davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

gerald
Railroad Facilities
The transportation facilities of F'itz-
gerald are good, indeed remarkably
good for city so young. and one so far
from railroad when IL started a dozen
years ago AS early as 1854. however,
a line was partly graded thru this sec
tion from the Gulf to the Atlantic. and
traces of the old grade are still visible
IN the timber land around the city The
Fitzgerald. Ocilla & Broxton is q local
line. OF which Fl. c. McFadden Is Presi-
dent and General Manager. with head
quarters in the city II has important
connections with other lines. The At
lanta. Birmingham & Atlantic. of which
G. G. Smith is Superintendent with
headquarters here, gives the city its
most important service II is operated
IN three divisions from here. with five
termini--Brunswick. Waycross. Thom-
asville. Birmingham and Atlanta From
Ihomasviiie extension is being made to
Tampa, and from Waycross to Jackson-
lille The Seaboard Air Line has a
ranch running to Abbeville, connecting
with the main line from Savannah to
Montgomery. There is connection by
the Fitzgerald, Ocmulgee & Red Bluff
line with the Ocmulgee River, 10 miles
distant, thence by steamboat TO Macon
on the north and to Brunswick on the
sea- The city has as low freight rates
as any inland place in South Georgia,
and several wholesale houses ship goods
from Fitzgerald in six different direc-
tions in which cars run from the city.
There is wide territory in which Fitz-
gerald can contend for trade for there
is no city of Importance within 100
miles, as Macon, Atlanta, Augusta Sa-
vannah. Columbus and Brunswick are
each we'll beyond that limit. The rail-
roads are very liberal in excursions;
low-rate trips to the seashore and in
land resorts are frequent. The railway
haul in Georgia to market is practically
all down-hill, and therefore following
| the lines of least resistance foreign
trade must naturally flow thru Southern
! seaports. at least, to countries nearest,
and these are the West Indies. South
America, Panama, Central America and
Africa, with an even race for Europe
and Asia Fitzgerald has direct access
| to the great ports of Savannah and
Brunswick. The South, of which GtSor-
| gia is the Empire State. has advantages
| in respect to nearness to more great
world markets than any other section
of the American Union. The Union 70
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

in 1894 the people still felt the effects
of the financial depression of 1898, and
there was widespread want in the coun-
try west of Omaha.
AT this time Philander II. Fitzgerald
was publishing the American Tribune
(since absorbed by The National Trib-
une) at Indianapolis, Ind. His paper
was devoted to the interests of the vet
Grams of the civil war. The veterans
had read, Henry w. Grady's famous
speech of 'S9 in Boston, in which, after
an eloquent tribute TO the greatness of
New England, he spoke of his own
splendid State in these stirring words:
The Eloquent III. W. Grady.
Ear to the south, Mr.. President, sep
arated from this section by line, once
defined in irrepressible difference, once
traced in fratricidal blood, and now,
thank God, but a vanishing shadow, lies
the fairest and richest domain of this
earth. 1t is the home OF brave and
hospitable people. There is centered
ali that can please or prosper human
kind. A perfect climate. above fertile
soil, yields to the husbandman every
product of the temperate zone. There
by night the cotton whitens beneath the
stars. and by day the wheat locks the
sunshine in its bearded sheaf. In the
same field the clover steals the fra
grance of the wind, and the tobacco
catches the quick aroma of the rains
There are mountains stored with sx-
haustless treasures; forests, vast and
primeyal, ana rivers that, tumbling or
loitering, run wanton to the sea. OF
the three essential items of all indus
tries-cotton, iron and wool-that re-
eion has easy control. In cotton, fixed
monopoly; in iron. proven supremacy;
in timber. the reserve supply of the
Republic From this assured and per-
manent advantage, against which artifi-
cial conditions cannot much longer pre-
vail, has grown an amazing system of
industries. Not maintained by human
contrivance of tariff or capital, afar
off from the fullest and cheapest source
of supply, but resting in Divine assur-
ance, within touch of field and mine and
forest--not set amid costly farms from
which competition has driven the farm
er in despair, but amid cheap and sunny
lands, rich with agriculture, to which
neither season nor soil has set limit
this system of industries is mounting 20
q spIendor that shall dazzle and illumine
s the world.
"That, sir, is the picture and the
promise of my home-a land better and
fairer than 1 have told you, and yet but
1T setting, In its material excsIL~SaA- tor
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

