Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-01-24
FIRST HOUSE BrILr IN FITZGERALD.

flltol lOl 81 III LII IN "FliLGEtAl.D
children enrolled, and they are all prepar-
ing to leave their western homes for now
ones in tho south.
The most prominent of these colonies is
the one formed by Grand Army veterans
in southern Georgia. They located their
settlement i'm Irwin and Wilcox counties
upon n tract of land which includes 1OO,-
600 acres. The town of Fitzgerald, named
for the originator of the enterprise, has
sprung up within a few months. The land
was purchased Mt $3.50 an acre by a com
pany which sold 80, 900 shares to Veterans
at $40 IA share. The colonists receive
their land by lot, so that all are treated
alike. Early in November there were not
100 persons in Fitzgerald, but by the LIST
of January, this year, the population OF
the town was reported to be 4. o o and in
cr2asing at the rate of 100 families every
week.
BY next spring Fitzgerald will be one Ct
tho most important towns in Georgia, for
its population is being increased by coloni-
cation clubs which have been formed in
20 different states. just at present it looks
like "A frontier town or mining camp. Tho
most prctcntious building in the place il
the Colony House, which boasts of two
stories, but most of tho cOlonists live in
Simple shanties, or "shacks, - as they call
them. Others live in the wagons in which
they arrived, while some are camping in
tents
Much of the land on which the Veterans
are going to build homes is covered with
IA heavy growth of pine trees, and already
many clcarings have been made. Most Of
the settlers have come from states where
the winters are severe, and they are de-
hnhtnI xrith fLn t,fl1n,-- Of IL. .l;.....
The colonists are looked upon with won
der by the native G~corgians. They arc not
going to raise cotton, they say, and ara
not going to employ negro labor. In fact,
negroes are excluded from the cOlory alto
gether. These new settlers are mainly
western farmers with western ideas. They
are going to raise fruits and early Vcgota-
bles for the northern markets. Some of
them are going to raise cattle and start
creameries. They do not intend to subsist
on the traditional hog and hominy of the
country or DO dependent on the price of
cotton for cash. All the arrangements for
railroad facilities nave been made. One
road is already within ten miles of Fitz-
gerald and will be pushed through by
spring.
In two adjoining counties other colonies
ave been started, but none is growing so
rapidly as that of the veterans. These col.
onies promise to change many of tho con-
ditions now existing in the state. The new
settlers have as n rule some little capital,
say from 81, 900 to $40, 900 each, and many
Of them will establish new industries
which will add to the general welfare of
the state. 1t is also predicted hat the po-
litical complexion of some sections of the
state will be changed.
Tho nniuratipn m ~ hor ctafno l., ,ypf,,
on rapidly too. The ~colonists are going in
clans, which adds an interesting feature.
The Quakers of Pennsylvania have started
q colony in Florida; some Congregations
itlists have settled in Georgia; the Luther
ans have one colony in Tennessee. ono in
Alabama and will locate IL third in Geor-
gia. A German colony has bought the
town of N~Ormandnle, near Mason, Ga.
and changed its naIne to Missler. 1t is be-
Ing peOpled by immigrants who are being
brought from Germany.
The majority of G|eorgians are well
pleased to see the new settlers coming in.
They hail their arrival as the opening of u
new era for the state, and they expect to
nave a share in the general prosperity
which is to come. This turn of the tide to-
ward Georgia is looked upon as IL case of
the return, after many days, of bread
which was cast upon the waters.
When the people of Kansas and Nebras-
ka were starving last winter, Georgia sent
a train loaded with hams, bacon, potatoes,
flour and oornmea to them. This settled
the emigration question with many Of the
sufferers. They have pulled up stakes
and gone to that southern land Of plenty
where nature smil all the year round
and the fear of starvation is unknown.
They have left drought and blizzard behind
and ara making new homes under more
favorable oonditior- and with lighter
hearts.