Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-07-01

Georgia ever since he gave up the
command OF a vessel in the lumber
trade some 20 years ago, The Able
vile IL Wsycross railroad, pushing
southwark from old Abbeville, IN
Wilcox county, also reached Fiiz-
gerald, giving the town competing
lines OF road. The other end Of the
latter line is being completed from
Waycross, 80 that there will soon be
another outlet, and q fourth line has
been surveyed from Worth, a small
station on the Georgia Southern &
Florida, which will be built this year.
There were many doubts and much
fence corner philosophizing among
the natives as to the outcome of the
colony. The crackers were dubious.
They had the town site. They I'm.
packed their things in the woods
and went to work to erect habitations.
Many of the residences Of the town
are still in their shack" stage, made
of undressed plsnks nailed at top
and bottom to the framework and
laid on upright instead Of horizon
tally. Ventilation at least is perfect
Although the leaders Of the OntOr-
prise were veterans Of q war that
ended 30 years prior to the settle.
ment Of Fitzgerald, they have built
up, i'll two years, a town of six or
seven thous6nd inhabitants.
A very handsome hotel building is
just being completed, and there are
two banks, three newspapers and q
number Of industrial enterprises en-
terprises under way and dong we'll.
The town was incorporated at the
last session Of the Georgia legisla.
ture, and instead Of following in line
with the county aud with most Of the
towns in that section, the citizens
elected to permit the sale Of liquors
under a moderate license. A few
weeks ago an election was held on
the question Of issuing bonds for
electric lights and waterworks aud
the vote showed that about 5000
people are entitled to participate in
municipal affairs in Fitzgerald.
Bonds to the amount Of $4,000 were
voted, and an Engishman was grant
ed the franchise for erecting and
operating the water and light sys-
tenn for ~ years
The ingenius settlers have started
somewhat on the cooperative plSn Of
division Of labor. For instance, there
is one concern that takes contracts for
clearing the pine lands, charging $50
an acre and agreeing to remove all
the timber, stumps and other OBJ
stacles to cultivation. The result is
that many Of the fve-scre tracts near.
est the corporate limits have been
cleared, and vegetables are now
growing where the pine trees and
wire-grass grew only a few months
ago. Even the crackers seem 10 have
caught the Infection from their more
energetic neigbbors, and there is al
ready evidence Of improvement on
the premises Of the natives. The
colonists draw pensions from the fed
eral government aggregating nearly
100000 per annum, which helps to
keep business lively in Fitzgerald
when business is at a standstill else
where, as the pensions are payable
quarterly.
AS to the ultimate fate OF Fitsger-
aid it looks now as if the settlers are
going to build up the most up-to-date
town in all that section Of the state,
but when the timber is cut away and
the lumber and turpeAtine industries
pass out Of existence which will be in
few years at the present rate Of
destruction, the future will be prob
lematical. The country around is
spsrsely settled with small piney-
woods farmers, and unless the COL
onists can make success Of garden
ing and fruit.growing, there will be
little left to support the mercantile
interests Of Fitzgerald when the pen.
sIoners pass away.
-lsl.s.s..1N.z
The Weakly Kansas Citv Star