The Colfax chronicle., 1903-06-20

In response to an invitation to be
present, this editor had the pleasure
of spending June 18th and 18th, the
two closing days of the session Of the
Georgetown school, with the hospita-
BILE people of that thriving communi-
ty. Proceeding overland by buggy,
in company with Supt. j "A. Williams
and Sheriff NJ. E. Swafford, we had
the pleasure Of taking dinner on FRI
day at the home of Rev. w. N. Greed,
where we were served with royal fare.
On the way going and coming we
were pleased to note that the crops
had been greatly benefited by the
late rains, and while corn is not so
promising, the prospect for a good
yield of cotton appears to be excellent.
Arriving at Georgetown about sun
down We were assigned quarters at
the beautiful and hospitable home of
DR.. L. E. Litton, and were extended
every consideration and courtesy by
himself and estimable wife.
Friday night we attended the begin
ming exercises of the school, conduct
ed by Prof. Geo. A. Payne and Miss
Gertrude Bell, whose training of the
children was evidenced in the most
excellent department which they
showed, and the credit with which
they executed their parts. The entire
program was filed by the youngest
children of the school, and was great
ly enjoyed by all.
Saturday morning we visited the
commissary, met s. X. Lee and W. C..
Beal, the energetic and successful pro-
prietors OF the big milling enterprises
at Georgetown, and were shown
around the various departments of
their huge plant. 1t is impossible in
our limited space to give anything
like a creditable account OF Supt. W.
T. Heflin and O. RI. Cooper. book
keeper, in the mercantile department.
and Of the tremendous output Of
Foreman w. b. Taylor in the planning
department, of the millions of feet Of
rough and dressed lumber on hand
and being shipped, of the method of
loading, shipping etc., of the staunch
little railroad with it's eight or ten
miles Of completed track, and a dozen
other departments that we could
! write up about this great enterprise.
Sufficeit to say, it is the sole support,
life and energy, of a town of 400 in
habitants, ard gives them ample
wherewith to supply their families
and support a good church and q fine
school in their midst. Lee & Beal,
the proprietors of the mill, are the lite
of nearly all the enterprises in the
town, being members of the school
board and directors in most OF it's in-
stitutions. On Saturday they shut
down the mill and closed up business
generally in order to give their em-
ployees full opportunity to enjoy
themselves.
About 1890 a. m. the speakers of
the day, together with the teachers,
Mr.. Payne and Miss Bell, and Mr.. s. r.
Lee as master of ceremonies, took
their seats upon the stage platform.
which had been erected out doors adj
joining the school house, in order to
accommodate the great crowd, there
being several hundred people on the
grounds. The curtains being drawn,
Mr.. Lee was introduced as presiding
officer, and entered upon his duties
by congratulating the people upon
the splendid work of the school, the
creditable preparations and turn out
for the day, and the most excellent
decorum that was being observed
by all.
He then introduced H. G. Goodwin,
who in q few remarks expressed his
thanks for the honor done him by
the invitation to be present, noted
the marked educational progress in
the country and community, and es-
pec:ally greeted and congratulated
the parents and children present on
having in their midst such excellent
and worthy teachers, whose earnest
and efficient work and honorable ex-
ample were calculated to be of the
greatest good in this life and help to
happiness in the life to come.
The next speaker was Parish Supt.
j. A. Williams, who complimented
the people on the most excellent de-
corum Of themselves and their chill
dren, the marked Improvement and
progress they had made, and the