Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-06-21
THE PASSING OF A GEORGIA BUILDER

enc to whom serv. ce for his fellowman had become
a religious text inspired and inspiring 1t would
he impossible to pay higher tribute to this noble
spirit than the following article written by James
4. Holloman, associate editor of the Atlanta Con
stitution:
The death Of George T. Belts at his home in Ash
burn Saturday night brought to an end at the hour of his
greatest service of the useful in Georgia
For several days he had been desperately i'll from
appendicitis and during the earlier part Of the week his
death has been momentarily expected
His thousands of friends all the were over
whcmcd with grief; and through they prayed with deep
sincerity and ervor
His condition began to show improvement, and
they felt hopeful that he would survive
For forty eight hours prior to Saturday was believed
except possibly by his physician alone realized the truth
that he would recover.
The of his passing, therefore, came as shock
shock that touched the depth of hearts all over this
state the hearts of thousands indeed who only knew him
through the unscsh work the progress and prosperity
OF the people OF Georgia and which he rendered unstin
ingy and without persna reward, the appreciation
of those who understood its potential force and vrie con-
sructivcncss
But while George Belts dcd-even before LIES sun had
kissed the noon and without any personal rcward-for
the obsesson of his southc savagng of the Gcor
gle farmer from single crop serdom-he left monument
that will endure forever; and that will grow as the tree
from the planted acorn, until shall reach such propor
tons that its spreading branches shall become verablc
canopy of protection to the farmers of Georga-protec
ton from the storms of agricultural depression that nust
descend people who do weigh their operations
in the balance OF economic soundness
And that is not all!
The real reward accrues Georgia for GEORGE Retts
built in two of untrng effort through shadows and
storms trials and tribulaons sacrifices and suffering hut
always in 'hc inspiring sunlight of service and with the
qu'ckcncd Joy of unsesh devotion to his state f,undo
ton for greater Georgia. for more unified Georgia for
more materially independents Georgia and on that
foundation there will be reward to Georgia that
will serve again an enduring to the honor Of
its intrepid founder.
Two Years more when the ravages OF boil wccy
il and study of farm conditions in Georgia impcllcd A
reconstruction OF agriculture industry in this state
George Belts wealthy young farmer banker
and lumberman of Turner county began unsclishy to
reconstruct his county program of balanced agr
culture insisting that every farm should have one pure
bred COW more, herd of pure bred hogs and flock
OF pure bred chickens. He then began to make the mar
letting arrangements that would make such program f.
nancially profitable the farmer. He enlisted the COOP
Grafton of other banks along with his own together with
the cooperation of merchants nufacturers-everybody
Credits, help facilities everything was placed in the farm
ers path of opportunity
Soon the Turner county plan" became of such instant
and conspicuous that its fame began to spread
The Georgia Association reached out and interested
George Belts the enthusiastic red blooded Georgian who
was giving such unsesh service to his own county to
become its president
And for the past five months this Turner county man.
without salary remuneration TO cover even his
has travelled from the coast to the mountains preaching
the "cowsow and hen" program of balanced apricultre
preaching better and intelligent farming the maxine
ct cotton highly specialized surplus money CROP and
with all assisting in promoting cooperative marketing
and in demosratzng the people of and county, for
the contenni mt and prosperity of all
He all of his time all of his energy all Of his yea,
all OF his enthusiasm much of his mercy priceless pa
triotsm-and he died in the harness of that service
Following his earlier activities not only were people Of
Georgia aroused the program OF George
T. Belts and his Turner county plan" but the eyes of
the agricultural press of America were turned to Georgia
The Country Gentleman, the leading agricultural paper
OF high and intelligent order in America sent staff
man to Georgia study the Georgia associations balanc
ed agriculture plan
II subsequently gave OF illustrated endorsement
to the foresight and the constructive activities of Mr.
Belts and the organization
Recently the associate editor of the Country Gentleman
travelled over much OF Georgia with Mr. Belts in giving
outside publicity to this program
The Philadelphia Public Ledger gave pages to il: and
recently the Columbia IS c. State its managing ed
tor into Georgia TO study the activities the Georgia
Socation And its plan-as put into virie action bv
George I. Betts-was adopted for South Carolina and
thousands OF copies of pamphlet telling of the Turner