The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-18
DOUGLAS, A THRIVING TOWN,
Some of the Notable Features of
Coffee, County.

Douglas, Ga, Sept 16-DougIas is
situated near the center of Coffee coun-
ty. James Pearson, who is now living.
gave the county fifty acres of land in
the southwest corner of lot of land
No. 1872 in the Sixth district. upon
which to found a town, and build
court house, at the organization of the
county in 1854. There was but little OF
Douglas, except B. Petersons store and
the court house, up to 1889. Then Sellers
d Parker opened up a large naval
stores plant, setting their still in what
is now the center of the city. They
ran the business one year and sold out
to c. NJ. & F. L. Sweat and G.. G..
Parker, who subsequently sold out to
Buck & Downing. Then it was that the
development of Douglas began in
earnest, though slow. from the fact of
its lack of railroad facilities In 1896
this obstacle was removed, through the
energy and enterprise of E. A. Buck.
j. S. Bailey, Walter Lott, B. Peterson.
j. M. Ashley, ]. S. Lott and others
who built branch railroad from Nc
Donald, on the Brunswick and West
ern Railroad, to Douglas, a distance
of % miles, which proved a bonanza to
its projectors, paving for it's construc-
bAOli anu IullHlllE expenses before the
first twelve months had expired. Then
came the Waycross Air Line. now the
Atlantic and Birmingham Railroad
which has 10S miles of as fine roadbed
and steel rails as there is on any road.
with unsurpassed passenger and
freight service, and whose management
is pushing it on to Birmingham as rap
IDLY as capital and labor can accom-
plish it. In 1901 Douglas capitalists.
feeling the great necessity of competi-
tive rates. organized a company. in
conjunction with President T. ].
James, of the Wadley and Mount Yer
non Railroad, and have now graded
and ready for the iron, which is on the
way q miles of road, from
Douglas to Barrow's Bluff
and to Broxton on the Ocmulgee river
in actual operation which, when com
pleted, will give Douglas as good
guaranteed rates as are enjoyed by
any city in South Georgia. Then one
may listen for the whir of the SPIN
dies and the clang of the looms of the
cotton mills that are sure to be erect
ed. Both these roads traverse some
of the finest timbered and farming
lands in the South. The soil of Cof1
fee county is a light gray loan, un-
derlaid with clay foundation, slight
ly undulating, just sufficient for nat
versed by numerous creeks and
branches. Fish and game are in
bountiful profusion.
All kinds of crops of cereals fruits
and vegetables, indigenous to a south
ern cline, grow to perfection. easy of
cultivation, and as healthy as In the
mountains. Numerous springs are to
be found throughout the county, nota-
bly, the celebrated health-giving Gas
kin springs. one and one-half miles
| from the Court House, nesting in
| picturesque grove of natural oaks,
| where is built a large non-sectarian
| tabernacle, with a seating capacity of
| $500, and just this side the city of
Douglas has erected a magnificent pa
Vilion, free to the use of picnickers,
and those on pleasure bent, and at
! an enormous expense has graded
| splendid driveway to the springs.
The population of Douglas Is about
| l,5OO, increasing almost daily. In 1897
John w. Greer, now editor of the Way
cross Journal. seeing the necessity Of
| an up-to-date school at Douglas and
keeping the question constantly before
/ the people, induced +. A. Buck, b.
! Peterson and others to erect an up to-
/ date brick school building, modern in
/ all It's appointments. being the first
! brick building Of any consequence
/ erected IN Douglas. The city, through
| the influence Of Mayor w. w. McDon-
| aid and other philosophical citizens
! ~ 1900 perfected a free school system
Tor the city and noated S. 900 city
! bonds last year for school purposes
which sold IN Ohio for q fancy pre-
\ MUM. They have secured for a num-
Der ~ years Prof. J.. Walter Hem
aflck with corps Of thoroughly
] competent assistants. Prof. Hendrick
I F. educator ana character builder q
I hpff throughout the south The ar
tendance az The southern Normal iD-
4 flifAfe under hls direction, rapidig
grow 10 such proportions fnaf the
/ trustee aere forced iaff year 81 build
aN shueE t0Slo feet tw0 stories high
. hisaeAis set 5000 board a. private