Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-09
BIGGEST APPLE ORCHARD
EAST OF ROCKIES SOON TO
BLOOM IN NORTH GEORGIA
Appalachian Apple Orchards Near Tauah Falls Now Being
Cleared from Virgin Forests on Vast Tract of Mountain
Sope-Thousands of Acres 10 Be Planted With Fruit Trees
i'm HaberSham and Rabun Counties

Up In northeast Georgia, on the borders
of Habersham county. and extending over
into Rabun, almost within sound of the
fails, within easy Hearing distance of
the blasting that, speaks in stentorian
tones of the harnesslng of the mighty
power, and punctuates each period of
progress toward the completion Of the
immense electrical power plant on the
TaIlulah river, is a development quietly
and rapidly rounding into shape, which
will make the name of Tallulah known
all over the continent in few years.
Here in the virgin mountain slopes
forest is giving way to the clearing and
here will soon blossom and bring forth
fruit, an apple orchard that will be the
pride of all Georgia. Not a pioneer; for
it has had predecessors and is profting
by their experience: it is a development
in which there is not an element OF risk
or doubt. al<
Announcement was made few months
ago that Louis B. Magid. head of the
banking firm Of Louis b. Magid & Co.,
and associates, had applied for charter
under the caption, Appalachian Apple
Orchard, and that the purpose of the or
ganization was the development of
large commercial orchard to be located
on the lands owned by Mr.. Magid in
Habersham and Rabun counties.
For nearly a dozen years, Mr.. Magid
has been closely connected with the
march Of progress in northeast Georgia,
and was the first to see the possibilities
of the wonderful water power sites in
this region, and he developed them until
they have grown to a point where
So, 100000 corporation is necessary to
handle them. He is still president of the
Atlanta Hydro Electric Power company,
a $6,OOO,OOO corporation, now consolidated
with what is known as the Georgia Rail
way and Power company. 1t was through
his assistance that the Tallulah Falls
railway, which passes through the orch
ard property, was extended from Tallu-
lah Falls to Franklin, N c., at a cost of
over $1,500.000. It is small wonder that
he mas unlimited faith in northeast Geor-
gia and is one of the largest land owners
there, his individual holdings comprising
over 1000 acres Of the finest land in that
section. He Is one of the heaviest tax
payers in the two northeastern counties
of the state. and maintains fine country
home in the heart OF the mountains,
where he and his family spend the larg-
err part Of every summer.
without waiting for the preliminaries
to be completed. Nj, Magr as president
of the Appalachian Apple orchards, Inn
medistely began working to transform
the wooded slopes blto clean orchard
land. all to be. ready for the planting,
which is to take place in the early
spring Mr. s. w CCIe an educated,
practical horticriturist from tie shenan-
doah valley OF Virginia, with the recon-
mendation of the national department of
agriculture behind him, was chosen as
superintendent and placed in charge of
the work, Mr. Cole, IN addition to a
thorough course 10 horticulture in a
technical institute in Virginia, was on
the field star o. the Anstio nal department
for many years, and this work. togeth-
or with his ptactiGaf work In THE Shen-
an4oah valley, makes him an unusual
ly valuable man for the position.
Bounds were established for the first
orch ard, 4, 900 acres in extent: and ae-
tive operations were begun at, once. The
scene presented now is busy one.
The ring, of the axe and the song or
the saw nningles with the crash Of fall
ing trees, where large force Of men
are hurriedly denuding the slopes or
their timber. Further down the slope
may be seen another group of men with
three powerful stamping machines, pull
ing the stumps, new and old, out OF the
ground, and piling them up ready FOR
the burning. A force of teamsters with
sturdy oxen and vigorous mules are
hauling wood to the railroad station,
and still another group is busy deliv-
ering the larger timber to a saw mill,
located right on the property. Down
near the railroad. the superintendent
home and the cottages for the workers
dot the clear landscape and give It the
appearance of a small town, and
force of capable carpenters are busy
from morning to night erecting add1-
tionaf buildings. These and the many
other groups of men, busy at their va
rious tasks make the mountain slope.
seem veritable hive Of industry, and
the results OF systematic work are cas-
| lily discernible.- IT
This region has been producing ap-
pies of the finest quality for over
century, and a few small orchards have,
within the last five years, demonstraS-
ell tn at under scientific management ana
modern methods, the possibilities of the
commercial orchard would be unlimited.
Col. John p. Fort drew the attention
of the apple world to this section when
| he displayed Georgia apples at the
! International Apple show at Spokane
and brought back two prizes. The us
play Of Rabun county apples at the Geor-
gia State fair was the surprise of the
year, ana the people OF GeorSla nave
! learned that here is resource, match
LESS in extent and easy Of development,
/ that will add millions TO the wealth or
/ the state
! Mr.. Magid, thorough ana painstaking
! in everything he undertakes. was not
| satisfied to build an orchard on the
local reputation of the region alone.
but must have official confirmation or
the facts already well known. To this
end he induced DR.. George 7. Powell,