The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-01-01
TO GEORGIA AND RETURN.
by Perry X. Booker.
Dear old Comrads:

to visit some of the old battle fields of
the South, as 1t had been quite awhile
since the late rebellion SO l started
Nov. IA, 1896.
First loaded my wagon with hogs
for market, from which l received
part of my expense money. With my
stock money and my pension check L
started OH the 18th from Lewis. with
a car of cattle for Mac & Mac.
landed in *. G. on the 18th at d.
In. and found everything IN consider.
able of an uproar. L turned the car
of cattle over to the Chicago Live
Stock Co.-which must say is reli-
able co. and pays good prices for stock.
On Tuesday the 18th l purchased
my ticket from X. G. to Fitzgerald, :,
Ga. for SIS. 10 plus 50. on return. l
then boarded the train and started for
ST, LOUIS via. Chillicothe and Uauni-
BILE.
Arriving in st. Louis got three
hour lay off so concluded to take Ill
the sights of this, the metropolis of
Mo. After looking around awhile
over the great city found time flying
rapidly. and that must soon resume
my travels towards the South. So /
climed aboard a south bound train
leaving st. Louis at s p. m. on the L.
and n. II. II. We passsd through Ill.
and across the corner of Ind, thence
through Ky. and Tenn. where we saw
mauy familiar sights and LANDSCAPES.
We then travelled into Ala. l thou-
ght | would like to take look at that
country so stopped OF at Athens. After
diIi'Ier L began the task of gaming
friends. The first man whose ac-
quaintance L made was Il Canadian.
j. Is. Stone, who proved to be, as far
as our acquaintance went, 1t perfect
gentleman. Nj. Stone hired rig and
he and | took quite d drive out into
the country III the afternoon. There
are some fine lands and improvements
in and around Athens, / SAW more
poney change hands there that after
mon than | wo,iid at home III Il week.
While | was at Athens l concluded
10 look for some hidden treasure of
plate, buried during the WAL. bit on
Investigation fciy,d that the land
marks hat, all disappeared, so was
obliged To call for assistance. L took
Mr. Stone and an old rebel Captain hy
the lame of Mason and had them
sworn to a contract, then We began
diging Rat soon discovered that we
must have a surveyors chain to make
much success, soggave it up foc the
time.
was very much taken up with the
city and It's surroundings. but as that
was not where | had started for l
again boarded the train on Nov. 10Th
for Fitzgerald. We passed through
Decatur and Montgomery, where We
changed cars to the q. Il n. r, Z. and
on through Americus and Abbeyvilie,
Ga, where l again changed ears, to
the Upton & Fitzgerald r. r. TO my
destination. stopped at the Palace
Hotel and found it first class both for
grub and beds.
found Fitzgerald a magic city
which had sprung up from among the
pines anu grown very rapidly, covering &
Il mile and u quarter square, with
streets running at right angles. The
two main streets running N. FfS g.
and Z. u w. ard set wi6h native tim
Der mostly Oak end Magnolia. They
have some as fine buildings in Eit2ger-
aid us over saw anywhere, most all
o. which are built out of native 1rnl-
ber and b,ick manufactured right III
the colony.
New houses are gcing sup and new
streets are being laid out every day
Carpenters'get frefa 81. to $3.50 per
day. There III about 100 business
houses::in the city, all making good
money. I'.,e Col5,.y hotel will ts fn-
ished by the first of April, it covers g
acres Of ground. is 3 stories high and
is indescribable IN its grardare and
construction. The passenger depot is
! another fine structure 1t is made o.
native timber and finished. very hand
somely.
There are tw, rail roads ranalne
through EItzger;ild ar present and two
more coming
The people are very otrict IN keep
ng the Sabbath and there ere church
es of all denominations, the principa
one at present being the Methodist
There are only two graded schoo
buildings IL the city but two more
viii soon be erected. Tie enroiIm5nt
of pupils ROW is aisoat 6G0 19-s
schools are Taught bs Yer, apE tes ssi.-
ers al salaries Of faam $50 TO S50 ,1e.
month which is payed bs ;i.e e.l.e.
L