Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-05-21
COLONY is A SUCCESS.

COLONY Is A SUCCESS.
Old Soldiers at Home in Their South
ern Garden Spot.
For several months past the industrial,
sanitary, financial and other conditions
existing in what is known as the Old Sol
diers' colony, at Fitzgerald, Ca, have
been under investigation at the hands Of
interested parties, and it is stated that
intelligently applied industry and perse-
verance are working far towards making
of one of the favored garden spots of the
South an ideal home for survivors Of the
war. The plan Of the community was de-
vised by p. H. Fitzgerald Of Indianapo-
lis, in 1884. Connected with the pension
service for years this gentleman incor-
porated a company with a capital stock
Of half million dollars, interested veter-
ans and others, and purchased $4,000
acres near Triton. A town site was laid
out, parcels of ground allotted, and $500
people now live within its fve-mile radius.
OF the heads of families recorded ON the
books of the company 1925 are old SOL
diers. Letters and applications now on
file indicate that there vii, be a great
influx this fall, and population of 10000
is now under way to establish a village at
Evergreen Landing, nine miles east Of
Fitzgerald, to consist solely Of residences
and hotels and to be pleasure resort.
The site of the city Of Fitzgerald is in
Irwin County, Georgia, III miles south
of Macon, and 100 miles west of Savan-
nah. The country is gently rolling, with
numerous small creeks, and is known as
the "wire grass belt Of the State, having
an elevation of 4SO feet above the sea
level. There is home market for all
soil products, ample transportation facili-
ties, the colonists are contented, and those
coming from the West declare themselves
benefited by the change in climate. One
thousand acres comprise the foundation
of the future city. 1t is perfect square,
one and one-fourth miles each way. In
it are 5OOS business and residence lots.
Six months ago the place was forest Of
pine trees. Now, there are thousand
houses, most of them implanted, and as
yellow as when the lumber left the saw
mill. The stumps of the cut-down trees
still mark the site of the forest. People
have been too busy to burn them out.
Stumps still stand in many of the streets
the road simply TANKS them; style in
houses is entirely subservient to utility.
No time has been wasted in frilis of any
kind. The present rate of building is
three houses day.
The original plan to provide veterans
with :. cheap home, where they could by
u little labor, in addition to their pension
money, acquire comfort and indepen-
dence, bids fair to be carried out success
fully. Those living on the farming tracts
can readily raise profitable produce, and
many Of those in the adjacent city Of
Fitzgerald can engage in light outside oc-
cupation, or start small store or shop,
there being 210 business enterprises al
ready in operation, including mills, agen-
cies, lumber yards, factories, markets,
offices and little shops of various kinds.
The selling of stock by the colony COM
pany began over year ago. Purchasers
were first privileged to pay for their hold
ings in installments Of 81 per month per
share (no one being permitted to hold
over ten shares), but this plan was soon
abandoned, it being decided that SUBJ
scriber to five shares who could not pay
$50 down was not a desirable member of
the colony. At the time of subscribing
for stock the holders indicated the class
into which they desired to be put; wheth-
lot in the new town, wherever it might be,
or five, ten, twenty, thirty or forty acre
tract just outside the town site. These
various tracts were to be in tiers. the
town site being surrounded by strip of
fve-acre tracts, these in turn by one still
larger, and SO on to the limit of the 1OO,-
600 acres. Lots or land were to be charged
up to stockholders at the purchase price
and fully paid for at the end of the life
of the colony originally estimated at six
years, but since cut down to two. It was
and is now expected the dividends arising
from the sale of lands not allotted to col
ony members will take care Of these nav
ments.
While the town is comparatively new
the people must of course be fairly liberal
buyers, for they are in no sense pro-
ducers, but these conditions are destined
to an inevitable change Gardens are
being made and crops are being planted
on many of the larger tracts which have
already been cleared
In many respects the conditions are not
those found in any other kind of colony.
There are some 600 old soldiers in Fitz-
gerald, and at a moderate estimate some
$4,000 is distributed monthly in the
shape of pension money. No one man is
paid oftener than quarterly, but they are
paid through SO many different tlisbursing
offices that a considerable number Of the
coionlsts have money to put in circula-
ton every month Every merchant fig
ures on getting a certain proportion O;
this fund.