The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-21
BILL ARP'S HOME THRUST.
sua Ia Down in Florida, and MUST hase
Newbsrry In His Mind When he
Talks About Water Works.
1Atianta Constitution.

together. They are not "diseordant'
belligerent," as Daniel Webster said,
but they do not harmonic on public
matters. They lack an unselfish, enter
prising leader in whom everybody
would have confidence. They have
been trying for three years to build
waterworks and can't do it. Towns
have character just like individuals.
Take Cedartown, in Georgia, for in
stance. Half dozen of her best men
determined to have waterworks and
electric lights, and within twelve
months they bad both established and
everybody is proud. These men sold
their town bonds at par in New York
about the came time that Atlanta sold
5 hers for 95 cents. Both plants cost less
than $4,000. Now Gainesville is a
larger and richer town and has three
times the trade, but her people do not
pull together. Atlanta is the most re-
rnarkable city in the South for her
perfect harmony in public affairs. Her
newspapers quarrel, her preachers get
: into bitter controversies, her society
falls into scandal, but her commercial
people are q unit for Atlanta. They
spend money like water OH public en-
tarprise. They have cheek enough to
invite the world to come to Atlanta
and they dare to rival Chicago in an
exposition. In the offic. Of The Con-
stitution there is every year conceived
some new Venture that will draw thou
sands of people there, and straightway
! all the newspapers and preachers and
merchants and manufacturers and rail-
roads fall into line and the movement
il success.
Gainesville is the center of Florida's
!. best agricultural region. More long
staple cotton is growA in this region
than any other. Larger areas are put ID
cabbages, lettuce, and potatoes for
early shipment to Northern markets.
Strawberries are grown in fields instead
cot patches. They were shipping while
was there. These early berries bring
so cents quart at home. 1t is lovely
surrounding country and is not at ell
dependent on oranges for support. l
was the guest while there Of an old
friend who was with me IN the last
white mans legislature in Milledge-
vile during the dark reconstruction
days of 1866 His eSs ere white now'
: but there is the old rebel fire IN ms
eve. wonder how many Georgians
areleft who remember Major Teuch-
remember him as a co-member of that
body? How we did talk and talk about
those peri!ous times and ABOUT those
who are dead. Dead! We could hardly
recall, half dozen who still live. olo
Father Time seems to- be cruel and re-
lentless. =
i met another old friend at Archer
aman Of God who, for twenty years,
preached at Cartersville and hao TO
leave there for bis health. Rev. Thso-
dore Smith and his good wife are
known from Chester, S. g., to Ceoar
Keys, and they are loved wherever
S known. Moving from Cartersville 10
Florida saved his life. There IS no
doubt about that. The truth is, II
man should live all his life in Fiorloa
one lung would do him, and he mlgnt
have been built that way. especially II
he lived near the gulf coast. 1 went
from Archer to CEDAR Keys, Whlcn
twelvs years ago was the proud en-
porium and trade center of western ana
middle Florida. Ocean steamers come
in there and all roads pointed to Ceoaf
Keys from the Tampa and Leesours
!, and Ocala country. 1t is SAD to near
the history of 3 ruined town-ruineo
byzthe mighty progressive power OF
It is the same old story.
TfIun,a fuit." Cedar Keys is CONNER
cislly dsad, but there are still ie"
yood people holding the fort. Fish and
oysters are still shipped in large guam
titles, and the cedar pencil factories
give employment to hundred HANDS
tt still quite resort for invalids VINO
testify to its delightful and curative
climate.
I visited some phosphate plants IN
this region around Archer, ana II
looked like a solid business. Great
banks of the lump phosphate are seen
along the railroads, waiting Transports
tion. The lump phosphate looks IKE
stained chalk and is full Of the remains
of animal life. Mining it gives employ
meat to thousands Of people, white ana
black, but all the dirty work is done oy
negroes. They get their dollar a Gay
every Saturday night and gamble II
away Sunday. They are uncerIaln'
unreliable and take no thought for To-
morrow. Ben Akervpan, OF Carriers
vile, is in charge of large plant and
says that some Saturdays be quits WITH
fifty negro men and does not kno"
whether he will have fifty or hSe
whea Monday comes. They go ana
come like tramps. He became so ols-
gussed with them last week that ne
went up to Gainesville after negro
labor that be knew. he came oach
with thirty and says be bad rather
have one North Georgia negro than
dozen of these Florida tramps. Ids
phosphate business is just immense
and is on the increase in that region.
Some imprudent ventures have come
to grief, but it was not the fault OF the
phosphate. was told ofone plant that
cost $4,000 to get started getting Out
81 500 worth and then the bottom leil
ont The nhosphate was only small