The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-12-18
To Reprint Happenings of Past in
Each Weeks Issue of Dawson
News. Talks With Principal Ac-
tors Will Be Part of Feature.

Fifteen years ago is not long time,
chronologically speaking, but any
: number of changes may take place i'll
much shorter time The News is
inaugurating a new feature, which
consists OF ferreting from the columns
OF the paper bits Of news that occurr-
ed in Dawson in years back. Compar-
isons bear the stigma OF being odious,
and therefore we are offering them in
the nature OF contrasts.
Fifteen years ago, within a few
days of this date, r. r. Marlin took
the oath OF office as mayor and assum-
ed charge of the city administration.
The aldermen going in with Mr.. Mar
lin were J. A. Shields, w. A. McLain
and J. c. Hollingsworth. The hold
over aldermen were ]. S. Lowrey, F.
NJ. McNulty and A. B. Hamilton.
Mayor Marlin, in his inaugural adj
dress, called the attention of the coun-
cilment to the city's Indebtedness,
which was placed at $88, $50 Next in
importance he placed the city light
and water departments and urged that
they be placed on a paying basis. A
new charter for the city and codifica
ton of the laws and ordinances were
in turn asked by the new mayor.
Some OF the striking things the
mayor said were:
Il purpose to cut down the expens-
es OF the street and sCavenger depart
ments oHe-half by using vagrant la
Dor
"Merchants sweep their store trash
and place unsightly garbage boxes
and nauseating fish barrels out in the
streets, and warehousemcn, gentle
men, actually charge farmers for stOr
ing cotton on our most important
thoroughfares.
Il propose to- enforce every law in
corporated in our city code. | intend
especially to rid the city OF those en-
gagged in the illicit sale OF liquors by
having them caught and binding them
over without bond, to ouir city court
Il propose to administer the 'keely'
cure to drunkards and to do my best
to stop semi and professional gam
bling in Dawson"
Mayor Martins view of civic affairs
fifteen years ago is not essentially dit
ferent from Mr.. Martins views to-
day. Last week he said in part:
"DaWson's outstanding need fifteen
wears ago was identically the same as
it is today.
This need may be expressed as civ
ic team work.
There are several tangible results
| of this cooperation OF citizens Tor the
civic welfare now in existence, but it
| is doubtful if Dawson has more than
a faint conception OF The possibilities
Of such activity.
THE Chamber OF Commerce made
| it possible to vote bonds for street
paving and for extension OF water
mains. The Kiwanis Club was instru-
mental in bringing action in the pro
| posed government building. Yet,
done or is doing more than scratch the
surface OF the possibilities"
Mr.. Marlin is now secretary OF the
| Kiwanis Club. which has supplanted
the old Chamber of Commerce. He is
an active advocate of progress, and a
staunch believer in the necessity OF
action at all times.
| An eleCtiOH TOT ldN COII6CtoI was
held during the week, and Dr. 5. ID.
| Bowman won i'll a three-cornered race.
] The defeated candidates were A. L.
| McLendon and J. o. Russell, Mr.. Nc
Lendon was then the incumbent and
Mr.. RUSSELL holds the Office at present.
A report made during the week by
Mr.. McLendor placed the collections
Of taxes at about $4,000 OF $4,000
due the state and county. Mr.. Russell,
reporting last week, placed the sum
Of collections at approximately the
same figure. This, year the total tax
due was something over 100000.
The city court convened Monday
morning of this week. There were
more than sixty cases on the docket,
most Of them against blind tigers A
number Of white women, arrested Sew
eral months previously on warrants