1938: Tennessee

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood June 1, 1796, Tennessee ranks 34th in size among the states, with an area of 42,022 sq. mi. In population it ranks 16th, numbering 2,616,556 according to the census of 1930; 2,893,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. Of the 1930 population, 2,125,553 were native white, and 13,066 foreign-born white (including 1,946 Italians, 1,803 Russians, 1,783 Germans and 1,351 English). Other races represented were Negroes, 477,646; Indians, 161; Asiatics, 105.

The largest cities are Memphis, 253,143 (1930); Nashville, the capital, 153,866; Chattanooga, 119,798; Knoxville, 105,802.

Mineral Products.

The chief mineral products of Tennessee are coal, stone, cement, and phosphate rock. In 1937, these were produced in the following amounts: coal, about 5,292,000 tons; stone, about 2,720,750 tons; cement, 3,013,817 bbl.; and phosphate rock, 942,158 tons (including some apatite from Virginia). Coal furnishes the largest single item in the total value of Tennessee's minerals. In 1936 this total was $32,305,745.

Manufacturing.

The 1935 United States Census of Manufacturers (published in 1937) stated that Tennessee had a total of 1,998 industrial establishments with 116,671 employees who earned $86,722,102. Products had an aggregate value of $532,084,044.

Education.

In 1937 there were in the state 5,938 public elementary schools with an enrollment of 533,805 pupils and a staff of 15,520 teachers. Public high schools numbered 628, with an enrollment of 113,646 and 4,468 teachers. The average monthly salary for elementary teachers was $78.51; for high school teachers, $114.20.

Political and Other Events.

The principal event of 1938 was the Democratic primary of Aug. 4 (tantamount to election as far as the state as a whole is concerned) in which Governor Gordon Browning was defeated in his bid for renomination by Prentice Cooper, 43-year-old Shelbyville attorney. One of the important factors in the Browning defeat was the large bloc of votes delivered to Cooper by Edward H. Crump, political czar of Shelby county (Memphis). In 1936 when Browning was elected governor, he received the backing of Crump, who gave him a huge majority in Shelby County. Soon after the election, however, the two became bitter enemies. Out of office with Browning rode United States Senator George L. Berry. He was displaced by District Attorney-General Tom Stewart of Winchester. Stewart was a member of the prosecution in the famous Dayton evolution trial in 1925. The general election of Nov. 8 simply served to confirm the selections of the Democratic primary.

There was no legislation in 1938 due to the fact that it was an off year for Tennessee's biennial Legislature, which met again the first Monday in January, 1939.

In September, Chattanooga celebrated its centennial and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Civil War battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain ('the Battle Above the Clouds') and Missionary Ridge.

Banking.

On June 30, 1938, the reports of 232 state banks and 33 branch banks showed assets totaling $148,068,506.41, of which $67,488,681.29 represented loans and discounts. Liabilities were $148,068,506.41, including $70,759,621.66 demand deposits, $53,699,160.28 time deposits, $12,959,253.33 capital stock, $3,876,789.53 surplus, and $2,856,458.74 undivided profits.

State Officers.

During the year 1938 the chief officers of the state were as follows; Governor, Gordon Browning; Treasurer, Grover Keaton; Comptroller, John Britton; Secretary of State, A. B. Broadbent; Attorney General, Roy H. Beeler; Commissioner of Education, W. A. Bass.

In November Prentice Cooper was elected Governor.

United States Senators:

Kenneth McKellar, Tom Stewart (elected in November).