-; a quarter of a mile of old 45-ponnd irnn rail, laid next to Lula. The red is laid with EiG-pound steel rail, with line and H!l'face in good condition; also the banks and cuts are in equally good ,.;hape. There are needed 2,:i00 ties on this section. The yanl at Lula, together with

27
1lll side-tracks on the road, amounting to 10,686 teet, i:o laid with --15-pound iron rail, in bad condition. There arc :llso required iiOO new tics in the yard at Lula. This yard is rn,ed jointly with the Southern Railway, and the cost of maintenance is ,-;hared alike. There arc ~~,378 fret of sidetrack. All the switches are split switches on the road where there is steel rail, and stub ,;\\itches \\here there is iron rail. The frog,-: arl in good condition. On each :,;cction there is one leYcr car ancl one push car, all in fair condition; also a foll supply of track tool:-:.
Since Xoyember 20, 188:;, there were cleli,ere<l D79 first-
das;.; tic:-:, and 1,77--1 sccond-clas:-: ties; total, 2,7i5:l oak ties; most of which haYe been put in the track, costing in the neighborhoo<l of $5ii-!.70. Total num\wr of ties required on the road rl11ring th( next 1:Z rnontht' is 1:3,7,"iO, which will co;;t about $2,7,"iO. The road-bed is naturally om of the best I haYe ever seen, and i:-< in tir:-t-ela~:- condition. With an cxpcnditnre of ~2,750 for ties, and $2,:li(i for rail, total, $7i,l:ZG, the track at the expiration of twclye month;; will be in go_od order. During the past twehc mnntlm the section gangs consisted of two men during the winter months, and three men during the summer months. The ayerage coet of labor per month for the entire road depart-
ment \\as $-J-:rn.
Trestle Xo. I, at mile post Xo. 1, (j() feet long-, consist,.; <Jf four frame bent,-, two (5 feet and t\\n 12 feet high. Bents are placecl on blocking. ,\11 material in thiR trestle is in good condition, and will la;;t withont repairs for twdw months.
Trestle Xo. 2, at :2} mile post, i'.iO feet long, cow,ist:; of three framed bents, two 8 feet and <me l;J feet high. Bents are placed on blocking. All material in thi.~ trestle is in

:28
,-;01111Cl eondition and will last without repairs foe t\ye]n, months.
Trel'ltle Xo. :3, at mile post :2, 87 feet long, conc<i,;t,, of
,-,ix bent,-, placed on wooden blocking, one bent 3 feet,
,me 10 feet, tlrn 1-! feet, and two 17 feet high. All lumlwr in this tre:-;tle is in sound ('ondition with the ex('eption trif one nrnd .~ill 11ndcr the ,-;econd bent from the north e111l of trestle, which \\ill h:we to he rcnc,,cd d11ring tht next four monts.
Trc,-tle Xo. 4, mile po,-:t '.!.'/, -WO feet long, con.~i,-t,- of
thirty-one bent:-, with an aYeragl' height of :2:2 feet. Thi,trestle cro.~i'es the head watel'~ of the Oconee l{i,er. ,\_ll the bents in thi.,.: tre,-tlc arc resting 011 wooden blocking, with the exception of hrn on tlH banks of the rinT, 1d1ich arc on piling. The material of thi:- trestle i.~ in gou<l <ondition ,rith the follo,ring exception,.::
:\Ind sill and cap of bent Xo. l from north end. :\Ind .~ill and <ap of bent Xo. ,~ from north end. Cap of l,pnt Xo. 21 from north end. :\Ind sill of bent Xo. ;30 from north end.
Thi,- tn.~tlc i:-; \\ell braeed. Bents Xu,.:. 1 and:\() 011:ht to be n) pa ired at otH'l'.
Tre,-tle Xo. ,J, mi le po,-:t 1:q, UO Jtet long, co11.~i:-;t of fom
framed 11-ooclPn bent~, "llJl]lOrted by blocking, hrn of' ,,hieh are ] ~ feet and two 1-J. fed high. Thi,-; tre:-tlc ha.~ ,-011nd 111atel'ial with the exception of the ll!ll(] sill and eap i11..,bent ~o. --J- from north end of trestle.
Tl'estle No. ti, mi le post 1-!J, known as _Xa."h',.: Creek tre.~tle, ;j() f(l't long, con:-i~t of -! oak pile bent,; with -+ piles to the bent about (i feet high. Theil(' pile:- ;,.ho11 sign:-; of tlecay, arnl ,,ill probably haYe to be renewed in tmJ 01 three year,;. A_ll other material in the treRtle is ;,;01md.
Trestle Xo. 7, mile po:-;t ;3.:;J, known as Chandler's creek trestle, 17;j feet long, eon,;i;-;t of 1;1 mJoden hen ts,

