1938: Georgia

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, Georgia ranks 20th in size among the states, with an area of 59,265 sq. mi. In population it ranks 14th, numbering 2,908,506 according to the Census of 1930; 3,076,000 in 1937, according to the estimate of the Georgia Department of Health. The largest cities are Atlanta, the capital, 270,366 (1930 census); Savannah, 85,024; Macon, 53,829; Columbus, 43,131.

Of the 1937 population, whites were 64 per cent of the total; Negroes, 36 per cent. Nearly all the whites were native born, the foreign element being negligible. The most striking fact about population trends in Georgia is the steady decline in the proportion of Negroes. In 1900, they constituted 46.7 per cent of the total. The population of Georgia is preponderantly rural, although the urban element is steadily growing. In 1930, 31 per cent was classed as urban, against 15.6 per cent in 1900. An unstable population condition has prevailed in Georgia for some years. Not only has there been a considerable movement within the state from country to town, but the state has lost large numbers of its citizens.

For Ocmulgee National Monument see NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS.

Agriculture.

Of the 37,584,000 acres in Georgia, about 23,000,000 are classed as farm lands. The 250,000 farms, including buildings, were valued in 1935 at $430,000,000. Cotton is the leading product, the yield in 1938 being 857,000 bales compared with 1,500,000 bales in 1937 (a loss of 43 per cent). Other important products with the yields in 1938 were: corn, 54,476,000 bu. (4 per cent above 1937); tobacco, 91,990,000 lb. (23 per cent increase over 1937); peanuts, 427,000,000 lb. (9 per cent above 1937); pecans, 8,835,000 lb. (5 per cent above 1937); peaches, 5,320,000 bu. The aggregate value of all 1938 crops was $151,630,000, equal to 15 per cent less than the 1937 figure. Cotton accounted for somewhat less than one-third of the total.

Industry.

While Georgia is classed as primarily an agricultural state, there is an increasing development of manufacturing, transportation, and trade, as is indicated by the fact that whereas 63.3 per cent of those gainfully employed in 1910 were in agriculture, 12.2 per cent in manufacturing, and 9.2 per cent in transportation and trade, in 1930 the comparable percentages were 43.2, 20.1, and 13.7. According to the latest available figures, the value of manufactured products was in 1935 more than three times that of agricultural products, although it must of course be borne in mind that the raw materials that go into manufacturing are largely agricultural in origin. Hence one should properly consider only the value added by manufacture. Cotton goods are the leading manufacture.

Mineral Products.

About half of Georgia's total production of minerals consists of stone and clay. The former, chiefly granite and marble, amounted in 1937 to 1,737,760 tons, valued at $3,597,039; the latter, largely kaolin, in which Georgia leads the Union, amounted to 503,732 tons valued at $3,546,059. This represented about two-thirds of the total production of kaolin in the United States.

Education.

In 1937 the General Assembly established a minimum school term of seven months to be financed by the state, thus adding about $8,000,000 to the cost of the public schools. At the same time free school books were voted for all elementary and high school students. In 1935-36, the enrollment in the public schools of the state totaled 485,135 white pupils and 263,402 Negroes. Expenditures on the schools for the same period amounted to $17,808,361.

Important Legislation.

The General Assembly in its regular biennial session meeting in January, 1937, and in a special session running from November, 1937, through the winter of 1938, enacted more revolutionary and far-reaching legislation than any other General Assembly within living memory. A brief summary of the more significant measures and of the changes in the state tax system is all that space permits. Legislation was passed lining Georgia up with the Federal security program, $3,500,000 being voted for old age pensions and other types of assistance; health work received a five-fold increase in appropriations; for the protection of life and property the fund was doubled; for the development of natural resources the usual appropriation was tripled. The total sum appropriated was about $47,800,000, by far the greatest amount ever appropriated by a Georgia Legislature.

To meet these heavy charges, a number of important changes in the revenue laws were made. The personal income tax was raised from 5 to 7 per cent; the corporate income tax from 4 to 5½ per cent; the tax on malt beverages was increased from $1.25 per barrel to $4,50; the uniform $3.00 motor license tax was abandoned and a graduated scale adopted ranging from $1.50 to $10.00; the old prohibition laws were repealed and a state licensing system set up; a drastic chain store tax was passed. These changes fell far short of providing sufficient money to finance the 'Little New Deal,' as it is called; and the situation was made much more serious by the adoption in 1937 of a Constitutional amendment creating a $2,000 exemption in property tax on owner-operated farms and homes and a $300 exemption on personal property. This measure, it has been estimated, will cost the state about $1,000,000 in revenue, and the local governments about $2,500,000. The administration has promised to make good the losses to the local governments, so that the current state deficit of $8,500,000 will become about $12,000,000.

Political Events.

The two political events of prime interest in Georgia during 1938 were the gubernatorial campaign and the contest for one of the Senatorships. Governor E. D. Rivers encountered strong opposition because of his program of welfare legislation, which had involved a considerable increase in the tax burden. He was reelected, however, though not by an impressive majority. The Senatorial campaign attracted national attention because of the efforts of President Roosevelt to unseat Senator Walter F. George, one of the leaders of the conservative Democratic element, as an anti-New Dealer. Lawrence Camp received the President's endorsement. The campaign was further enlivened by the entrance into it of former Governor Eugene Talmadge, a very bitter opponent of the New Deal. Senator George was easily victorious, Lawrence Camp being a poor third in the voting. Senator Russell's father, who had been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, died late in 1938 and was succeeded by Charles S. Reid, Chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Georgia, and one of the staunchest supporters of Governor Rivers.

State Officers.

During the year 1938 the chief officers of the state were as follows: Governor, Eurith D. Rivers; Secretary of State, John B. Wilson; Attorney General, M. J. Yeomans; Treasurer, George B. Hamilton; Comptroller General, William B. Harrison; Superintendent of Schools, M. D. Collins.

In November Governor Rivers was reelected.

United States Senators.

Walter F. George (reelected in November), Richard B. Russell, Jr.