Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-22
BLACKSHEAR.
-HeRlth-S -SOclOlOgY-Rur
BeautV-Men of fHndustrY-Climat ate.
SO1Is Crops, Etc.
FROM a staf Correspondent.

from stag Correspondent.
BLACKsHEAR, GA, May l9.-Arriving here to-
day on the o'clock p. m Charleston and
Jacksonville fast line, which, by the way, is a
great improvement of the travelling facilities
between Savannah and East Florida, con-
cluded to halt and await the nine o'clock west
ern bound train, which would give me several
hours to look about and interview some of the
good people of this quiet town-quiet, how
ever, only in the sense of propriety and good
order, for the sound of the hammer and saw
may be heard in the erection of new buildings.
as well as in old ones under repair, while the
numerous long trains, speeding through the
hills and over the valleys-now screechingly
halting-now rumbling away from the
centrally located depot create noise
and hustle enough for a small
town Of five hundred inhabitants. I had
scarcely deposited my carpet-bag with the
efficient and popular agent of the Savannah
Florida and Western Railway at this point. Mr.
Acosta, when had the good luck to meet
Mr. H. ID. Howren, the accomplished Young
editor Of the rejuvenated and greatly improved
NelCs and Signal, and Colonel w. r. PhfIlips a
rising young member of the Blackshear bar
These young gentlemen, on duty, rejoicing in
the state OF single blessedness," and having
no cares of mind. kindly rendered me their
valuable services for the evening, which soon
brought me in contact with other prominent
citizens of equal kindness and courtesy
From these l learned that Blackshear has
always been remarkably healthy, and from
observation can well believe it. as the inhabi-
tants compare we'll with those of other Georgia
towns Of acknowledged healthy situation, and
there seems to be no possible local cause for
sickness. The town is located on the crest of
the well known ridge which descends cen
trally all the way down through Georgia
from the mountain region Of the State rising
to over two hundred feet above tide water even
far down in the Florida peninsula, and te-mi.
mating at Cape sable 1t is broad belt Of
alternate hills and valleys, often very fertil g.
and covered, all south Of Hawkinsville, with
the finest pine timber in the world Contrary
to any preconcerted opinion. found Black
shear situated in the midst of one Of those fer
tile regions of the belt, and instead of an arid
sandy desert, stiff clay subsol evervw here
presents itself, with light top soil sufficiently
fine and stored with chemicals to render
tivation. This accounted for the luxuri-
ant foliage, the thrifty flower gardens
and abundant yield of crops ia and around the
town, some lands In the neighborhood having
yielded a bale of cotton and twenty-five bush,
els of corn to the acre, while Others have
yielded as much as fifty bushels Of oats TO the
acre. Walking about town with DR.. Smith
and riding in another direction with Mr. Strick-
land they brought under observation as fine
growing corn, oats. vegetables and fruit trees
can be found in any other section of the
State In a field belonging to Mr. B. d. Rrant-
ley l saw the only White Russian" oats that
did not prove a humbug in this climate His
field has splendid stand, and though thev are
badly fired or ruSted, yet the heads seem
heavy and in a fine way to mature a good
cron- Though planted earlier than soDoa
fields of common oats in the same neighbor-
hood, thev are still unmatured, while the com
mon oats are mostly already harvested
Doubtless the Russian were much more highly
fertilized. and, growing longer and much
larger, would require more time to mature
In another field, belonging to Mr.. e x Byrd
the energetic proprietor Of the Mems and S;o
nal, and also the efficient Sheriff Of the county
saw very large and promising crop of
watermelons which, with continued good sea.
sons must certainly give satisfaction Tba
light soil of this section is peculiarly adanted
to them, and Pierce county is favoraEIv To-
Gated for great success in that line Tuck
farms in the suburbs of Blackshear show she
capacity OF the soil for all kinds Of vegetables
adapted to the climate, and / am glad 10
chronicle the success in that line
Of such men as Mr.. John NJ
and others. whose enterprise and Industry have
encouraged the purchase and laying out Of
grounds for still more extensive truck farming
here next season. Mr.. Joseph A. Harper is
putting out vineyard, encouraged by the past
successes Of others in growing grapes in this
locality, and saw very thrifty vines on the
premises of Mr.. Carpenter, embracing several
of the most popular varieties. To the names
already mentioned as prominent among the
best and most successful working men of
BIackshear and Pierce county may be added
those of R. j. Davis. VIM. Davis. M. Aspinwan
John Aspinwall, Jos. Dixon, James A. Waters
A. P Wade, Martin Sweat, John Donaldson
and Mr. John T. Ray. The last named came to
Blackshear few years ago without a cent
took position to work on the railroad at
thirty dollars per month. He now owns one OF
the neatest plantations in Pierce COUNTY and
has plenty of means besides Mr. ]. W. Strick-
land one Of the first merchants Of the place
Clerk of the Superior Court. owner Of a large
farm and the largest and most costly residence
in town, Is also self-made man, starting after
the war with but little education and no money
or property. M. A N. Smith, another success
ftrI Unl lna y 10
in town and country, besides his new and hand
some store, with heavy stock of goods, the
writer knew. few years ago as poor boy.
Mr.. John NJ. Downs, l am told, came here
and with the identical horse he drives now
went to draying or hauling about town. He is
to-day one Of the most intelligent and success
full truck farmers in the section. No doubt
there are many others, perhaps, more success
full than some we have mentioned, but these
are sufficient for my purpose. which is to show
t=ati there is good working material about
Blackshear, as well as good soil; that the Ieav-
en- has b. en- hid IN the measure and has begun
to do its work
When its great advantages are better known
they will be sought for by hundreds and thou
sands and its fertile lands, which have already
risen from three and five to twenty dollars per
acre in the suburbs, will rise to one hundIe ed
not many years hence. For the benefit Of the
inquiring stranger seeking pleasant home.
must close by saying that Bic ckshear is loca-
ted among the sandy hills OF the great pine for
est, eighty-five miles from Savannah, on the
savannah Florida and Western Railway about
fifty miles from the Atlantic coast That its
population are as sociable. orderly and pleasant
as any in the State; that it has well kept hotel
the Brown House, three white and one colored
church, an excellent private boarding house
in charge of Mrs Mcmillan a silver cornet and
a brass band under the instruction of Professor
e. r. Jordan, formerly OF Sandersville, and
flourishing academic school, in charge of Mr.
J. E. Hanna, a competent gentleman who has
gathered laurels in other localities in his pro-
fession. He has now sixty-one pupils, will
have a public examination on the 31st instant
and full exhibition on the 1st Of June.
One Of the best citizens in the place is DIR. H.
J. Smith, an old resident, full OF years, intelli-
anything about it. would advise those wishing
information about Blackshear to write to him.
L. @. B.