The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-27
VALDOSTA,
Immense Trade of the Town-A Colony
ofCommercial Travellers.


Commercial Travellers.
VALDosTA, GA, April 20. The increas-
ing trade and prosperity, and the steady
growth of this inland city, is a matter of
congratulation among It's residents and
business men, and causes a surprise and
wonderment TO visitors. 1t is safe to say
that the town would not be recognized as
the same by person who had not been
here during n period of six years, so many
have been the improvements in that time.
Valdosta now claims a population of
fully 5000, and at tho present rate of in
crease will have 1900 people when the
census of 1890 is taken. The trade enjoyed
by the town is simply immense, and comes
from dozen prosperous counties. 1t is no
uncommon thing to see upon the streets the
wagons of farmers who have come from
distances of fifty and seventy-five miles.
A large portion of Valdosta's trade is at
tracted from along the line of the Bruins
wick and Western and Florida Railway
and Navigation railroads, and the Gaines
vile division of the Savannah, Florida and
Western railway.
VALDosTA LEADS
other inland towns of Southwest Georgia
in several important particulars, which are
worthy of mention
First, it leads even Madison Fla, as a
market for long staple cotton, its receipts
last season amounting to 5000 bales.
Second, as n stock market There are
half dozen large sale stables in Valdosta,
and during the past year over 900 horses
and mules have been sold. The fine quality
of the stock sold is noticeable and the
prices are always reasonable.
Third, as the leading point in Georgia for
watermelons. Na,dosta is the "head cen
teri of the melon trade, and in the quality as
well as the quantity o. melons shipped, fairly
claims to lead. Last season the Nadosta
agency of the S. f. & w. Ry Cleared
400 car loads of watermeons for the North
and West During the season the town Is
actually ''overrunN with melon agents and
buyers, and soliciting agents Of various
northern and western railroads. For
the prompt and proper handling of the
enormous melon traffic here the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western railway
every season establishes regular branch
of their transportation department, with
additional operators, in charge of the As
sistant Superintendent. SO great has be-
come tue reputation of the Valdosta melons
that Northern people wIntering in Thomas.
| vile come here in considerable numbers tC
see the town which has acquired such a
celebrity in connection with the watermelon
| trade.
HEADQUARTERS FOR DRUMMERs.
4. Last, but net least, this town claims IL
be the residence and headquarters of a
gseater number of commercial traveller,
than any town in Georgia, the cities of At
lanta, Savannah, Macon, Augusta and Co.
| lumbus of course excepted. IL is a fact
that not less than seventeen travelling men
now reside here, those who are married
| having their families here, and branching
| out from Naldosta on their business trims
! The explanation of so many drummers
making Valdosta their homes may be found
| in the fact that this is tie best business
town of its size in Georgia, the health OF
the place unexceptionable, the water and
society excellent, the cost Of living astonish-
| ingly cheap, and the school and church ia
cilities surpassed by none
With the well-kHown propensity of the
average drummer to talk upN the town he
lives in, Naldosta ought TO be well and
favordbly advertised far and near. 1t is
reported that Il movement is on foot among
these knights of the grip 70 rent and
furnish comfortable club-room of their
own in town as Il convenient place of resort
TIE GEORGIA SOUTHERN.
Standing upon the track OF the Savannah
Florida and Western railway, a short dis
lance below the depot, you can see the
laborers at work grading the Georgis
! Southern and Florida railroad. The roaC
| is now graded from Macon to Naldosta
with the exception Of a couple Of miles, the
| iron is laid for forty-five miles, and enough
! purchased for twenty more. There seom,
10 be plenty of money and energy behinC
the new road, and it is asserted that tn,
cars will be running through from Macor
to ValdoSta by November lst
OCCASIONAL.