The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-13

terest. Six months
ago the tract IL now occupies half in
Wilcox and half in Irwin county, was
a wilderness of pine trees. To-day six
thousand persons are here, and the in
dications are that before the year is
done the census is will show over ten
thousand enrolled citizens.
Colonies of sudden growth and cities
of quick development have not been
infrequent in the mining regions OF the
west, but Fitzgerald stands in many
respects quite without a parallel, and
the movement which has led to its
founding points to a possible Industrial
revolution in the south, and calls for
new understanding and partnership be-
tween the south, north and west. The
Fitzgerald colony is likewise signif-
cant from the fact that as the colonists
are mostly veterans of the federal army,
$4,000 per month of pension money
will, it is reckoned, be put into circula-
tion through the south instead of
through the north and west as former
ly.
The colony and city of Fitzgerald
were founded by Mr.. p. ii. Fitzgerald
of Indianapolis, who, through his con-
nection with the veterans of the north
west, was led to believe that it would
be greatly to the interest of many could
they locate in some well-conditioned
southern section, away from the rigors
of severe climate, where they could fol-
low agricultural pursuits and live COM
fortably on their pension incomes. In
August, 1894, he presented the subject
for consideration of the veterans at an
annual meeting of their society. His
plan met with their immediate approx
al, and in March, 1896, Mr.. Fitzgerald,
accompanied by H. T. Manager of Michi-
gan, Captain ID. c. Walsh of McPher-
son, Kans., Peter Dinger of Gilman, H.,
II. c. Miller of Stanton. Neb., DR.. ]. NJ.
Deniston of Lapaz. Ind, and II. II.
Wenas Of Michigan. visited Georgia
| for the purpose OF examining lands Of
fered them through William j.
Northen, twice governor of Georgia, at
the low rate of $3.50 an acre. Although
Texas was holding out the inducement
of land at only sixty cents an acre, Mr..
| Fitzgerald and his committee decided to
locate upon the Georgia tract without
further delay BY the middle of
October the business arrangements had
been completed, and the survey of the
| land was we'll under way. BY Novem-
Der 1 it was completed, and the assign
ment of city lots, business sites and
farming tracts followed with rush.
The city of Fitzgerald and the farm
ing lands that compose the colony Sec
ton are comprised within $4,000 acres
and are located III miles south Of
Macon, Ca, in the midst of the great
agricultural and fruit region. They
are available for almost any crop
whether of wheat, corn, oats, rye, rice
millet. cotton, sugar cane, potatoes ant
general truck, while such fruits as
peaches, pears, apricots. prunes, figs
and apples are indigenous. AS to tim
Der, the colony section comprises vas
fields of long leaf pine, as good as car
be found in the country. The average
| WlultT temperature lOT INC last JcA
years has been fifty degrees, and the
summer temperature during the same
time has averaged only eighty degrees
The city of Fitzgerald is located il
Irwin county, and has the benefit o.
competitive freight rates, both by lant
and water, which place it within easy
communication with the great markets
of the United States. A month age
two railroads were under construction
but had not reached the city. The lat
est news is that there are now two rail
roads at Fitzgerald, and others under
construction. The Tilton and North
eastern railroad reached the colony
last Saturday. and will be carried int
the union station in few days. The
Georgia and Alabama has been in Fitz
gerald almost a month. and has eigh