The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-25

| ty is growing rapidly in population,
| which was in 1900, II PA an increase
of nearly 20 per cent. in ten years. The
tax returns show an increase of $50. S5S
in the year 1901 over those of the pre-
vious year. There are only 296 colored
people in this county.
I Blue Ridge is the county seat, the
Court House having been transferred
from Morganton in 1899. At the latter
place is the well known North Georgia
| Baptist College, which is doing a noble
work IN education.
| was with a press excursion that
stopped at Blue Ridge about fifteen
years since. 1t then consisted of a half
dozen houses, and 1 should never have
recognized the town with its
handsome Court House, an ele-
giant bank building, fine stores
! and residences, the latter as a
rule being situated on the hillsides,
away from the railroad.
My arrival was unheralded, but l
soon found many friends among the
people. Col. w. W. Findley took me
around and introduced me to nearly
every citizen.
The town of Blue Ridge is a licensed
town and has two barrooms. 1t has
been prohibition, but there was so
much blind tiger" stuff consumed,
and so many fell by the wayside by
reason therefor it was thought best
to have liquor licensed. I was told that
the improvement in temperance was
marked. and that there was now no
drunkenness.
The population of Blue Ridge, by the
census of 1900, was 1,14S, against 264
at the previous census. The popula-
ton of Blue Ridge district is 2,04S.
There are fifty-seven schools for
white people and two schools for col
ored in the county.
The financial institution of Blue
Ridge is the North Georgia National
Bank, of which John H. Carter, Esq,
is president; F. E. Conley, vice presi-
dent; A S. j. Davis, cashier, and ].
S. Holden, assistant cashier.
The county officers of Fannin are,
M. J. German, ordinary: M. j. Ger
man, county clerk: w. b. Lovingood,
sheriff; A. p. Johnson. tax receiver;
S. L. Lowell, tax collector; j. r. Aaron,
county treasurer; j. L. Foster, coro-
ner.
The newspapers of Blue Ridge are
the Record, edited and published
by ] M. Hackney, and the Southern
World, edited and published by Col.
w. w. Findley.
I had the pleasure of meeting among
others, the following gentlemen: DR..
w. c. Thomas. DR.. Centers, DR.. ].
NJ Davis. DR.. ]. r. Chastain, Mayor
Edwards, City Marshal j. e. Findley,
Deputy Marshal w. A. Wilson,
Messrs. ]. H. Carter w. G.. Onelnby,
l.. d. Cornitt, ]. P. Cole, w. j. Beav-,
ers, Virgil Davis, Isaac Trammell,
Frank Kincaid, Webb Kincaid, Col.
William Butt, F. A. Thomson. Will
liam Rogers, j. H. Davis, Clerk City
Council James Baw, Judge Boon Craw-
ford Col. l.. A. Brown, Col. !. Y.
Allen, Capt. j. NJ. Slate, John Yes
till. Hon. T. r. Johnson, P. P. Chas-
tain. Joseph Mckinney Harley Allen,
G.. w. McAfee, Editor Kellogg, Will
liam Calhoun. William Allen, City
Treasurer Thos. Crawford, Louis Kin
caid and Howard Kincaid.
The terrific rains had washed away
the under-pinning of the bridge across
the Etowah river at Can
ton, and we had to wait
until it was rebuilt, but barring get
ting home a half day behind time when
half days are valuable, it was quite
pleasant trip.
] IT FlSTIIT,