1941: Georgia

Area and Population.

An Atlantic coast state, commonly known as 'the Empire State of the South,' Georgia has an area of 58,876 sq. mi., according to the latest survey. Of this, the land area comprises 58,518 sq. mi., and the inland water surface an area of 358 sq. mi. According to the census of 1940, the total population amounted to 3,123,723, an increase of 7.4 per cent over 1930; the total urban population was 1,073,808, and the rural 2,049,915. In 1930 the whites accounted for 63.1 per cent, and the Negroes for 36.9 per cent, of the total. Atlanta, the capital city, has a population of 302,288 (1940 census); the second city in order of size is Savannah with 95,996; followed by Augusta, 65,919; Macon, 57,865; and Columbus, 53,280.

Education.

According to the biennial report of the State Department of Education, on June 30, 1940, the 1938 school census included 512,934 whites and 296,223 Negroes of school age. There were then 2,258 white public schools, the number having been greatly reduced in recent years through consolidation; in 964 of these, high-school subjects were taught. There were 3,296 Negro public schools; in 520 of these, high-school subjects were included. The pupil enrollment was: in white elementary schools, 390,538; in high schools, 120,509; in Negro elementary schools, 252,094; high schools, 21,371. In the white elementary schools 10,912 teachers were employed (1939-1940), with an average annual salary for men of $593.28; for women, $748.85. In the white high schools there were 5,067 teachers employed, with an average annual salary for men of $1,355.04; for women, $1,055.56. In the Negro elementary schools (1939-1940), 5,910 teachers were employed at an average annual salary for men of $309.72; women, $349.66. In the Negro high schools, 890 teachers were employed at an average annual salary for men of $757.34; women, $692.28. State appropriations for schools in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, were broken down as follows: education, $9,923,300.75; education equalization, $9,664,728.53; textbooks, $715,090.91.

Agriculture.

The total number of farms in Georgia amount to 216,033 (1940 census), a decrease of 15.5 per cent since 1930. Of the 37,451,520 A. of land in Georgia, 23,683,631 A., or 63.2 per cent, are classed as farm lands. In 1941 the value of principal crops was $178,042,000, an increase of 5.4 per cent over the corresponding total of $168,917,000 for 1940.

Industry.

The census of manufactures for 1939 estimated the total value of Georgia's manufactures at $667,402,657, compared with $708,652,841 for 1937. Value added by manufacture for 1939 was $283,616,138, compared with $269,507,109 for 1937. The total number of establishments increased from 2,875 in 1937 to 3,150 for 1939. Leading manufactures for the state in 1939 were, with value: cotton, broad woven goods, $131,627,016; cotton yarn and thread, $38,200,073; food and kindred products, $39,454,548; paper and allied products, $24,457,566; meat packing, $23,648,314; fertilizers, $19,049,712; sawmill products, $18,174,927.

Mineral Products.

The state again retained in 1940 first place in the Union for production of kaolin, the amount, 570,010 tons worth $4,834,826, being slightly in advance of the figures for 1939. Production of marble, for which the state ranks third, amounted to 194,430 cu. ft., with a value of $1,108,217. This decline from the 1939 figures, which were 430,370 cu. ft. with a value of $1,464,960, was a part of the general trend towards a decrease of production in the country's marble industry. Total mineral production for 1940 amounted to $14,836,372. The state also leads the nation in production of ochre, barites, and fuller's earth.

Political and Other Events.

Eugene T. Talmadge was again inaugurated Governor in January 1941. He is the second man in the history of the state to hold the office for a third term; the first was the Civil War Governor, Joseph E. Brown, who served four terms.

The state Legislature in its biennial session provided, among other things, for reorganization of governmental departments; for reduction of salaries of elected officials; for extension of the Governor's control of state finances; and for the establishment of family drivers' licenses.

The Constitution was amended by popular referendum in June 1941. The more important amendments provided for a four-year term for the Governor and for the state superintendent of schools.

Georgia's system of higher education was seriously disturbed in the summer of 1941 when, on the insistence of Governor Talmadge, Dean Walter D. Cocking of the College of Education, University of Georgia, and Dr. Marvin S. Pittman, President of Georgia State Teachers' College, were dismissed on the charge of advocating the coeducation of white and Negro races. As a result, ten colleges of the University System of Georgia were suspended from membership by the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, effective Sept. 1, 1942, with the proviso that the case be reopened at the annual meeting in December 1942. If conditions have then been corrected, restoration to full standing will be accorded the colleges, retroactive to Sept. 1, 1942. The suspension was on the grounds of 'unprecedented and unjustified political interference.' The issue appears certain to be paramount in the Democratic gubernatorial primary of September 1942. Attorney General Ellis Arnall has announced his candidacy for Governor in that election.

Defense.

Georgia has taken an active part in defense and war measures. The total selective service registration amounted to 397,212. The registrants inducted up to Sept. 30, 1941, totaled 15,353. Within the state boundaries are located numerous military posts and camps. Some of these, with approximate military personnel are as follows: Fort Benning, 46,800; Camp Gordon, Augusta, 1,100; Fort McPherson, Atlanta, 1,800; Fort Oglethorpe, 3,800; Savannah Air Base, 4,500; Fort Sereven, 1,100; Camp Stewart, 14,000; Camp Wheeler, 18,000.

Finance.

The auditor's report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, showed that state revenue collections amounted to $51,348,312.48. The chief sources of revenue were: Motor fuel tax, $24,821,600; income tax, $7,387,565; property tax, $4,986,954; cigar and cigarette tax, $3,379,791; alcoholic beverage tax, $2,244,163; non-business license tax, $2,387,401; insurance premiums tax, $1,292,312; beer tax, $1,277,893; business license tax, $1,095,120.

Total budget appropriations for the year amounted to $52,526,089.84. Representative appropriations for the year (in addition to those already listed for public schools), were: Highways, $17,213,803; public health and the tuberculosis hospital, $340,492; public welfare, $370,984; public assistance, $1,689,302; public institutions and buildings, $1,980,280.

Payments for public assistance for the year ending June 30, 1941, were as follows: Old age, $3,992,567; the blind, $170,974; dependent children, $1,165,169; crippled children, $182,932. Funds available for unemployment benefits Sept. 30, 1941, amounted to $29,093,000; benefits paid, cumulative through September 1941, amounted to $9,889,000.

On Sept. 24, 1941, there were 51 National Banks in Georgia, with loans amounting to $178,380,000; investments, $98,117,000; deposits, exclusive of interbank deposits, $314,416,000. On the same date there were 238 State Banks with $110,744,000 in loans; $37,856,000 in investments, deposits, exclusive of interbank deposits, $188,844,000.

State Officers.

Governor, Eugene T. Talmadge; Secretary of State, John B. Wilson; Comptroller General, Homer C. Parker; Treasurer, George B. Hamilton; Auditor, B. E. Thrasher, Jr.; Attorney General, Ellis G. Arnall; Superintendent of Schools, M. D. Collins.

United States Senators:

Walter F. George, Richard B. Russell, Jr.