Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-23

we'll I can do this story win have to
be left to the reader to decide. I have
written many stories of this nature, but
never before have had better material
for a frst-class advertisement, to say
nothing of a good news item. that will
be Of interest to farmers.
Some days ago 1 was invited to Dom
alsonvilIe (Ga-) by Mr.. w. L. Powell.
Arriving there. he informed me that he
wanted me to spend a day or two there
and devote the time in studying the
town, its growth and development, the
surrounding country and community.
Then was to return home and tell The
Semi-Weekly Journal readers my i'm
pressions The writer has thrown away
the editorial "we'' for the time being
and substituted the pronoun Il, for the
story is to be my own impressions OF
Donalsonville and surrounding country.
Facts About Donalsonviile.
'Donalsonville is located in Decatur
county. on the main line Of the Atlantic
Coast Line railroad. This statement
alone tells the story of good passenger
and freight service for the town The
town is populated with about 1900 as
happy. prosperous and contented people
as can be found in any Georgia county.
Their churches, representing all denom-
nations. public schools, and other public
improvements, are the pride of every
citizen. The social and moral life is
measured by a very high standard.
Rowdyism and lawlessness are unheard
of in Donalsonville. There Is an at
mosphere of genuine cordially and un-
surpassed hospitality. The stranger, II
of good character, is soon in the hands
A. m that
welcome.
The electric light and water plants
are municipality owned. they are Of the
most modern type and equipment and
being owned and operated by the city
insures low rates of cost for these con-
veniences to the citizens. The streets
are well lighted. Both water and light
service is extended into every part OF
the city.
The town was laid out in manner
that the future will be cared for. The
streets are wide and most OF them Wei
graded. These, in the residence sec
tions, are lined with pretty shade trees.
Wide and roomy sidewalks form net
work over the entire town and add
greatly to the general appearance OF the
place.
There is plenty of room for growth
along lines of manufactures However,
there are several enterprises that are
prospecting and doing much toward max
ing Donalsonville a city. fertilizer
plant, we'll removed and restricted from
the residence section, supplies the de-
mand of the farmers of the community
in this particular product. An OIL mill
furnishes a ready market, at highest
possible values, for the bulk of the cot
ton seed raised on the rich farms sur
rounding Donalsonville. There are
other minor manufacturing industries,
including gins, mills, etc. The town
offers opportunities for others and the
list is growing annually.
DonalsonviIle has three good hotels.
They are large, roomy and comfortable.
They are of modern type and equip
ment. The service is really above the
average for a small town. The rates
range from $1.25 to $3.50 per day.
There are any number OF nrst-claso
stores and commercial enterprises!
The merchants are wide-awa.ke pro-
gressive people. They carry complete
lines of wares and commodities Some
of these enterprises represent large
sums of money and the stocks carried
compete favorably with those carried
by many of the cosmopolitan stores
Practically every line Of retail trade is
represented and the merchants draw
patronage from a large trade territory
The Wholesale trade is represented by
a large wholesale grocery concern.
There is only one bank in Donaldson
Vile, but IT is financed by several very
wealthy business men and capitalists
The management is most liberal in their
dealings and all new enterprises nno
ready assistance, once they have estab-
lished their worthiness.
Located in Southwest Georgia, Don
alsonvilIe enjoys a most extraordinary
pleasant climate. The winters are free
from severe cold, and hard freezes are
seldom, while the lands are Tanned
during the summer months, with the
breezes from the Gulf OF Mexico and
the Atlantic ocean. The altitude is such
that the section is almost free or ma
laria and fevers.
Briefly this is my impression or Don
alsonville. 1t is an ideal little Town
that will, in the course Of few years,
have to be numbered in the list of pro-
gressive Georgia cities.
valuable Farm Lands Surround the
Town.
Donalsonville is in the very heart OF
a splendid farm land section. l made
a trip through the rural section ana Cd
tanned f1rst-hand information about
these lands. 1t was trip that any one'
who loves good farm lands, likes 10 see
the farmers at work, enjoys travelling
over modern highways and roads, would
have enjoyed. 1 shall not say that l
have never seen just as good land and
farms as 1 saw on this trip, but dc
not believe that / have ever seen any
that are much better, If any, for all
round farming purposes.
The Nature OF the SOIL.
drove thirty-five miles, making
numerous stops, and was never more
than fourteen miles away from Donal-
sonville. While there are a few spots
of deep white sand, the major portion of
these lands are of the famous red pebbly
loan, with a red clay subsoil. Just the
kind of soil that has made southwest
Georgia famous for such variety of pro-
ductive crops.
While the section is free from hills
and broken country, it is rolling enough
to insure good natural drainage. There
are few low swaggy places that cause
water to stand and become stagnated.
This feature was particularly interest
ing to me, because the trip was made
soon after the long wet spell that visit
ed that section of the state at the close
OF the winter