The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-06-25


continues to occupy peculiar place
in public interest. Six months ago
the tract it now occupies down in
Southern Georgia, half in Wilcox and
half in Irwin County, was wilderness
of pine trees. To-day six thousand
persons are there, and the indications
are that before the year is done the
census will show over ten thousand en-
rolled 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 parallel. and
the movement which has led to it's
founding points to a possible indus
trial revolution in the South. and calls
for new understanding and partner
ship between the South, North and
West. The Fitzgerald colony is like
wise significant from the fact that as
the colonists are mostly veterans OF
the Federal army, $50, 900 per month
of pension money will, it is reckoned,
be put into circulation through the
South instead of through the North
and West as formerly.
The colony and city of Fitzgerald
were founded by Mr.. ?. II. Fitzgerald,
of Indianapolis, a pension attorney,
who, through his connection with the
veterans of the Northwest, was led to
believe that it would be greatly to the
interest of many could they locate in
some we'll conditioned Southern Sec
tion, away from thu rlgors of severe
climate, whero they could follow
agricultural pursuits and live COM
fortably on their pension incomes.
In August, 1894, he presented the
subject for the consideration of the
veterans at an annual meeting of their
society. His plan met with their i'm
mediate approval, and in March, 1896,
Mr.. Fitzgerald, accompanied by Fl. M.
Manger, of Michigan; Captain ID.
G. Walsh, of Mcpherson, Kan. /; Peter
Dinger, of Gilman, Ill. H. Q. Miller,
of Stanton, Neb. DR.. ]. M. Deniston,
of Lapaz, Ind, and Fl. II. Wenas. of
Michigan, visited Georgia for the pur-
pose of examining lands offered them
through William j. Northen, twice
Governor of Georgia, at the low rate
of So. so an acre. Although Texas was
holding out the inducement of land at
only sixty cents an acre, Mr.. Fitz-
gerald 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
November l it was completed, and the
assignment of city lots, business sites
and farming tracts followed with
rush.
The city of Fitzgerald and the farm
ing lands that compose the colony
section are comprised within 1880
acres, and are located lit miles south
of Macon, Ga, 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 and general truck, while such
fruits as peaches, pears, apricots,
prunes, figs and apples are indigenous.
AS to timber, the colony section CON-
prises vast fields of long leaf pine, as
good as can be found in the country.
The average winter temperature for
the last ten years has been fifty de-
grees, and the summer temperature
during the same time has averaged
only eighty degrees.
The city of Fitzgerald is located in
Irwin County, and has the benefit of
competitive freight rates, both by land
and water, which place it within easy
communication with the great markets
of the United States. There are now
two railroads at Fitzgerald, and
others under construction.
On October IA the first human hab-
itation was begun in Fitzgerald. To-
day the city presents vastly different
appearance. 1t is laid out in excel
lent style, and has four business
streets, that contain q great variety
of shops, which are furnishing the
colonists with all necessary supplies.
The residence portion shows many
we'll built structures, and hundreds of
humble homes will sooner or later be
replaced by more comfortable dwell.
ings. There are saw mills, brick
yards, four churches, town hall, four
blacksmith shops, public school and
a Masonic lodge.
Main street is the principal business
thoroughfare of Fitzgerald. The
streets to the west of Main are called
after Confederate Generals-Lee,
jackson. Longstreet, Gordon. Bragg
and Hill; those on the west side after
Federal commanders-Grant, Sher.
man, Sheridan, Thomas and Logan
which certainly goes to prove that the
colonists are not cherishing sectional
animosities. Another interesting fact
is that the colony land includes the
historic spot upon which Jefferson
Davis was captured by Wilson's cav
airy. in 1865.