The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-17
GEORGIA'S LIVE TOWNS.
A TRIP TO MACON AND AROUND
by AMERICUS.

Other Cities to Follow-A Run over
the 5. A. NJ. Route-The Country Be-
tween Americus and Savannah-The
Coming Garden Spot of Georgia.
The mother Of .ailroads. the Central of
Georgia, is ''primping up in its old days.
Not very long ago it appeared 60 outsiders
as though the ''old reliable" would have to
he given another soubridust, but a change
has taken place since then, aud the Central
of Georgia is looming up now in all its
gigantic proportions as a well-managed
property. Its passenger equipment is equal
to that of any railroad in the country, and
there appears to be no end to its rolling
stock. The 1000 cars and all the new
engines that General Manager Gabbett said
the Central would have before another
business season appear to be on the tracks
and ready for that immense passenger and
freight traffic that is sure to develop itself
in few weeks.
It Is not, however, of practical railroad
affairs that | intend to write, but more the
sentimental and the beautiful that is to be
seen peeping out from behind the old-time
sedateness of the Central. Parkings have
been made at nearly every station between
Savannah and Macon. Where there were
unsightly bitches in and about the stations
the surroundings have been improved; fish
ponds and lakelets have been built and
flower beds and grass plats have been laid
off.
ARUN OVER THE CENTRAL.
tits quick run from the great seaport
of the South Atlantic to the enterprising and
growing metropolis of Middle Georgia.
Macon has always been an active business
mart, but for the last three years it has
changed from a sedate old town to hust-
ling city. The streets are crowded with
people on business or pleasure bent. Ma
con has had wonderful growth. The
present census gives 1t a population Of
1880. When it is remembered
that Vineville and other popu-
lous suburbs of the city are not included in
this enumeration it is not out OF the way
to say that, taken as the census of other
cities is, Macon's inhabitants properly num-
Der 35, 900. The city has the advantage of
being in the center of territory of pros
porous towns and cities, and in a wealthy
and intelligent farming community, the
products of whose fertile lands contribute
20 the city's prosperity. The completion of
number of new railroads has made its
growth during the past three years remark
ably rapid.
Macon is attracting the attention of
manufacturers as a place where the local
surroundings are such that large portion
home. This is an immense advantage over
other cities and must have its effect in
rapidly developing manufactures of various
kinds.
YEARS AGO AND NOW.
It is a good many years ago that the
writer made trip in the daytime over the
Southwestern division of the Central system.
Then there was an appearance of rugged
ness about everything that did not be-
$olyA thrIff IL
as far as Americas, but between Macon and
that city he was astolished at the change.
Farms are better cultivated, houses are
of more modern styles and the barns and
other outbuildings are large and we'll built.
Saving the mountains on either side one
could imagine that he was travelling
through the historic and fertile valley of
the Shenandoah.
The appearance of the towns is in keeping
with that of the farms. Spacious hotels
have taken the place of the dirty old eating
houses with their tumbled down piazzas
and their concomitants, dirty basins aud
dlrtler wash towels and general untidyness.
Where one used to run tue risk of breaking
his neck over a pile of cross ties or falling
into ditch, there are now neat crossings,
roadways from the railroad track to the
street walk. There are one or two places
that little engineering work would add to
their beauty, but, as q rule, the re is no fault
to find.
The network of tracks at Americas be-
tokens place of importance. The city is
railroad center, and is having a genuine
boom. The boom started when the Ameri-
Gus people determined to have a railroad of
their own. The building Of what is now
known as the Savannah, Americas and
Montgomery opened up the country to the
west and east of Americas, developed the
adjacent territory and brought wealth to it's
merchants.
ASIERICUS' ENTERPRISES,
The city has all that progressive cities
have, and in addition has large foundry
and machine shop, where irst-class engines
are built furniture factory, a fertilizer
factory cotton pres ses, and last. but not
least, as far as real benefit to the people in
general and the growth of the place is con-
cerned, are electric street railroads in opera
tlon. 1t has five banks and several
loan and investment companies. Of
course it has water works, and
gas aud electric light works. An en-
have a good water supply and
well lighted streets There are two
daily papers, the Daily Recorder and the
Dalty Times, both good newspapers, and
doing their full share toward advancing
the interests of Americas. The Recorder is
edited and owned by Mai. W. l.. Glessner,
one OF the ableSt newspaper men In the
south, and a gentleman who has done,
and is still doing, great work in
inducing immigration from the west to the
south. He is the immigration agent of the
Central railroad, and he is also president of
The Georgia Press Association. Mai Chess
ner is not only man of clear business
Ideas and great energy, but he is one of the
most graceful and forcible writers on the
Georgia press.
company to build large modern
motel has just been organized in Americas.
Inc Motel building is to occupy a part of the
ela court house square. The city has a
ialriy well kept hotel now, but it is far be-
nnd the requirements of city such as
Americas.
OVER THE SAM ROUTE.
=, "A trip over the Savannah, Americas and
montgomery railroad, or, as it called at
nome, The Sam route and the Say lnnah
ahd Western railroad, from Americas to
W savannah, is worth great deal to any
que who labors under the impression that
N"er Georgia is behind other parts of the
s sCate' The entire country from Americas
W Ihe Ogeechee river is as good as that in
4 any part of Georgia. 1t is a rolling country.
4 f fog3 from swamps, and judging by the
y M N9lus OF cotton and corn in Dooly, Wilcox,