The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-09
PROSPEROUS COLQUITT.
A Trip TO MOuItrie and n Fourth OF
July Celebration.

A Trip TO MOuItrie and n Fourth OF
July Celebration.
Moultrie, Colquitt County, July s.-This
fast growing town is a notable instance Of
the reviving and building up power of a
railroad. Three years ago it was a little old
fashioned town of about 100 inhabitants.
Although the county seat it had changed
little in fifty years. Thirty-eight miles
from the nearest railroad town it lay asleep
and almost forgotten, its farmers poor,
with almost no market for their crops, but
about years since a little railroad was
built through the woods by northern cap
italist, a lumberman named Pidcock, con-
Meeting Moultrie with the outside world,
and opening up market for crops, lumber
and turpentine. Now MOultrie is a large
thriving, busy town of some 100 inhabi-
tants, with a new hotel and court house,
large stores and fine stocks of goods, sold
mainly for cash. for the hard handed
farmers of Colquitt are a forehanded peo-
pie and out of debt. All along the railroad
are thrifty farmers that are producing val
liable crops. The finest stands of corn !
have ever seen in Georgia are in Colquitt
county. There are immense' fields of mel
ons, the Kolb gem. l passed ffty-seven
car loads of melons going up on that little
road and a melon buyer at Pidcock sta
.tion told me that that road fed into the
hands of the Savannah, Florida and Wes-
tern railroad from ten to fifty car loads OF
melons daily during the season. The
farmers have changed from short to long
cotton in this section, l noticed, and the
crop looked unusually fine and in good con-
dition and clear of grass. One farmer told
me he had cleared $500 in melons this year
more he said, than he could have made
on short cotton in years. He added: 81
never plant anything i cannot fertilize ]
make most of the fertilizer at home. ]
never plant cotton at ALL" Such farmers
are the strength of Georgia. The timber
business is simply immense. We met train
after train of magnificent timber logs des-
tined mainly for the large Pideock mills
at the station of that name Arriving at
Moultrie we found a large assemblage of
old confederate veterans. with brass
band, and an old battle flag to welcome
Gen. McGlashan, their old commander.
Somewhat to his surprise the cordial greet
ings and warmth Of affection of these old
gray haired soldiers shown to their former
leader was affecting and touched him
deeply.
on the morning of the Fourth the Magic
City was gay with flags. People came in
on every road, dressed In their best, to do
honor to independence day and the old
vets. But for the heavy rains the occa-
sion would have been a glorious success.
Mayor Shipp introduced the speakers in
an eloquent speech, elogizing the old SOL
diers of $685. and calling on the younger
generation to cherish them and faithfully
guard their memories.
Mr.. s. A. Roddenbury, a talented young
lawyer of Thomasville delivered the Fourth
of July grafton. He captivated all hearts
by his eloquence. He was followed by Gen.
P. NJ McGlashan, who addressed the old
veterans and aroused many old memories
of the past. After the speaking a sump-
tous dinner was enjoyed. Publicola.