placed on wooden blocking, -t- of the bents are about 48 feet high, all well braced and ,.;omJCl, with the exception of one mud sill in bent Ko. 9, and about ;;ix cross-ties.
Trestle Xo. 8, mile post 37}, i,, about G feet high and ii() feet long, con;;isting of three framed bent,-;. The material in this trc,-tlc i,-, in good cornlitio11, with the exception of about one-half of the <rossties, ,rhich will have to be rcnewecl during the next twelve month,;.
The tre,-;tle work on the road, taking it a;, a whole, i,.; in ,xccllent condition. All repair,.: necef':sarv ought to be made at a <o,;t of $7,3.00.
At :\thens there i,, one <'ornbination \\ooden freight and pa:-:-;enger ;.;tation, !-\2 x 118 fr,ct, containing a wanhou,o<', :30 x 70 feet, in whi<h i,; located a stationary platform ;-;calcs; al,,o om' .~tationar: roolll, 1; x :30 feet, one baggage room, Gx8 feet, two waiting room,-; about 12x1."i feet, an<l one largP room, 18 x :30 feet, u,-;e<l a,o a general oflicc. Thi,; building i,., in cxecllent condition, fre,-hly painted, and kept neat and clenn. ,\ttaehecl to thi,, builcling is an open :.;hed for r.;toring freight, abont :)2 x (i(i foet; abo a cotton platf< m1, :rnxl ~)0 feet, ,rhid1 has only recently h('cn rebuilt. This :-;tation recciYcs about H,70,j ton,-: and forward;.; 10,:3]2 tom; of freight annual!~. The operation of this agcn<'y per month j,.,$.tIG.
()yer one of the side-tracks in Athen's yarcl is an old en-
gine ;.;hcd, 10 x :rn feet, with engine pits. This shed is in
a tlilapidatecl condition and out of use, all(l of little ntlue. Located at the north end of the yard i,-, a small wooden
building, about 1.5 x :rn feet, containing three rooms, one of
which is used as an office for the car inspector, one as an oil room, and one as a work room. This building which I shonld mine at $100, comprii;cs the repair shops ot this

3()
railroad company. The tools in this building are ,rnrth abont $200. Repair:-: of engines and cars are made by the Southern Railway Company.
Four and three-quarters (-!i) miles from Athens then arc three houses on the right of way, each 1--1 x 2-S feet, con,.:isting of two rooms each, occupied by the track hand.~. These hom.:es arc in a fair condition, but old.
"\_t the seven mile post is lrJcate<l a ,-.tation called Center. The (1cpot building, :l7x,3() feet, is ancient but in fair condition, containing one offi('e l:2x [;j feet, one waiting-mom 12x1 ,j feet, and a warehot1Sl' 2,x:l8 feet; attached to it i,._ a cotton platform 20x27 feet, in a fair condition. This station forwards about ;j,j,j tons of freight and rcceiYe, 1 \JH terns per annum, consi,-ting mostly of wood, cotton, and cotton-seed. Salary pai<l to the agent at thi,- point, $Li per month. The side-track is 1,:~00 feet long.
The next :.;tation reached i,, Xicholson, 11 J miie,-, where
there is a \\'(HHlen <lepot building :rnxrn feet, eontaining Olll' office 8x12 feet, and one ,rniting-1oorn 8x12 feet, both in a poor <'OIHlition; also warehon:-;e 18x2- frct, in fair condition . .1-ttat'herl to the building i.~ a cotton platform 27x--18 feet, in good co1Hlition. Side-track room at thi,- point is 182 fept long. TIHn' arc about 102 tons reel'iY('d, an<l Gl tons formmkd of frei;ht at this point annually, consisting of cotton, cotton -:-ecd, and lumber. The agent receive,; :iiil,""i per 1nonth salar\. The p.>pulation of Xichobon is about :):i() inhahitantii.
At the, 1:3} mile po,-t ,-ct:tion house,; Xu. :Z :l!'e located, (onsi:'-ting of three wooden hnilding.s l,""ix:Z8 feet each, containing ea('h two rooms. Two of these hot1.~cs arc in poor condition. There is also one tool-house, \)x}:i foet, in fair <tmclition.
The next staticm \YC reach i,; Harn10ny, 18 miles fro111 c\then,.;, where there is a new and neat pas.~engc,r station locatecl on the main line, containing two waiting-roon1,;

