The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-09
PIERCE C0UNTYS PROGRESS.
ONE OF sAVANNAH's NEIGHBORS
THAT is GOING AHEAD.

with Only 5000 Population Her
Gain in Taxable Values for the
Last Three Years Is 1917, 276-Tfm-
Der and Turpentine Have Given
Away to Farms-Sea Island Cotton
One of the Principal Products and
BIackshear Has the Largest Gin
merry for This staple in the state.
S25, 900 Court House in Progress
of Erection-The New Presbyterial
Institute Meeting With Favor.
Blackshear, Ga, Aug. Few cOun-
dies in Georgia have made as rapid
material progress in the past year as
Pierce. To illustrate. in 1900 the gain
in taxable values was $91,417; in 1901
it was 1922. 1866, and in 1902, $50, 499, or
a total for the three years of $751;
276 When it is remembered that the
county has a population of scarcely
more than 5000, according to the last
census the foregoing figures speak vol
umes for the enterprise and thrift of
her people. Within the last year, there
has been quite an influx of desirable
citizenry from some of the more pop
ulous counties of this section. partic-
ularly Tattnall. These people are at
tracted to this county by the pro-
ductiveness of its soil, and the rela-
tive cheapness of its lands. No coun-
ty in Southern Georgia has more pro-
gressive or successful class of agricul-
turalists. A few years ago timber
and turpentine were the main depend
ants of the people. This has now
given place to farming, and as a result
some of the most beautiful farms in
the state are to be found in the coun-
ty. Improved agricultural implements
are brought here in carload quantities.
Upon every farm of the slightest pre-
tention, will be found reapers and
mowers, and other labor saving de-
vices.
sea island cotton is one of the prin-
cipal products of the county. A sin
gle ginnery in Bleackshear ginned
above 5000 bales of this cotton last
season, and there are other ginneries
throughout the county. Notwith-
standing a statement sent out from
Valdosta, the largest ginnery for sea
island cotton in Georgia is in Black
shear. This ginnery has a capacity
vi AilOI6 ludu OU average Ddl6S a DAY.
II employees 80 to rs hands, is equipped
with the most modern machinery in
GLIDING electric lights, and probably
turned out more cotton in the last sea-
son than any other sea island ginnery
in the United States. This ginnery is
controlled by the A P. Brantley
Company of Blackshear, who are
among the largest dealers in sea island
cotton in this country.
Has Other Enterprises.
Among the enterprises which con-
tribute to the general prosperity Is
the large guano factory of the Black
shear Manufacturing Company. This
plant includes acid chambers, ferti-
Izer mill, and a cotton seed oil mill.
The plant is protected by one of the
finest private water works systems to
be found in Georgia, and is electric
lighted throughout as well. One hum
dred to two hundred hands find en-
ployment here. The Oil mill was the
first of its kind to be erected in this
country. Now a number of mills
crush sea island seed. but there is no
ether which confines it's crushing ex-
clusively to sea island seed One rea-
son for this is probably found in the
fact that these seed are much sought
by English crushers, whose compett-
tion usually means comparatively high
prices.
Perhaps no section of the county
evinces more evidences of prosperity
than Blackshear, the county seat. and
the territory Immediately tributary to
1t. At the moment the county has In
process of construction a modern press
ed brick court house, with granite
trimmings, which will cost completed
and furnished about $25, 000
The Presbyterial Institute the now
ly established high school of the Sa-
Vannah presbytery. is located here. A
boys dormitory is now under con-
struction, and will be completed in
time for the approaching session. A
girls dormitory has already been pro-
vided. The faculty has Prof. s. d.
Lucas of Pontotoc, Miss, at its head
Prof. Lucas is now travelling in the
interest of the institute, and through
his efforts number of new names
have been added to the roll of pupils.
The attendance next session promises
TO eclipse the large attendance of last
year.
Dwelling houses are in great de-
mand. New dwellings are going up
constantly, and still there is not a
dwelling for rent unoccupied. The
supply of houses is insufficient to meet
the demand.
More Railroads in Sight
The streets of Blackshear are being
paved, as are also the sidewalks.
There is reason to believe that the
Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad
will build to Blackshear. And in that
event, it is expected that the Atlantic
and Birmingham will also come. A
prominent officials says that negotia-
tions are pending between these roads
10 this end. 1t is proposed that there
shall be an exchange of trackage priv
aleges between them, which would give
the Atlantic and Birmingham a direct
line to Brunswick. in exchange for a
similar privilege beyond Blackshear.
Waterworks. electric lights and a
sewerage system for the town are be-
ing considered. A year or two more
and these will be realized.