Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-05-10
Vidalia And Lyons
folks Highly Pleased
A. F. Sawyer, in the Vidalia and
Lyons Papers Tells About The
Toombs County Booster Trip
To Abbeville and Fitzgerald.
(By A. F. SAWYER

a big boost. 1t is our purpose to deal
first in brief way with the social fea-
lures OF the trip, as we feel that it
would not be fair to omit saying some
thing OF the very cordial manner in
which we were received by the civic or
carnations and the citizenry generally
OF the different cities visited. AS has
already been published in the county
papers. seventy-five men, bankers,
farmers, merchants doctors, lawyers,
manufacturers and others-embarked
in about twenty-five cars last We'd
ncsday morning, leaving Vidalia,
where they had previously agreed to
assemble, about nine o'clock The
first objective was Fitzgerald, but we
were to receive quite an agreeable sur
f.snrise before reaching the end of the
FIRST lap of our journey.
\ How We Were Received at
Abbeville
Just before reaching the Ocmulgee
river We were halted by big banner
drawn across the highway inscribed
with the word welcome. AS was
subsequently learned this banner was
intended to convey the spirit of the
people of Abbeville toward the visitors
o. the Twelfth District High School
contest, held at that place Friday, but
if it had been designed especially for
our benefit the difference in the recep-
ton accorded us would not have been
perceptible to the naked eye. A dele
cation from the Abbevile Chamber of
Commerce headed by Mayor Googe,
was stationed by the roadside and as
the cars struggled up in punches of
two or three, the occupants were or
dered to disembark, whereupon intro
auctions were gone through with
Smokes" passed to the pilgrims.
When all the cars had been account
ed for, the cider to re-embark was
given and a parade line was formed
Arriving in Abbeville We were halted
under huge oak, where it is said
Jefferson Davis camped the night be-
fore his capture by Federal troops.
DR.. w. R. Googe in few well chosen
remarks, extended a welcome to the
travellers. Col. Patten was then in
troduced, making a short speech in
behalf of Abbeville's claim to consid-
Grafton in outlining a route for the
proposed Southern highway to be
named for the President of the Con-
federacy, calling special attention to
the new bridge recently completed by
the enterprising citizens OF Wilcox
County and the City of Abbeville.
This bridge is nine-tenths Of mile
in length. 'Wear it out and then
we'll build one of concrete" said Col.
Patten. He pledged the unanimous
support of the people of that section
to the project of constructing great
highway between Vicksburg, Miss. and
Richmond, Va. When the time comes
to select route for this highway Abb
beville is going to be a strong favor
lite in the running.
WI. DeLoach was selected from
our party to respond to these express
sions of welcome, and we needn't say
that did the job in a manner entirely
satisfactory to all present. Mrs. NC
Leod spoke in behalf of the Daughters
of the Confederacy. Geo. w. Landlord
responded to her address, and received
{. rousing encore when he Quoted
Kiplings poem entitled, Team work
At this point drinks and smokes were
served and then a parade OF the city
was proposed and in this tour we es-
peciailv noted the consolidated school,
in front of which we counted nine
buses parked, each one capable OF
carving twenty children.
Hurrah for Abbeville! They want
the highway, and we hope they'll get
it!
On To Fitzgerald
The next objective of our itineracy
was Fitzgerald, "The Magic City, as
it has fittingly been named. At the out
skirts of the city we were halted by
a delegation headed by Isidor Gelders,
editA5 of the Fitzgerald Leader Enter
prise, and who by the way is the Or
iginator of the proposition to con
struct a great Southern highway; W.
K. Bowen, chairman of the jeff Davis
Highway committee and J. E. Turn.
er, cashier of one of the Fitzgerald
banks. After securing a list OF the
NAMES of those in the party, the COM
mand was given to Crank up, the
objective this time being one OF the
most sumptuous luncheons ever spread
for a bunch of hungry mortals, and
we know every one in the party Will
olive Gelders three cheers and tiger
for the manner in which this part OF
tn program was carried out.
After dinner speaking was Launched
by Gelders, who in spite, OF his rlch
brogue, (he's an adopted American by
his own admission), gave. US some
interesting facts in connection with the
proposed Jeff Davis highway, and then
introduced w. R. Bowen, chairman OF
the Highway Committee, who deliver
ed one of the strongest and most log
ical addresses that we have ever heard.
FIe then extended a welcome to the
narty in behalf of the City Of Fltzger-
aid and Ben Hill County. Mr. Bowen
was followed by Geo. Landlord, VINO
stressed the importance OF cooperation
and unity in any great undertaking OF
this nature. Col. DeLoach was next
called upon and responded in man
ner to make us all feel proud OF the
fact that he was fellow-country-man.
I F. Turner was the next speaker,
relating the fable of the scientist who
srI;t the rock and found a diamond OF
unrest raw. while another man ploWed
On mountain side literally swarmng
Nth GEMS of incalculable value, yet
he Lnew it not. 1--WE are living IN the
Garden spot of the South, he said
vet there are many of us who are lg
rorant OF the fact. He said Georgia
4 Mas naturally a greater dairying state
~Ttta Wisconsin, and that time would
so& come when we would be awaken
al 70 this fact. He said our. coming
anS,,0a them was an inspiration to
greater efforts. 49,.
4 Mrs Thorpe was called upua at this
saint, and responded with an edityinIg
little speech, being we'll received by
ali those present, both strangers and
= a,,,, bor1efOlLS