31
1fix18 feet each, neatly forni,,hcrl; also one ticket office and baggage-room. The freight dqwt, next to the side--track, on the opposite side of the main line, from the pm,senger station, consi,-,ts of one large frame building :1:3xHO feet, containing two officr.,-.; 1Ox 15 feet, and warchou,-;c 30x50 feet, all in fair condition ; aL-m, cotton platform GOx I 00 fret, in fair condition. On the si<le-track there are loeated three cotton-seed warehouse:-; belonging to 011tside partie,;, these on the railroad company's right-of-way. Ba(k of the freight depot there ic1 a lot of land containing ahont three-fomth'3 of an acre, belonging to the Railrnacl Company, au<l not oec,1picd. The right-of~way at thi,-; point is 100 feet wide. The side-
track, whi,~h i,-, 7tifi feet long, i:-; not sufficient. About :mo
feet more. ,-;idc-track is nec<kd to clo the bnsinp,,-; at this station :-ati,-,factorily, this being the most impodant point on the roa<l outside of ~\.then,-,. Th('re i,- fonrnrdt,cl from this station annually about l,:WS, and reeein,<l (i,:2:27 ton;;, compri,-.;crl mo.-,tly of lumber, <otton, and cotton-seed. Thl' cost of rnnning thi,; agency i,, $100 ptT 11wntl1. The population ofHarmony is aho11t 1,.")(}() inhabitant,-:, and it is a Yery prn,-;pcrouc' to\\"n. A frw hundr(d yards south of thi.-; ,-;tation there is loeat<'tl a large eotton mill, kno,,,n a,-; Harmony G10\e Cotton Factory, ,rhich op('rate:- up1rard,; of :~,500 spindles, and i,., read1e<l by a ,-ide-track.
At thP lD mile post ,re find one tool hot1,-<', Hx1,J f<'d, in fair conclitiou.
The next station is }[ays\'ille, :.!,>} mile,- from "\.then>', \\"here there i,-; a wooden <lepot :30xGO foet, c,mtaining one waiting-rnom lOxLJ feet, one ticket office 1-ixl;"i foet and a warehou,;c :27x42 feet, in good condition \\"ith ex(,cption of' the roof, which require,- rep:1irs. 'fhc cotton platform \\"hi(h is attached to the depot is :rnx80 feet, and i,; in fair C'un(lition. .Alongsi<le of the ,;idc-track, \\"hich is l ,O;i.J. fopt long, there arc fiye cotton seed warehon,;es lielonging to out,-ide partie., but located on the railroad lan<l. It cm;t,, $-t:Z

