The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-20

poses Of the company so literally. especially
among veteran soldiers, that the stock was
all purchased a few months after being is
sued committee OF the shareholders Wis
lied the South in search OF a suitable l0ca-
ton. and through the efforts OF w. J. North
en-. Ex-Governor OF Georgia were induced TO
buy 10000 acres in this State. On spot
near the center OF the land jefferson Davis
surrendered TO the federal troops at the close
Of the war. -
The soil. OF. sandy quality. is not very
fertile. but with proper cultivation viii yield
staple vegetables. Good water is scarce. but
IL Is expected 10 obtain an ample supply from
artesian wells. The properly is. sufficiently
elevated 10 give II natural drainage, the fall
OF snow Is rarely more than an inch at one
time, and farmers can work in the fields
eleven months in the year. Members OF the
small farms beyond its limits at prices rang
ing from 50 an acre upward, according 10
location. Befcre the titles were fully ex-
amined and the sale of the tract consum-
mated, immigrants began TO start for their
new homes, and before the town site was
surveyed into streets and lots. fully one
lagos and were ready TO, begin clearing
away the pine trees and erecting temporary
houses. From that, time they have been
aggregating 15c a day II is expected by
the projectors that this 100 0o0-acre tract
viii contain fifty thousand persons by Jan.
Walking through the place the visitor finds
the principal streets named after prominent
Union Union and nd Confederate era generals, such as
Longstreet, and Jackson. Others are named
after Southern rivers. The principal
thoroughfares are 100 feet wide and the lots
teen squares laid cut for business pur-
poses. AT present eight brick and stone
one of stone entirely; two churches: a i've
story office building. hall for Grand Army
pests and secret orders, q school, and
city hospital are under contract to be built
at once. They will replace many of the
temporary structures of logs and pine boards
which give the town the appearance of a
form the three hotels are crowded, A Mas
sachusetts man has combined bakery,
restaurant. and meat market, all under
canvas. A bank, barber shop, and dry
goods store are doing brisk business in a
one-room log house. In the shack hastily
built for new arrival may be seen tier
to the roof, in which FATHER, mother and
perhaps a half dozen children sleep. The
dozen saw w mills, h0wsy ,, are rapidly con-
commodious and tasty dwellings are being
erected.
Fitzgerald contains five or six men worth
from $4,000 10 $4,000 each. The majority.
however. have only few hundred dollars,
though 1t is estimated that the pensioners of
the government. All are we'll supplied with
furniture and the necessaries of housekeeping
The feminine portion did not forget their
best attire, and on Sundays many women
can be seen in silk dresses going TO the Meth
odist or the Baptist service along the sandy
paths which still form the sidewalks. Me-
chanics, tradesmen, real estate operators,
clerks, one or two bankers. clergymen, law
yers and physicians are included among the
shareholders though most Of the stock is
held by farmers. AS a rule they are Of the
middle class. and OF the energetic; type which
has done so much to develop the great
Northwest. In politics they are about
equally divided. 4l+
Tue government is In the hands of a board
OF directors. who have selected a chief of po-
lice. physician sanitary commissioner
another physician to visit INDECENT sick per-
lice constitutes the entire police force AS
the place is strictly prohibition and no liquor
is sold nor gambling allowed, his duties are
very light. Ii Is intended TO have the board
of directors chosen from the country dis
tricts and the town. so that all sections shall
nave equai representation The community
will be governed by laws similar TO those in
vogue in ordinary municipalities. The Prin-
cipal income at present Is really from the
government pensions and the money paid for
constructing buildings. Although Fitzgerald
is loo miles distant from Atlanta and Savan-
nah. the company expects that the colonist
/ farmers will make a livelihood by selling
North. In the town itself the stores, several
factories projected, and other enterprises de-
pending on them will give employment to
most of those able to work. the old soldiers
suDsisting to great extent on their PEN
sions.
Quite frequently the Southern planters in
the vicinity pay the Fitzgerald settlers q
visit. Thus far their relations With their
neighbors have been very cordial. and. al
though Fitzgerald contains three Grand
Army posts, the colony has caused no Sec
tional feeling