The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-13
MET WITH FARMERS
MAI. RYALs BACK FROM A TRIP TO
BROOKs COUNTY.
TALKED ABOUT THE FAIR.
WAS TOLD THE COUNTY WOULD
MAKE AN EXHIBIT.

1roOks County Fair Association Met
Yesterday-FinaI Action ms to an
Exhibit Was Postponed Until Next
Thursday-People Want to Make
the Very Rest, If Any, Exhibit-Got
First Prize Last Year mt vaIdosta.
Mai. RyaIs Was Greatly Impressed
by the McRee Plantations, Where
He Was Entertained.
Brooks county, the winner of the
drst prize at the State Fair held last
year at Valdosta, will make an exhibit
at the Fair in Savannah. There has
been no definite decision to that effect
reached, but Maj. G. M. Ryals was as
sured by some of those most deeply in
terested that the county would be
among those represented by exhibits at
the Fair.
Maj. Ryals met yesterday with
number of the farmers of Brooks, mem
bers of the Brooks County Fair Asso-
citation, who gathered at Quitman to
consider the question of county ex-
hibit at the State Fair. No definite
conclusion was reached, but there will
be another meeting next Thursday,
when, Maj. Ryals was told, it will prob
ably be agreed to make an exhibit.
A talk about the Fair was made to the
gathering by Maj. Ryals, and all were
greatly interested in what he had to
tell them. The meeting was informed
of the progress that has been made in
the preparations for the great event,
and assurance was made that Brooks
county will be properly treated in every
way. if it's farmers only decide to make
an exhibit.
Maj. Ryals was assured by those
whom he met that the county has reap
ed great advantage, from the fact
that it received the first prize at VAL
dosta. The value of lands in the county
have gone up considerably, and better
prices are commanded than could be
obtained before the prize was won.
There is very decided sentiment that,
if an exhibit is made. it should be the
very best of which the county is capa-
bic, for the citizens of Brooks want to
maintain their record.
Brooks county farmers complained
that other exhibits were added to at
Valdosta after they should properly
have been closed. They considered
that definite time for closing exhib-
its should have been made, and that
none should have been permitted to
replenish county exhibits with fresh
products. Maj Ryals agreed with
them upon this, and assured them that
there would be a rule, fair to ALL
adopted to govern that point at Sa-
Vannah. He also told them that no
undue pressure by outside parties
would be brought to bear upon the
judges of county exhibits when they
were making up their decisions.
At Kinderlou. the home of the Nc
Rees, Maj. Ryals made a stop He
was entertained there by those gentle
men, who are among the most success
full planters, stock raisers and lumber
men in Georgia. There are four broth
ers of the McRees-Messrs. E. j., w.
s., F. 1. and G. Y. McRee, each of
whom is extensively and successfully
engaged in agricultural and horticul-
tural pursuits, growing corn, oats,
wheat, cotton, rye, peanuts, potatoes,
cassava, Kaffir corn, cane, velvet beans,
and almost all other products of the
South. Cantaloupes and watermelons
are raised by the McRees in great
quantities, and their shipments every
season to the markets of the North
and East are heavy.
Maj. Ryals was impressed by the at
tention to details that is shown by the
McRees, who do not fail to take ad-
vantage Of everything that offers for
their advantage. They do not allow
any of their products to go to waste for
lack of consumption, but make various
pursuits fit in. Stock raising and
dairying are great adjuncts of planting
on large and well-ordered places. and
both industries are shown to advantage
by the McRees. Maj. Ryals says he
was agreeably annoyed by the hum of
the cream separator, which awoke him
early in the morning. A separator, too,
shows that the dairy is thoroughly
abreast with the times, and the excel
lent butter and milk that are produced
are disposed of to dealers and consum-
ers of the neighboring towns
Each of the brothers owns his place,
on which there is fine dwelling with
all needed outhouses. The happiness
that comes from transition from the
single to the welded state has been
sought, thus far, by but two of the
McRees.
Live stock in great numbers is to be
found on all the four plantations Each
has 500 or 600 head of cattle, besides
great number of sheep and hogs. Nor
is the enterprise of the McRees con-
fined to planting and stock raising, for
II extends to manufacturing. They own
10000 acres of virgin timber, from
which they cut the timber. make it in
10 lumber and fashion the lumber into
crates, orange boxes. peach and tomato
carriers. Maj. Ryals saw the crates
being made, and his knowledge of what
Is needed by agricultural shippers
makes his statement that he had never
observed better ones conclusive. Lum-
per is sawn for the local trade. the mill
having a capacity of $4,000 feet day
Preparations are now afoot for the re-
moVal of the crate-making machinery
INTO a larger factory, the demands or
this
AS is frequently the case with so
extensive plantations. the McRees OPP
crate mercantile stores. from which
not only their employees, but people
rom miles around, buy their goods In
Whatever business or industry the Nc
nees engage. success seems to meet
mem Maj. Ryals considers that their
Places aptly illustrate the agricultural
una Horticultural section OF Georgia in
Wnlch they are located. Their water
supply is obtained by the McRees from
sne best of springs. forty-two of which
are Kept in constant flow. n.y.
uIauHc ram furnishes all the water
NEEDED for household purposes.
throughout their section of Georgia,
'He MeRees are noted for their hospi-