32
per month to run thi:; agency. This station forwards about 804 tons and recciYec1 about 1,G21 tons per annum, consisting mostly of cotton, lumber and cotton-seed. The population of Maysyille is 500 inhabitantc:.
At mile po;-;t 27 is located seetion hon,;es, corn;i;-;ting of four hous(s, each l--lx:28 feet, containing two rooms each. One of these houses is not in uc1e and is in had condition. There i.s al,;o one tool house, about 10x],j feet, in fair condition.
The next station i,- Gi}h;yille, ;1 J-1! mill's from Athens, where there j,-: a ,rnoclen depot, 27x50 feet, containing one ticket office and one ,rniting-room. Thi,- depot is old, but in fair (:onclition. .\ttachcd to it i.~ a cotton platform 27x ,j() feet, in fair condition. Tlicre i~ f;,1wardefl from thi:station 8 I:{ ton:-- and rccci ,ec1 ;}(\ 7 ton.~ per an n nm, con;;;istin,l'; n10:-:tly of cotton, <otton-,-:eed, all(l l11i11lwr. There arc three :--awmill,- locate(] near the rna(l. The population of (; i lls,il le is about L30 in hahi tant:-:. The si<le-trnck is 402 frl't long. The f'O:--t of opernting thi.~ agtn<y is $25 per 111011th .
.\t :3:l} mile po:ot arc located a set ot ,.;eclion house:-:, <011:,;!;,;ting of three honse,- 1--lx:28 feet each, two of \\hich an in fair ('OIHlition; the third in bad order and not occnpiL~(l. J.lso one tool hou,-:e, 12x1G feet, in good condition.
The next station we reach is Lula, where the road join.~ the Southern Railway. At thi,-; point the company owns a large brick depot, located between their tracks aud those of the Southern Railway. The b11ilding i,; in first-clas,; repair, and is used jointly with the Southern Hail way. The lrnilding i,- -!0x80 feet, aud contain,, two waiting-rooms 12x18 feet, ticket office Gxl8 feet, and a large warehouse, together with a telegraph office and one upstairs room. Attached to the building is ample platform room, in goo<l order. The railroad company owns tweh-c acres of land at thi:, point. The "Y" belonging to the Southern Rail-

,3._),

way 1s used for turning the trains. At this point the company receives 10,947 tons and forwards 6,289 tons. The cost ol the operation of this agency to the Northeastern Railroad is $60; being run jointly with the Southern Railway. At Lula all the coal used is purchased from the Southern Railway, at a cost of $2.H0 per ton delivered on their engines.

WATER 8TAT10XB.

In the yard at Athem, there is one box tank with a capacity of about 7,000 gallons, in fair condition. \Vater is furnished by the city at a cost of 10 cents per 1,000 gallorn,. Al)()ut half mile from the depot, going north, there is a box tank of about 7,000 gallons capacity, not in use. This tank is in bad condition.
The next water station is located at about one-fourth of a mile south ol Harmony, and consists of one tub tank with capacity of 25,000 gallons, practically new.
The next water station is at Lula, where the water is furnislwd by the Southern Rail way.
There are from five to six tons of scrap iron on hand, also two car wheels (new), and four old.
The general office organization consist,, of:

1 State Agent. 1 Chief Cleric 2 Clerks. 1 Porter; and c,>sts $27 5 per month.

For October, 1894, the pay-rolls consi:-;t(\d of the following amounts:

Road department_ ___ _ Motive power department Agencies General offices .. Transportation_

$ 511 85 604 61 624 84 277 00 ;33;3 76

34

Besides the above, the following amounts were include<lin the operatingexpenses: Rent of engines. Cerni Other supplies Insurance fi,r the vear

120 00 600 00 1,200 00 283 00

Total

$-1,60fi 16

I found that a full line of insurance is carried on the

property, consisting of:

Athens depot ...

$1,200 00

Contents

-J.,000 00

Harmony depot

1,400 00

Contents ..

3,000 00 _

Lula depot

1,fi00 00

Contents

500 00

Two passenger cars _

:3,000 00

Oue combination coach

1,800 00

Foreign rolling stock _. _______ _ 5,000 00

Freight in transit

ii, 000 00

Cotton on platforms _____ _

4,000 00

Thi~ latter is onlv carried six months in the year.

There was expended during the last twelve munths

$209.00 on lumber to repair drains and platforms. In conclusion, I beg to say that l am indebted to Mr.

R. K. Reaves, State Agent, and also to his competent Assistant, Mr. ,J. S. Crews, for every assistance they could

give me to enable me to compile the above in formation,

and if it is not out of place, I would like to add that I

consider this property admirably and economically man-

aged.

Re:,;pectfully submitted,

CECIL GABBETT.