Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-12-21
CHAMBER COMMERCE
ELECT NEW OFFICERS
Newcomer, President; Owens
Secretary For Coming Year.
Board Of Governors, Reflect
ed, Plan For Bigger Member
ship and Advertising City to
Tourists in Florida.

and the several activities of the Cham
Der which have had attention in re.
cent months. A resolution was adop.
ted inviting the Postal Telegraph Co
to open offices here and the good will
of the organization was assured Gc
them, in view of the fact that the
Western Union has declined to extend
the services of the local office and tc
keep its office open for longer per-
iod than at vresent. The Jefferson Da-
Wis Highway project was given the
organization's endorsement and a COM
tnittee appointed to secure funds to
purchase and place signs along the
route from Vicksburg to Fitzgerald
at an early date. DR.. Frank Ward, J.
E. Turner and F. R. Justice were ap-
pointed a committee to cooperate
with the promoter of the Highway and
authorized to use such funds as were
available in its interest.
A detailed report of the organiza-
tons activities for the past four years
was read by Secretary Adams, which
was voted to be printed in the press
of the city for the information of the
public. Treasurer ]. c. Glover made
his annual report of the finances of
the Chamber and reported good bal
ance on hand; with all debts paid to
date. County agent c. T. Owens, re-
ported approximately $500 worth OF
pure bred pigs and $500 of poultry, the
property of the Chamber in the hands
of his department, throughout the
county, being the nucleus of the pig
and voultry clubs of the county. 8,
Election of Officers.
President Mayes, in a brief state
ment in behalf of himself and the Off
GERS of the organization, stated that
the future of the community is ''what-
ever this Chamber of Commerce may
make it," and urged closer and hear
tier cooperation of the entire men,
bership with the officers of the organ
ization, to the end that more may be-
come accomplished in securing fac
tories or other profitable returns for
the city. He urged the election Of a
new set of officers, stating that whilst
he would continue to give his best
cooperation to whoever might be e.
1ected to succeed him, that he himself,
would not accept the position this
year. Nominations being called for,
the office of president, several were
nominated with the final result of the
election of Mr.. C. A. Newcomer for
President. 1st Vice-Pres. DR.. Frank
Ward; End Vice-Pres., DR.. A. H. Den
mark, with the following on the
Board of Governors: J. H, Mayes, w.
A. Adams, w. R, Bowen, E; L Dor
miney, c. T. Owens, F. R. Justice,
J. E. Turner, c. A. Newcomer, 6. 5.
Wilcox, J. J. Dorminey, 0 L. Brad
shaw, J. L. McCarty, ]. c: Glover, l..
L. Griner, I. Gelders, S. G. Pryor, yr.
and Dr. Frank Ward.
Secretary Adams having resigned
previously, Mr.. c. T. Owens, county
agent, was elected secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce for the coming
Year. Mr.. ]. c. Glover was unanimous
" reelected Treasurer for the fifth
term. A committee, consisting of the
newly elected officers were au-
thorized to arrange for membership
meeting early in January, with such
entertainment features as they may
devise.
Report of Secretary.
Report of the Secretary of the Fitz-
gerald Chamber of Commerce for
the Period From March 18th, 1919,
to December 18th, 1922.
Growth of Organization.
The Fitzgerald Chamber of Com
merce, under the present administra-
ton was organized March 18th, 1919,
with 9 members. 1t has continued thru
the worst depression in the history OF
the country and has steadily grown
until the present time when ithas a
membership, in good standing, of 8O.
During these Years many Chambers
Of Commerce in other cities have ceaS-
ed to be.
Publicity.
We have printed and issued, 1000
booklets entieled, 1.-THE Truth about
Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County.
These have been mailed to all parties
throughout the U. S. who inquired
for information about the city.
We have sent. out hundreds OF col
umns of boosting news stories OF the
happenings in the city and county
We have had editorials in leading pa
pers published about Fitzgerald. We
had series of articles on this city
and county in a number of magazines
and in many other ways, too numer.-
Gus to mention, we have adbertised;
Fitzgerald to the world.
Good Roads.
We advocated bond issue to pave
the Dixie Highway between Fitzger-
aid and Ocila. The bond issue failed
to carry but with the help of Mr.. M.
w. Garbutt, who was then a county
commissioner, way and means were
found to carry out this project, the
state and government furnishing most
of the money.
We enlisted the aid of the present
county commissioners in road building
and today this county has roads much
better than average county in the state.
We have continually worked with
the county commissioners in other
counties, through which the Dixie
Highway runs, and in this way have
been able to keep up interest in this
road and to keep it most OF the time
in good repair.
We have attended dozens of Good
Roads" contentious and meetings, in
various cities and towns, in the inter-
est of the Dixie Highway and in this
way have been enabled to keep alive
interest in all towns thru which it
passes and at the same time to adver-
tise Fitzgerald.
When the State Highway Commits
sion had made this road a secondary
one instead of a primary road which,
if accomplished would have taken the
Federal aid away from this road in
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