50c.I, @sHuary, 1897, there We're
16g II cu.. ; orders issued, amounting to
S2,236.5o, alI fees $10.S4. In January,
1907, tnolc Were 1,035 orders issued,
amounting to S3,974.f3 AID fees S45.32.
There are three city carriers employed,
one of them being mounted. These
carriers take pride in having everything
pertaining to their work in keeping with
this thriving, up-to-Gate city. Th"re
are six rural routes out of Fitzgerald.
aggregating a total of 120 miles, and
each carrier takes cut an average or
over 5000 pieces of mail per II onth.
Within the last year the Department
has allowed a canceling machine and
a. typewriter, both of which are evil
dences of the fact that this Office is
recognized as one of some Importance.
Population.
The population of the city has kept
pace with the remarkable growth of
business and tax values, increasing
from 65 people on turpentine farms in
1895 to 1,S0O in 1900, Alp in 1903,
5000 in 1906, $500 in 1907, and over
1900 in 1905.
The people are composed almost en-
tirely of Anerican-born citizens. For
eign immigration has made but slight
impress here. AS result the labor
points of the same size in the North
and East.
General Growth.
The growth of the banking business
and the increase in the post office re-
ceipts and property values, as evidence
of the rapid and solid advancement of
the city, is fully substantiated by the
gains in the traffic of the four lines of
railroads entering the city, and the COM
bined showing of these several financial
and commercial arteries Of business tell
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

for II, /. .sNn-costing 60,000; anoth-
er. three stories high, costing $4,000,
both of which would show up well in
much larger cities. The A, b. & A.
shops, recently completed, including the
building, fixtures and equipments, cost
about s750,000, and when in full opera
ton will furnish employment to 600 to
1000 men. These shops are among the
most modern and complete in the ceun-
try, and the fact that the enterprising
and far-sighted officials of that road
decided on Fitzgerald is conclusive evil
dence that they had fall faith in the
future of the city
An Industrial Center.
While surrounded by country boun-
tiful in possibilities in agriculture, yet
development of that industry was not
keeping pace with the growth of the
city. A halt in growth was certain
unless industries were secured. AS
already noted, the progressive ele-
ment among the Yankees" and
Crackers got together on the import
ance OF harmony and unity of action.
which resulted in the establishment of
manufacturing enterprises, which has
made Fitzgerald an industrial center
of real Importance. This step well
illustrates the trdeism that when the
people of a community unite on, mat
ters of public policy combining their
money and their energies, it is prac-
ticable and easy to establish industries
that will insure the growth and pros
perity of the community. The activity
of the people of Fitzgerald resulted in
the creation of concerns which add
much to the prosperity of the whole
community These industries include
a cotton factory, oil mills, cotton gin
neries, ice factory, cotton compress, va
riety works, fertilizer plant, bottling
works, broom factory, steam laundry,
wagon factory. planning mills, machine
shops, foundry, railroad shops and
granitoid works for the manufacture
of building blocks out of sand and ce-
ment These various industrial enter
prises give employment to hundreds of
men and disburse monthly thousands
of dollars that flow into the channels
of trade in the city, and furnish
products raised in the surrounding
country. '7t"-
The manufacture of granitoid, or
building blocks, out of sand and ce-
ment is an important industry, and
there are three concerns already en-
ployed Granitoid is unexcelled as
building material, and the supply of
the best sand in the world is right at
hand in unlimited quantities Some of
the handsomest business houses and
dwellings in the city are constructed of
this material. and the demand for it is
steadily growing, it being cheaper than
brick or natural stone.
Room for New Industries.
The development of manufactures in
Fitzgerald is only begun, as the deyel-
opment of the country tributary to it
is just beginning, not more than a small
portion of its possibilities are as yet
understood, as the knowledge of the
The National tribune., 1908-09-10
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BLOCK.


