The Breckenridge news., 1906-04-18

a fine start in a commercial career
when his health began to fail, thirty
years ago. He decided the best way
to save his life was not to become an
| idle traveller or professional health
| seeker, but to find a good climate and
| plenty of interesting work. That, by
the way, is the scientific way for a
weak man to become strong. provided
| he begins in time. The West is full
| of men who have done it, and they
have made remarkable history for the
country as well as for themselves.
Mr.. Hunt has studied the climate q
many parts of the world and thinks
there is none better than Middle
Georgia. But as | read his story, as
he has set it down at the request of
his Southern friends, ! conclude that
any country would be good for him
which furnishes an opportunity for
empire-building, and that he would
languish in the best climate if there
were no big things to which he could
set his hand Here in his own words
you may see the true spirit of the
empire-builder:
Natives of old settled parts of the
world fail to understand the irresist-
ible attraction of new countries, TO
men of energy. self-reliance and force
Such persons are really and truly
creators. They make meadows of
swamps, create farms from wilderness
establish cities where commerce de-
mands markets, build court houses
and churches found schools and col
leges Everywhere they go, they car
ry the seeds of civilization. This work
of creation goes on indefinitely. No
matter how rapid the growing there
is constant additional work to be
pushed on in a new country"
That is the idea in the abstract;
Mr. Hunt has shown what it is in
the concrete by building a railroad,
establishing a cotton mill and a bank,
and inaugurating other commercial
enterprises. But this is not his great
est contribution to Southern progress.
Any man can do those things If he
has capital or can command it, but
there are other things which can only
be done by the man who possesses
faith, indOmitable perseverance, and
genuine interest in humanity.
Became a Live Stock Builder.
When Mr.. Hunt went to Georgia
the live stock interest was in a low
state. Farmers thought it a positive
injury to have cattle trampling the
soil because it seemed to pack the clod
into a hard brick substance. More
over, the Southern cattle fever was a
constant menace. This Northerner
thought that Georgia ought TO be the
home Of fine horses and cattle and
proceeded with series Of expert
ments to demonstrate the possibilities
Of the business. He went to the ISL
and Of Jersey to select the best stock,
and now the blood of his herd is in
evidence all over the South, as well
as in Cuba. But before this result
was achieved he had to do some good
scientific work in learning how 10
make his cattle immune against dis
ease.
He discovered the germ which car
ried the cOntagion, and the cattle tick
which carried the germ, and foNnd g.
way to eXterminate both. Then he
showed his neighbors how to improve
the pastures by planting grass so THAI
the touch of the cows foot, instead
Of being a curse TO the land. has made
the farms glow with shimmering
green and plenty" TO quote his worda
Here was a bigger achievement than
the building of cotton mills and rail-
roads because il showed thousands OF
people one way to become prosperous
on small farms. 1t literally added
millions to the wealth Of the South.
But the enthusiastic man from the
North did not stop there. He thought
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