Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1910-11-01
How Fitzgerald Looks AZ
ter Three or -Four Years

beautiful concrete sidewalks, hand
some court house and its four banks
and magnificent business houses,
and new union station, is enough to
create establishment with those who
have not seen it for several years.
Fitzgerald looks quite like city.
There has been an increase in
population of nearly 1000 in the
last five years.
The new court house cost about
$4,000, occupied since January LIST,
1910.
The assessed valuation of Ben
Hill county, which is a small coun-
ty of about 5000, is $3,186,927.
This is the showing made by the
metropolis of the Wiregrass-four
banks, oil mill, cotton mill, COM
press, two planning mills, fifteen law
years, fourteen doctors, three D. u. 5.
In the beautiful courthouse had
the pleasure of meeting Judge c. M.
Wise, ordinary of Ben Hill county,
one of the pioneers of this wonder
full town. Judge Wise was born in
Henry county, Ind, 18th day OF
August, 1871. He came here as
book-keeper for the Colony Com
pany. He has been an important
factor in the development OF the
town, an honest, truthful gentleman,
who established a character for in
tegrity. He was elected Ordinary
Oct. 29O6 and assumed charge OF
the office January 1907 and reflect
ed without opposition. Judge Wise
is an Odd Fellow and has gone thru
all the degrees of Masonry except
the 32nd and lastly is an Elk. he
has a magnificent pecan grove, sold
his last crop for handsome sum.
The municipal tax lvey OF F1tzger-
aid is $40 on the $500. Hon.
Drew w. Paulk is serving his second
term as mayor.
The schools are doing good work,
the white scholastic population OF
Ben Hill County is about 1,O26 coli
ored 812. Fitzgerald has 752 whites
colored 530. White in the county
teachers "a, colored Is. White
schools in the county,1 IA, colored r.
School Commissioner R. J, PFentiss
gave me this information.
Fitzeerald has one of the finest
oil mills in the south, a so ton per
Cay mill representing an invest
ment of $4,000 mill and cotton gin.
Gin about 1000 bales. Cotton re-
ceipts this year will 90 up to 10000
last. year was only 5000 bales. This
is one of the best equipped mills in
the Southern States. The officers
are E. X. Farmer, president: NJ. w.
Garbutt, vice-president and that
genial and courteous gentleman L..
w. Meakin, secretary and treasurer.
He was born and reared in Atlanta
and lived there up to twelve years
ago and it necessarily follows that he
would be successful in any bust
ness he undertake. Has been eight
years in Fitzgerald.
The latest aspirant for financial
honors is the American State Bank
organized August 10, 1910. Ele-
gantly equipped in every detail and
all modern bank appliances, burg
lar proof and carrying burglar in
surance, bonded officers the new
bank starts out with the brightest
prospects. Deposits are pouring in.
Men of wealth and influence are
behind the bank. The best victor
seven door safe and one
Of the finest fire proof vaults. The
bank lends money on real estate as
well as on any other high class col
lateraIs. The following well known
gentlemen are connected with the
bank: w. R. and j. B. D. Paulk, j.
D. Walker, of Sparta, Hon, Wilfred
C. Lane one of Georgia's most dis
tinguished lawyers, Refree in bank
ruptcy Department of Justice South
Georgia appointed by Judge Speer
and others. Mr.. P. F. Clarke vice