already a potent factor in world af-
fairs, and when the Panama Canal rs
completed, to which the South has near
est access, the United States will still
have more influence. Will not the South
be prominent in this coming greatness?
The railroad men are in leadership
among local labor organizations, the
conductors, engineers, firemen and
trainmen each having stheir respective
lodges. The allied railroad men of the
United states are among tho rr1oz>-in-
telligent, consistent and reliable of labor
orders, and none hold greater confidence
and respect of the public and their en-
ployes. II would require most stren-
uous campaign to disturb labor condi-
tions il Fitzgerald in the presence OF
such formidable front of men favor
able to full hearing OF both sides of all
questions.
Social Conditions.
Fitzgerald has an intelligent citizen-
ship. The people are progressive, lib
eral and harmoniously united in their
efforts for the general. moral and ma
tcrial welfare and advancement of the
city and County. The white population
is about evenly divided between the
Georgia Crackers and Northern YAM
KEGS" and the two clements pull to-
gether in harmony in all plans for the
munity. every step for the advancement
of social and material conditions being
supported with energy and hberality.
The negro population is smaller in pro-
portion to the whites than any other
Southern city of Importance This is
accounted for in a large measure by the
fact that when the city was started by
the Western colonists they wanted no
negros as citizens within the corporate
limits and also bv the fact that there
were but few negros in this section as
permanent residents at the time the col
ony was founded.
The city has II white churches, in
cluding some handsome structures, di-
yidcd among the following sects: North.
ern Methodist, Southern Methodist.
Christian, Presby yterian. Missionary,
Baptist, Primitive BAPTIST. United Breth-
ren, Christian Science. Lutheran, Epis-
copalian and Roman Catholic. The coll
cred people have Baptist and Methodist
churches.
The population of the town in its
first year was so per cent Northern, but
now it is about evenly divided between
Georgians and Northerners. From the
first there has been no political divisions
drawn in local affairs, but this year
there will be a division over Taft and
bryan, both Northern men, but it will
be a gCod-naturcd contest. November
will determine the Presidential choice
of the people of Fitzgerald. Georgia
has a Presidential ca1Giiate-Watson-
on enc ticket and Vice Presidential
andidate-Graves-o another.
No city of equal size has more frater-
nal and benevolent orders The Odd
Fellows have a handsome brick lodge
building, with lot. Valued at $4,000.
The Fitzgerald lodge has been active in
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

caily without capital, or at least very
little of 1t. Many of these are to-day
among the progressive and successful
business men of the city. In the Spring
of 1900 a man worth $1,000 was con-
sidered very well-to-do in Fitzgerald.
but now it requires five or six figures
to. write the wealth of some who had
no financial rating then.
Banking Interests.
In the Summer of 1899 the banking
business of Fitzgerald was confined to
one private bank with capital of Only
$4,000, and when parties spoke of
organizing State bank the owners of
the private institution contender that
the business of the city was not suffi-
cient for two banks, and they sold out
to the new concern. The State bank
made a fine record the first year of its
history, declaring dividend of 40 per
cent, and placing a snug sum to the
surplus account. This bank was or
ganized with capital of 5000, which
was soon increased. and other banks
were started from time to time until
now there are four banks in the city,
three of them National and the other
State, all of which are paying hand
some dividends, and having a combined
capital and surplus of S475,000. increas-
ing to that amount from $4,000 in
IJUU. mere Is inc OI
Fitzgerald's banks for the past eight
years. Capital 1900, $4,000; 1903,
1925, 900; 1905. 100000; 1905, $780,
900; 1907, s325,000: January. 1908,
$452,8S9.07. Bank assets in 1900, $4S,-
900; in 1908, $1,442,557 90 The banks
do enough business to justify the exist
ence of a clearing house.
Tax Valuations.
1t is doubtful if any other city il the
South can show such a notable growth
in its banking business. and the in
crease in property values has been
equally notable, growing from $1,000
in 1895, the year the colony was found
ed, to s45O,000 in 1900, 100000 in
1901, $S80,000 in 1902, s1,350,0O0 in
1903, s1,S00,000 in 1905, s2,100,000 in
1906, s2,750.0 900 in 1907, and $3.450, ,000
in 1908. A portion of the gain the past
year is due to the extension of the cor
porate limits of the city. taking in prop
erty not embraced in the tax returns
for 1907. The personal property of
the city, exclusive of the realty, is val
ued at about 100000.
Post Office Business.
The greatest Indicator Of the growth
of a city lies in the increase in the pos
tai sales, and the fact that the post
office at Fitzgerald Is the only one in
the State of Georgia, outside of Atlanta,
that showed an increase of more than
$4,000 over the preceding year goes to
prove that the increase in the postal
sales was larger in this office than any
other in the State of like class. The
Iapidty with which this growth has
been made is shown by comparisons
between the work of this year and for
mer years. The sales for the year end
ed June 80, 1905, were $S,619.65, and
for the year ended March 81, 1908, s16,-
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

