Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-10
GREAT CROWDS WELCOME
FARM TRAIN AT LAVONIA
First Night Stop of College on
Wheels Gives Great
Reception

6X W. Il WAEE&&Gy S1ss
LAvoNIA. Ga, Feb. S.-Here the
second train of the Georgia College OF
Agriculture spent the night Of its firsN
DAVIS run from Athens out lover the
state 1t has traversed a few more
than 100 miles since it left Athens
somewhat belated for unavoidable rea-
sons Tuesday morning. thousands OF
people. the great majority or whom
were real honda fide farmers stralght
from the field. have already heard Its
lecturers and seen its exhibits. The
train mas begun its Journeyings most
auspiciously. for 1t has Jared well and
been welcomed heartily everywhere
thus far. In villages and hamlets
where ii made no stop, and at main
road crossings in the open country, ana
even in the fields beside the tracks, there
have been little gatherings and groups
of farmers to catch fleeing glimpse OF
the open machinery and stock cars ana
to wave it all quick greeting ana rare
well.
CROWD BREAKS RECORD.
Bowersville and Lavonia were the dis
tinct surprises of the day. AT the TOT
mer town the train arrived just before
dark Tuesday afternoon and found
veritable mob of people. And even this
was said to be but a scant third OF
those who had been waiting Tor the
train. In Lavonia, later in the evening,
9ossip among the residents had 1t that
the crowd that had gathered at Bowers
Vile in the afternoon was one OF the
biggest ever known there, and this was
spoken, too, in spirit of admiration
There must have been over 1000 people
at Bowersvllle at one time, according to
a good estimate. While the tram
somewhat behind its schedule on account
of having had to wait on other trains
whose schedules it's own delay at the
start had gotten it tangled with was
approaching Bowersville, IL was passing
an almost unbroken me OF farmers, bug
gies and wagons going home in the
gathering darkness. Some OF these,
nearer town, turned around and hurried
back TO the depot.
And at Lavonia, one OF the livest
towns in north Georgia, which set a
rapid pace 70 reverybody else to follow
in it's appreciation of The Journal-Herald
national highway in the old days OF
scouting-Lavonia, at $3.50 o'clock, sent
a crowd through the train and later helo
a messing in the school auditorium,
where THE lecturers responded in the
same spirit with four Of the best
speeches that they can command. The
meeting did not adjourn till lO:S0
O'Clock Many Of those who ATTENDED
IL had gone without supper. And late
as n was. when the train arrived there
was a brass band waiting to meet 1t at
Lavonia.
"A. A. McCurry,- representative from
Hart county, introduced the visitors at
Rowersville All speeches were deliver
ed from the platform of the machinery
car. Ex-senator McMullin and others
Of the most prominent men of the whole
surrounding territory were among those
who gave the train welcome by their
presence and interest. DR.. Soule spoke,
and was followed by Mr.. Cabaniss. Then
the speaking program was interrupted
that the machinery might be started
and the dynamo set to work for the cleo
trio lighting of the exhibit coaches. A
long and seemingly endless procession of
citizens and their wives and families
passed through the coaches, and 1t was
well after night before the train could
leave to get back to Lavonia.
The arrangement Of the train which
caused So much awkwardness in the han
ding of the crowds all day Tuesday,
was changed at Lavonia Tuesday might,
when the day coach was shifted from
it's original position Just ahead of the
Pullman to a new position between the
flat cars, so that the crowds now climb
into the train by the steps of the Pull
man and pass clear through the three
exhibition coaches and down to the
ground via the steps of the day coach
ah cad.
Lavonia had been passed by the train
on its way to Bowersville. A note was
thrown off, explaining that the train
would come back there at o'clock to
spend the night. Till the note was
thrown off, the moving spirits in Lavonia
did not know how successful their eff
forts had been to secure stop. The
whole matter had been left to the rail-
road by DR.. Soule. Even as 1t was, hun
dreds of people were at the station Just
to see the train go through And the
size of the crowd had not dwindled much
when the train returned from Bowers
Vile, though even then the circum-
stances had not been fully understood by
the people and many of them did not
expect the train to stop at all.
MANY LADIES PRESENT.
Many ladies were among those who
passed through the train at Lavonia.
Notwithstanding the lateness OF the hour.
the crowd streamed into the exhibition
coaches. There was no attempt at
speech-malSiug then The Lavonia Con-
cert band was playing during this in
terval on the depot platform. At 8