Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-24
BY w. +. wATERs, JR

vIDALIA, Ca, FEB. 2l.-Notwithstand-
ing darkness and a delayed arrival of
the educational special. vidalia sent some
of her best citizens and some Of the best
farmers of this section of Toombs and
neighboring Montgomery counties aboard
the educational special last evening for a
short course at the college on wheels. The
stop here was not on the original sched-
ule.
1t was inserted last Saturday, after DIR.
soule and the seaboard railway authori-
ties had been besieged by petitions from
here. AS much publicity as possible was
given the trains coming. Horace Il.
Dickens, who succeeded his brother, T.
|C. j. Dickns, as editor Of the Vidalia Ad-
vance. lent his best efforts to the dis
semination of the news. The chamber of
commerce members displayed It on cards
IN their store windows. And then, on
Mondays run out of Savannah, siren
uous attempt was made to gain time and
get the special here by 4:30 o'clock. Mr..
Dickens printed some circulars, Monday,
and spread them everywhere hereabouts,
Informing all that the train would get
here at $3.50.
But in spite of all. the train was de-
Iayed. 1t arrived here at $50 o'clock,
and could not be placed In position be-
fore $3.50. BY then not less than 500
farmers had gone home. There still re-
NAMED a substantial number. though,
and at least half of the $500 people,
young and old, who went through the ex-
hibit coaches under electric lights sup
piled by the trains own dynamo. are
farmers outright or are directly inter-
ested in farming.
But the feature of the trains visit
to Vidalia was the stereopticon lecture
given by Director ]. f. Hite, i'm the school
auditorium, commencing at o'clock, the
college lantern being used The cold
Weather had descended dpon this section
during the afternoon ard effectually pre-
vented any open air lecturing. The stere-
opticon, therefore, was the principal
number on the program The auditorium
was very comfortably heated for the oc-
casion, and was crowded. Commissioners
T. G. Hudson. State Entomologist d. Lee
Worsham and Richard Crosby. of the
United States department of agriculture,
were scheduled for short talks, supple
menting the already attractive program.
S. B. Meadows, former representative
from Toombs, merchant and farmer pres
ident Of the Vidalia Chamber of Com
merce, did much to make the rather inn
promptu and handicapped stay of the spe-
cial in Vidalia the success 1t was. DIR.
w. F. Peacock. the representative-elect,
himself directly interested in farming,
also helped appreciably, and Prof w. ID.
Green, of the Vidaiia public school system
enrolment 1867. lent his valuable assist
ance School was dismissed at the regu-
lar hour, 800 o'clock. Monday afternoon,
but nearly all of the students inspected
the exposition on the train. and many of
them attended the lecture at the audi
torium.
F. c. j. Dickens. president of the First
District Agricultural school at States
boro who was a member of the trains
party Monday left it here last night at
the limit of his district. He will rejoin 1t
one week from next Monday, when II re-
enters his district for a three days run.
Two more stops have been added to to-
days run. making five altogether, as
there were yesterday. and insuring an
other day of strenuous work for the al
ready oyerworked party on the special.
Rochelle has been added, after Abbeville
and the train will reach there at Z
o'clock and Leslie has been added after
lCordele, the schedule being for the train
to arrive there at s o'clock.
The train spent last night here and will
sDend tonight in Americas.