Fitzgerald enterprise., 1906-07-17
COUNTY SITE BILL IS CAUSE
OF REJOICING AT FITZGERALD


Fitzgerald are today rejoicing over the action OF
the senate mmittee in reporting favorably on
the new county site bill 1t is generally conced-
ed that this report means the passage OF the
bill as it is supplemented by SO many strong
and vital reasons in favor of the new county be-
ing created and Fitzgerald being the site for the
new court house. No one is more familiar with
the necessity for this new county than Editor
]. E. Mercer, of the Fitzgerald Enterprise, and
from him The Journal cores spondent has secur-
ed the following interview on the subject.
Editor Mercer says:
The benefit Ben Hill county will be TO Fitz.
gerald is difficult to calculate. Our property
values have increased about one and one-half
million within the last twelve months in spite OF
the fact that we are laboring under the great
handicap OF the court house II miles in the
woods.
when Fitzgerald becomes the county seat
of rich and prosperous county, it will not only
stimulate real estate prices but it will encour-
age business, attract enterprises and encourage
the industrial spirit of our people.
The census reports show that court house
towns, or county seats, make much greater pro-
gress than towns not county seats and city
the size of Fitzgerald is handicapped without a
county court house. Headquarters tor the va
rious county officers is but one of the smaller
advantages. The vast advantage and the great
convenience in the transaction OF all business
cannot be appreciated by those who have not ex-
perienced what the people of this community
have since Fitzgerald became the center of pop
ulation and trade center of this section.
With the Gre alton of the new county our
public road system that has been neglected to
our great hurt, will be given special attention.
FITZGERALD was built in the woods ia a section of
country practically without roads and ten years
experience in this large county has taught us
the lesson that it is almost impossible to get the
roads so much needed unless the county is dl-
vided and the seat of government is located
here The lack of good public roads has been
one of Fitzgera1d's great handicaps. With the
new county this trouble will be Immediately
remedied.
"While Fitzgera1ds cotton trade has
doubled almost every year for the last five aud
other trades increased in about the same pro-
portion, it has done so in spite of the fact that
beyond the city limits we are almost without
roads.
'In nv opinion, Fitzgerald will double its
population within two years from the date OF
the ratification of the constitution amendment
giving us the county and Ben Hill county will
stand near the head of the list of Georgia coun-
ties in population and wealth.
"The new county and location of the county
seat at Fitzgerald will not only be of benefit to
the people of the city and colony but every part
of the section included in the new county. They
will have advantage of having the court house in
the trade center and railroad center convenient
to all of them.
''Fitzgerald has just reached that stage
where real estate is safe investment. That it
will double it's population in the near future (my
guess is in about two years) her business men
will bring many new industries to augment our
present splendid list that is now the basis for a
weekly paw roll that is larger than many cities
twice it's size"
The Thaw woman has entirely too much ad-
vertising. She possessed the one virtue Of be-
ing pretty and she was not altogether RESPONSE
bic for that.
The Enterprise is not taking any active
part in the rancorous discussion of the issues
or the candidates in the GU bernatoral cam paign
at present, indeed we would be glad to see the
rancor eliminated entirely and permanently.
We are however interested in suggestion that
has been made, that is the mention of Hon.
Hoke Smith as vice-presdential candidate.
Mr.. Bryan will in a11probability be the NOM
inee of the Democrats in 1908, and Mr.. Smith
has the advantage of Gov. Folk and other reform