The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-30
PROSPEROUS AND
HOSPITABLE EBERT COUNTY
Efoerton an Up-to-Date goth Century Town,
Democratic to the Backbone
BY T. LARRY CAN'T.

necessary for him to leave the coun-
try. and the order would bring and
build him up friends and supporters
even among his enemies. At that time
Maj. John II. Jones was master of
the Elberton lodge. The officers and
a few of the members We're gotten
together. and about midnight Gen.
Toombs was secretly carried into the
town, slipped through back door into
the old Globe Hotel. and carried to
the upper story OF the building. There,
with drawn curtains and every avenue
Of approach carefully guarded by de-
voted Masons, the three degrees were
administered to the candidate, all the
same night.
An old gentleman who officiated tells
me that he never knew a candidate
to stand such a -creditable examination,
and when the third degree was
through, Gen. Toonbs seemed as IA
miliar with the duties and ordeal of
Masonry as an old member. This was
wise and important step, for in his
after travels in this country, and even
France and England Gen. Toombs
stated that the greatest assistance he
found was derived from the fact of
his being F.,A- NJ. He was ever
after a staunch friend and supporter
OF Masonry, and often said that it
ranked only second to the Bible.
TOombs' Escape to the Mountains.
After his initiation, Gen. Toombs was
carried to an island in the Savannah
river, mentioned in my last letter from
which he escaped to Habersham coun-
ty. and from thence to the mountains
of Northeast Georgia, and afterwards
made his way to Mobile. Ala, where
he was the guest of Augusta ]. Evans,
the brilliant Southern authoress. From
there he went to Cuba, and then to
France and England. The old citizens
Of Ebert to this day point out the
different places where Gen. Toombs
was concealed, and name those who
aided him.
Elberten boasts a, number of stores
which both in architectural design and
their stocks of goods would do credit
TO city of many times it's population.
And one popularity about this grow
ing young city ise that it was builded
up by It's own people, and with one
single exception every business man
started life a poor country boy, and
was the architect OF his own fortune.
Commercial failures are unknown
among these merchants, for they are
safe and conservative business men.
There are a number of diversified
industries in and Immediately around
the city, Including two cotton mills.
owned by the Swift family, large oil
mill and refinery. 'sice factory. iron
works and a number of other indus
tries, all built with home capital and
exclusively owned by home people.
The town owns its electric light
plant, and has recently voted $4,000
in bonds to construct waterworks. Mr..
H. S. JaudenI a young civil engineer,
who was born and raised in Savan-
nah, was selected to superintend their
construction. There were a number
of bidders from different sections of
the country, but Mr.. Jaudon came so
highly recommended that the city gave
him the position over several lower
+ bidders. Mr.. Jaudon married an Ell
berton girl. a daughter of Mr.. McAlpin
Arnold, one of the leading and most
progressive business men in our up
country. He is now connected with
the American Construction Company
Of Philadelphia, but was given a leave
of absence TO accept this work.
Eberton boasts two of the best week.
ly newspapers in the state, and which
are both doing fine business. The
city has three heurishing banks. with
large deposits.
trne Goth Century Town.
/ In truth and in fact, Elberton is a
progressive twentieth century young
city, in the fullest acceptation of the
term, and L do not know a better place
in the South for business or a manu-
featuring enterprise of any kind. The
Seaboard Air Line passes through the
town, and a fifty-mile branch of the
Southern road terminates here. They
are also considering the. building of a
new line from Elberton to Augusta,
and which will open up and develop
that fertile country in the Savannah
valley.
Politics are very quiet in Ebert at
this time. Judge Parker is the over
whelming choice of the people for the
presidential nomination. Hearst is not
In 1t. In fact, as an old Democrat re-
marked to me: William Randolph
Hearst is the yellow peril for the
Democratic party, and his candidacy
would be looked upon as a political
cartoon" While the Populists had a
strong following in Gilbert, the county
always went Democratic. But the peo-
pie are again united in solid Demo-
cratic phalanx. and the leaders of the
Populist party are now back into the
fold and are given offices and honors
by the Democrats. AS Hon. L. H. o.
Martin, one Of Elbert's members in the
Legislature, remarked to me: Those
Populists are our own folks and kin
folks, too, and were just as honest and
sincere in their belief as we were: and
we not only want them back with us,
but welcome them back and appreciate
their votes"
In my next letter l will give your
readers description of Gilbert county
from an agricultural and industrial
standpoint, and show the Importance
OF the alberta peach industry.