The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1901-05-30

MIR. Editorials | have been for
many years in public life in Lancaster
county, and have IN consequence ac-
quired large acquaintance, many in
quiries are made and letters received
concerning my intended removal to the
State of Georgia, and will thank you
for the privilege of answering in this
public way. The place is Austell,
about as large as Quarryville, by rail
% minutes ride, Tor Is miles west of
the city of Atlanta, at the junction of
the Northern, Western and Eastern
Divisions of the Southern Railway sys-
TEN, and is surrounded by Lithia
Springs, possessing wonderful curative
powers for diseases of the kidneys,
rheumatism, etc. Hence it is a health
resort, the waters having larger per
cent. of LiUhia than any natural water
in the United States, as shown by anal
ysis made by eminent chemists. Thou
sands of people visit here during the
year for recreation, and to enjoy the
climate, which is entirely free from
malaria, as it is / 900 feet altitude. The
country is rolling and picturesque. The
spring known as the "Bowden Lithia
Spring" alone makes an annual ship
ment of water to the amount of about
$4,000 | may venture the assertion
that any suitable person who would
build large, tirst-class hotel here near
the springs would have 1T filled all the
year round with paying guests, as find
the trouble is to accommodate the nu-
merous visitors with the present ar
rangements, and was fortunate to get
room. But no spirituous or malt
liquors are sold, as Local Option"
prevails, and has for many years. There
is fine modern hotel, built at a cost of
5000, 900, and many guests of promi-
hence spend the summer months there,
but it is badly located, being too far
from the spring. After stay OF nine
days, to the credit OF Austell, | must
say, / did not hear profane word
spoken, and did not see an intoxicated
person, not even in the lumber camps,
or about the hotels or post office. ex-
pect to engage in the lumber and real
estate business, and :fnd there is in
creasing demand for cottages around
these springs, which we hope to supply.
The timber found is chiefly white
oak, but poplar and yellow pine also
abound. would not pay, perhaps, to
ship it north, on account Of the freight
rate, but in our opinion it is all wanted
right there, for in few years at the
present rate of cutting and destroying
it Will be as barren Of timber as Clear
| field county. Growing cotton is the
chief work of the farmer, and the State
is now realizing the benefits that must
come from manufacturing their own
raw materials, and cotton mills, like
those on Prince street, are dotting the
State. The seed once thrown out as
useless is now manufactured into cot
ton seed oil, which is also quite an in
dustry. Everything seems to be awak-
ening out of long sleep, and new
spirit Of enterprise pervades the peo-
pie. Nature seems TO be exceedingly
lavish, and the soil is very responsive,
and when the growing thrift and indus
try is established, the South will rival
the West. Barnyard manure must
take the place of phosphate.
When | was taken TO the "Sweet
Water Shoals" five miles from Aus
tell, and shown that turbid stream,
1000 feet, with its 1900 horse power
going to waste, waiting for capital to
place the bride on and transmit enough
power to Atlanta to run all their street
cars, and light the city, my thoughts
turned to Mr.. Boyer and his Slack
water turbines, struggling in their i'm
potence to keep the street lights going,
and said, go, that he could attach this
water" Ii Promoter Patterson would
see this power going to waste right in
the face of city one-third larger than
Lancaster, he would organize COM
pany, take part of the water to water
the stock, and have electric cars run
ming from Atlantic to the shoals in ten
days. These Shoals are as noisy and
rapid as the Gorge" at Niagara, but
not so deep. / predict somebody will
be running electric cars there in the
very near future, and at that place the
city of Atlanta will establish their re-
sort, for then it would be easy OF ac-
cess, and sublime beyond degree. Ma
rietta-sweet named Marietta-is only
twelve miles distant. was led to look
at this place by some Mennonite friends
who hold interests there. Their repre-
sensations were truthful and found it
far better than they stated. Ny judg-
ment is that it would not be a good
place for man TO 90 with little means,
for he would come in competition with
cheap labor and would soon become dis
couraged. Austell wants bank, ten
ton ice plant, an electric light plant,
and cotton mill, and the power to run
all can be transmitted with little ex-
pense from the "Shoals."
The people / met were very cordial,
and on every side the warm hand of
friendly greeting was extended. at
tended a meeting of the Business
Mems League, and the old time South
ern hospitality that you read about was
fully demonstrated. / could trace no
spirit Of resentment lingering in the
minds of the people, and the enthus-
iasm that at every stop greeted the re-
cent Presidential train attests the
truth Of this statement. The Presi-
dent could not meet with a more cor
dial reception il he travelled through
Pennsylvania. The speeches he made
at Charlottesville to the young men of
the University of Virginia created
rousing cheers, and the same at Lynch
burg and Huntsville, and at Decatur a
loving cup was presented to Mrs. Nc
Kinley, and so on to New Orleans,
through the triumphal arch of cotton
II 4 Ill, III. ~