The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-12-10
A Letter From nr. P. H. Fitzgerald
The Founder of the Colony and the City of Fitzgerald Ca
The Situation He Sees 1t After Being Alvey
For Some Nine Years.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Dec. A, 1912

10 my Od comrades and Colony Friends:
assure all truly glad many of my old
tina friends to shake hands with and look again your kind
and honest faces brought back those early struggling days
when all hudded around Shack Town. each struggling
to bring about final settlement of the plans How worked
both day and night with double shift the mill
umbr The long and wagons waiting grab
board and slabs that from the MILL The long midway
with its pine knot fires running from Shack Town Avenue" with
hundreds of lined up either se recalled all those
early days when member his shoulder the wheel
help the Behold what transformation found upon this
visit was at loss to get bearing did realize where
until reached the hotel entrance 1t difficult realize
the growth of the city The large beautiful buildings erected
along the main drives and of the city truly wonderful
and the fine wide curbed and brick roadway
lit with electric lights forming beautiful White Way. The
fine court house and city buildings brick churches and large
school houses things did expect years
Then too the well improved streets and drives extending
far out into the colony domain all speak we'll of the good work you
have done since last visit In fact the whole work has been
marvel and hard for you realize you
til you go away short time and
Your work is far ahead of northern of many
of age The clearing of the lands the homeke
cottage houses erected thereon all showed the good and ubsan
a work and the stability of the 1t would be hard for the
outsider to realize what have accomplished short time
Then again few communities enjoy the and harmony that
prevails people, Everyone have talked with appear
ed to have his whole heart the work and enjoyed what had been
more
harmonious feeling the key the situation for house divided
within itself cannot stand This was DEMONSTRATED our
LAST NATIONAL ELECTION.
also speak of the crop healthy looking bright
faced children met Chdens Day the Fair They cannot
surpassed by community and they the must
look to for the perpetuaon of the city 1t will long before
they take the burden carry grand found
ed by their fathers and grandfathers.
Now let go back earliest DAYS when visited the
Governor W. Northern visited many sections of the
much disappointed until struck the little of
Swan sized the location and told the
the spot if could only railroad outlet and if railroad
would would nothing fear the country
good the timber ne the soil the with
large city for miles direction hamper This why
made the location Then struggle Few will ever
know what had to contend WITH for it continued hard
struggle for the first three to get the members settled
allotment This accomplished then the question sol
long feared which the railroad that had made
and few of you know what hard task get
They did not have faith stability wish right here
had good friend who had faith and who did more
help the undertaking than known the colony
bers and that today deserves the thanks Of member
the colony and that R. V. Bowen of Luavie al
resident Fitzgerald This owned little turpentne read
running Abbeve Lulave had exhausted my efforts
trying the then Georgia Alabama R. R. track
down from either Rochelle Abbeve but failed impress them
until threatened take with Mr. Bowen his little road and
complete south Fitzgerald and north to Hawkinsvie tt
then forced them and in this action instead of Mr.
Bowen getting what he should have had they paid him
half of its value Yet Mr. Bowen consented that saying Mr.
Fitzgerald Il have faith your undertaking and the loss sustain
this sale hope make other lines and he virtually
took half for his road he should have due credit for what
he did and for all he has done since He always stood by the
Colony and had faith and while he may have made money
has his money freely maintain and build the
The railroad question settled gave life and hope
Ny hardest efforts and which gave most worry in
trying satisfy each member with suitable allotment To have
them before the board refused exchange they would
drop the matter until visit when would be beeged with
members change aotments could readily how important
and would be give them something satisfy them
thing they could live upon keep them with and did