miles, hom. :, in the
forest primeval. but SOL conditions were
right, the general contour very desir-
able, and there was plenty of timber
which energetic men could convert into
homes and hives of industry.
The purchase of the lands was no
easy task, as they were owned by vari-
Gus persons. some living in The State
and others out of il, and not a little
worked under leases for turpentine
The great part of the land was covered
with timber, and not far from what is
now the center of the city was q tur-
pentine distillery. Gov Northcn and
his agents secured $4,000 acres, which
were turned over to the colony COM
pany at $3.50 an acre. 1t was hoped
that at least 100000 acres could be OBJ
tanned, but when il became known that
a colony was TO be located here and a
city built the owners of adjacent lands
put up prices.
In August, 1895, the American Trib-
une Soldiers Colony was organized, and
chartered by the State of Georgia, as a
mutual joint stock company, with a cap
ital stock of $500 900, divided into 50,-
900 shares of $40 each. The life of the
company was six years.
The officers chosen for the first year
and the States from which they came
were as follows:
President and Treasurer-P. H. Fitz-
gerald, Indiana.
Secretary-B. w Fitch, Ohio.
Directors. d. McVay, Iowa; T. W.
Hayde, Nebraska; j. VI. Deniston, In
diana; NJ. w. Matrau. Michigan; II. A.
Majors, Illinois; Col Thos. Wilson,
South Dakota: capt. C. c. Goodaow,
Minnesota; capt. Il. V. Bowen, Georgia !;
Capt. r. A. Stephenson, Oiio.
General Manag.r-Capt ID. c. WeIch,
Kansas.
Health Officer and Assistant Manag-
er-Dr. II. V. Manner Michigan.
The National tribune., 1908-09-10
GENERAL VIEW OF FITZGERALD, GA.

voice could not be heard from Virginia.
to Texas-while on the threshold of
nearly every house in New England
stands son seeking with troubled eyes
some new land in which to carry his
modest patrimony, the strange fact re-
mains that in 1880 the South had fewer
Northern-born citizens than she had ~
1S70-fewer in 10 than in go. Why
is this? Why is it, sir, tho the sectional
line be now but mist that the breath
may dispel, fewer men of the North
have crossed it over to the South than
when it was crimson with the best blood
of the Republic, or even when the slave
holder stood guard every inch of its
| way?
There can be but one answer. 1t is
the very problem we are now to consid-
er. The key that opens that problem
Twill unlock to the world the fairest half
r0f this Republic, and free the halted
feet of thousands whose eyes are ali
ready kindled with its beauty. Better
than this. it will open the hearts Of
| brothers for 80 years estranged, and
clasp in lasting comradeship a million
| hands now withheld in doubt. Nothing.
sir, but this problem and the suspicious
! II breeds, hinders a clear understanding
| and a perfect union. Nothing else stands
between us and such love as bound
| Georgia and Massachusetts at Valley
| Forge and Yorktown, chastened by the
| sacrifices at Manassas and Gettysburg,
| and illumined with the coming of better
work and a nobler destiny than was
ever wrought with the sword or sought
at the cannon's mouth"
| Christmas i'm Georgia.
The veterans had also read Mr..
| Grady's editorial, entitled "A Perfect
| Christmas Day in Georgia"
"A Winter day it was shot to the
core with sunshine. 1t was enchanting
to walk abroad in its prodigal beauty, to
| breathe its elixir. TO reach out the
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

hands and plunge them open-finger I'd
thru its pulsing waves of warmth and
freshness. 1t was June and NovemberI
welded and fused into a perfect glory
that held the sunshine and snow beneath
tender and splendid skies. To have win
moved such a day from the teeming
Winter was to have found an odorous
peach on bough whipped in the storms
of Winter. One caught the musk of
yellow grain, the flavor of ripening|
fruits, the fragrance of strawberries, the
exquisite odor OF violets, the aroma of
all seasons in the wonderful day. The
hum of bees underrode the whistling
wings of wild geese flying southwark.
The fires slept in browsing CRATES, while
the people, marveling outdoors, watched
the soft winds WOO the roses and the
lilies
Truly, 1t was a day OF days. Amid
it's riotous luxury surely life was worth
living to hold up the head and breathe
1t in as thirsting men drink water; io|
put every sense on its gracious excel
lence; to throw the hands wide aport|
and hug whole armfuls Of the day close
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

y new century. however. was drawing
near. AMI just before the change was
made to 1900 successful effort was
made to get together all conflicting
interests. Instead OF working single
handed or in factions common sense
prevailed. and Northern and Eastern
and Western and Southern men, citi
Zens of the community, decided to COM
bine their intelligence, energy and
money for the building of modern
and model city, and from that period
Fitzgerald began a second and sub
stantial growth, which has since been
the wonder and admiration of the en-
tire State.
large percentage of the people wAo
came during the early history of the
city from distant States and nearby
territory, were men who were practi-
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

