The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-24
PROSPEROUS WILCOX COUNTY
ONE OF SOUTH GEORGIA'S YOUNG
EST AND 4 HUSTLER.


Trade Center for a Fertile and
Rich Section-SOme of Its Enter
prfses and the People Who Have
Contributed to Its Prosperity.
FiOurishing Rochelle n Live Town
and One That win Make Its slarh.
Wherever one travels in Georgia, he
cannot fail to notice improvements and
new enterprises. My trip to Wilcox
county was no exception to my pre-
vious experience.
on the Seaboard Air Line train
rlet Col G. W. Perkins of Savannah
who was on his way to Hagan, where
the Perkins Lumber Company has its
plant. He informed me that he is
extending the Register and Hagan
Railroad, which is now being operated
from Register on the Central of Geor-
gas Dublin division, via Hagan. So
miles from Savannah. to a point Is
miles east OF Hagan, and that
II would be extended to Glenville.
When completed to that point. the
railroad would be Al miles in length.
Col. Perkins said it was contemplated
to build the road to some point on the
Plant System, probably to Liberty
City. This would give good east
and west railroad connecting with the
Central Seaboard and Savannah,
Florida and Western Railways. The
road traverses an excellent country
and is valuable addition to Savan-
nah's trading territory, and it viii also
add to the business of the thriving
town of Hagan
Col. Perkins, besides being the head
Of the lumber company bearing his
name, is president of the Georgia
Lumber Company of Savannah, of
which Mr.. F. j. Garbutt, whom | met
on the train little later in the day,
is vice president. and Mr.. J. J. Kirby
of Savannah is secretary and general
manager.
The building Of the Macon. Dublin
and Savannah Railroads extension to
Vidalia has had a very marked effect
on that prosperous town. Several new
rows of brick stores are being built,
and as far as can be seen
are dwellings in process of erection.
The extension of the Macon, Dublin
and Savannah Railroad to the Sea-
board Air Line must also have a
marked effect upon the increasing of
the prosperity Of Montgomery and
Laurens counties.
The heavy rains just previous to my
trip had caused Gator Creek, usually
a quiet stream, to become a torrent
which threatened to carry away tres
lie ana embaukment and il was
thought best not to risk the train on
1t, and the passengers We're transfer
red TO train on the opposite side of
the creek. Prompt action and plenty
or bags Of dirt put the threatened
break in good order and when l re-
turned the following day the roadbed
ana trestle were in good shape.
Arriving at AbbeviIe l was met bv
a number of friends, and leaving nv
impedimenta al the Hotel Eureka.
kSpt by Mr.. j T. Floyd, who looks
IKE a typical United States senator,
went to the Court House. where
Judge 3. d. Evans of the Middle Cir
cunt was presiding over the VIII
eek superior Court, in the place
OF HIS Honor, Judge d. M. Roberts
an spite of the recent heavy downpour
winch had made the streams spread
out over lowlands, and bridges afloat.
thefe was a large attendance, and
had the pleasure of meeting nearly All
tne leading citizens of the county.
alSo pald my respects to the business
ana professional men of Abbevllle.
wilcox. is comparatively now
county, having been laid out in the
5os 1t was named in honor OF Gen
N4Srcus wilcox, who lived on the Oc-
Ihulgee river, just opposite where An
peVllle now stands He was one of
use sturdy Old Georgians who de-
Iended the frontiers OF the state from
the Indians. The Wilcox family is a
very numerous one i'm this part ar
Georgia. WilcoN county has an area
OF 800 square miles and according ia
The census of 1900. population of III.
VSf being an increase of 80 per cent.
III the previous ten years. The land
Is folling and very fertile Cotton.
te1h' oats, sugar cane. potatoes are
the principal products; cattle and
hogs DO we'll The turpentine and saw
mlli interests are rapidly clearing
away the forests. and in a few wears
II viii rival the best counties in agrl-
cultural wealth
Abbevine the county site 18S miles
from savannah, is o mile from ahe Oc-
muIgee river, and stands % feet above
IT, 1t IS we'll laid off, and has a large
NUMBER OF business houses, and many
comfortable homes The river flows
IN haf circle around the town. Ow-
ing TO ITS elevation Abbeville is free
faom malarisl diseases. 1t was
named in honor OF Mrs Able McDuf-
ne, the wife of Col. Norman McDufie
one OF the early settlers in the county.
In addition to its railroad facilities
the city has . regular line of steam
poa9s plying TO Savannah and Bruins
WEEK. which gives il low, rates of
freight.
Near the landing on the river is the
hardwood min of Bailey & Co. which
manufactures lumber fer Northern
and Western markets.
There is one OF the largest CYPRESS
shlngle mills in the state at Abbeville.
1t is owned by Mr.. A b Russell. and
mas an output of 10000 shingles per
day. There are two cotton gins in the
city; one for square and the other
Tor round bales: and a steam laundry.
The site for a 100000 cotton seed mill
has been purchased, and ii is expect
ed that the mill win be built this year.
There are three churches; the Meth
odist, OF which Rev 7. b. Thrasher is
I7stor: the Baptist, presided over by
Rev. L. N. Coleman: and the Chris
tan, the pulpit of which is untitled.
Inc fpancial institution of AbbeViIe
IS the Citizens Bank of which Hon. S.
p. Lasseter is president and w II
Wilkins is cashier
h.