Mitchell County GaArchives News.....Mitchell Tax Returns July 31 1897
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John W.  Baughman jwmba@aol.com November 30, 2003, 3:41 pm

THE CAMILLA CLARION

Mr. O. L. Acree, the efficient tax reciever of Mitchell has about completed his 
work for 1897 and from his books we gather the following interesting facts. 
The total valuation of all taxable property in the county is placed at 
$1,960,415.  This is an increase of $25,640 over the returns for last year and 
about $50,000 more than the returns for 1895.  The tax values of the county 
steadily increased in spite of the financial depression that has been so 
general for the last few years. 
The total number of acres of land given in is 331,957, this land is valued at 
$912,445 being an average of about $2.80 per acre; this includes all the land 
and as a good portion is given in at from 5 to 10 dollars per acre there must 
be thousands of acres that are worth almost nothing to the owners when it comes 
to paying taxes.  Several thousand more acres of land are given in than was the 
case last year.  This is caused by two or more parties holding titles to the 
same body of land and all parties giving it in for taxation.  It is evident 
from this that there are a number of bogus titles held to land in this county 
and the courts will have to settle as to who holds the genuine.
The total amount of town property is valued at $250,045.
The people evidently do believe in dressing up their houses to a considerable 
extent, in Mitchell, as the total value of household and kitchen furniture is 
placed at $698,810 (? page torn).
The cotton and corn for sale in the county on April 1st was valued at $6,705.
Plantation tools, wagons, buggies etc., are put down at $50,880, or about $25 
for each farmer.  This goes to show how cheap farming can be done in Mitchell 
and no doubt accounts for the failure of some farmers to realize their 
expectations. 
The value of all the watches and jewelry in the county amounts to the 
magnificent sum of $6,705. 
This proves that "all is not gold that glitters", and we might be safe in sayin 
that it is an evidence of magnificent lying.  It takes just $240,195 worth of 
horses to haul the coons to town on Saturday, the preacher to meeting on 
Sunday, bear the drummers and mortages in and out of season and do the 
ploughing for the county.
The total valuation of all the property in the county by districts is as 
follows:  
Camilla $722,755
Faircloth $110,445
Baconton $289,625
Pelham $409,600
Maples $93,265
Pebble City $77,465
Parker $60,525
Number of poles returned in each district.
Camilla 271 white, 409 colored
Faircloth 106 white, 131 colored
Baconton 130 white, 279 colored 
page torn
......... ty is placed at 1893, this leaves probably 1000 who have to hustle 
for themselves and acknowledge no "boss" except their wives.
The number of professional men is twenty-two, politicians and baseball men not 
counted.  

Additional Comments:
This paper is Vol. XV.,  Camilla, Georgia, Saturday, July 31, 1897.

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