ONE OF THREE SCHOOL HOUSES.
organizing no less than 25 other lodges
in south Georgia, and for time q
monthly magazine was published in the
interest of the order The Masons are
also strong, and every branch up to the
Commandery is represented. They have
well-furnished lodge rooms. The Elks
are also well provided with fine qu,r-
ters, The Knights of Pythias, Red Men,
and Woodmen OF the World
have prosperous organiZa tions. The
women are also represented in these
various orders with active lodges. There
is also Y NJ. c. A, w. c.. T. u, q
Federation Club and different State so.
cieties. including Hoosiers, Buckeyes.
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

story of development which is notably
free from mushroom features which
characterize the history of some new
cities; but when the splendid resources
and natural and artificial advantages
of Fitzgerald are taken into consdera-
ton. its marked advancement in popu-
lation, wealth and commercial impor-
tance is not so astonishing, and its pros
poets for future growth appear as a
matter of course.
During the past two years more than
$1,000 600 has been invested in business
houses in the city. exclusive of the At
lanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad
shops. and about 500 dwellings, some
of which are handsome structures. have
been erected. The business houses re-
Gently constructed include q five-story
modern office building-a skyscraper
The National tribune., 1908-09-10
FITZGERALD; GEORGIA.
MAGIC CITY OF THE EMPIRE STATE OF THE SOUTH
Established Union Soldier Colony has Grown Dozen
Years from Pine Forest City Of 5000 People, with Every
Convenience Facility and Comfort Demanded by Modern
Civilization.

Strong Confident Her Strength and Clad Garments Of
Which Should Proud Fitzgerald Central
Half the Brief Past
Grateful for All the Favo Extended by the Kind Goddess Fortune She
oFefuly Looks Assured
e.Good Things Showered Earnest
Rewards Yet Come Thrifty Public spirited
Her Home of
Clote the World Tracks of Steel Horse His
Fiea With the Fruits Industry Run OF Many Directions Part
Vt Network Her Workshops Adding Their Sum of
the Worlds Material Wealth. Will Add More the Years Come and
Co. Her Buildings Are Keeping With the Character and Aims
Living Community There Are Many Substantial Business Blocks With
Stocks of Goods Ample Every Need Every Demand The Inte
Benevolent Ferna Spiritual Development of Her People Has
Full Consideration The of Domestic Com
Beautiful
of Tree Shrub Vine Many the Pioneers Now Sverhaire Who
Helped Wilderness, Rounding
Harmony With Their Nghbors and
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

sions in the form of corn, flour, meat,
etc. Shipping corn TO Nebraska recalled
the old saying of sending Goals to New
Castle" Nebraska was as noted for
corn as Georgia was for cotton 1t was
known in the North that corn would
grow in the South, but its cultivation
was regarded as q mere incidert in the
farm life of the Cotton States. The
shipment OF corn by the carload from
Georgia TO relieve hunger in the corn
country occasioned more or less sur
prise in the Northwest, where many ad-
versities had confronted the pioneers.
In connection with the failure of crops
The National tribune., 1908-09-10

the loyal and gentle quality of its citi :.
Zenship. Against that, sir, we have New
England, recruiting the Republic from
its sturdy loins, shaking from it's over
crowded hives new swarms of workers
and touching this land all over with its
energy and its courage. And yet, while
in the Eldorado of which l have tod
you, but Is per cent of lands are culti-
waited, its mines scarcely touched and
its population so scant that, were it set
equidistant, the sound of the human
The National tribune., 1908-09-10
The Tom of Fitzgerald.

In 1894 the failure of crops in parts
of the Northwest brought distress to
farmers in many sections of the great
corn belt west of the Mississippi. Ne
braska was perhaps the greatest suffer-
er, so much so thar the Governor of
that State issued an appeal for help.
The response was prompt and generous
from the East and South, Georgia alone
sending several train loads of provi-