Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-04-03
New Workers. Praise Central Dixie
Highway and Fitzgerald On Visit

Lawrence c. Van Epps of Schenec-
tady, New York and Homer B. Lilley
of New York City were visitors in
Fitzgerald on Thursday afternoon.
They were on their way north after
a three months sojourn in Palm Beach
and Miami where they were guests at
Royal Poinciana and Del Rio Apart
ments respectively.
Mr.. Van Epps acquainted himself as
Democr committeeman from
Schenectady County as former Sec
rotary to the City Engineers during
the years of 1920, 81, %, and %, in
Schenectady, N. Y. During the fore
mentioned years as secretary, Mr.. Van
| Epps was closely associated with
Lieutenant-Governor George R. Lunn
of New York State under whose ad-
ministration while Mayor of Science
tady, Van Epps held the foremention-
| ed position. He was also associated
with the largest of Schenectady news
papers, the Schenectady Gazette as a
political writer and desk associate for
number of years.
Accompanying Mr.. Van Epps, as
mentioned heretofore, is Mr.. Lilley,
Advertising Director of the Empire
Syndicate incorporated of New York
City. Lilley has been connected with
this concern for about four years be-
fore which he was associated with the
Standard Oil Company in China. Also
it might be mentioned that Mr.. Lilley
was a captain in the British Royal
Air Forces for many years where his
prominence as a flyer created sensa-
tions throughout Europe, Africa and
Asia.
These men left Palm Beach on the
24th of March going direct to Daytona
where they stopped over night. On
the 18th their trip extended to Jackson
vile where they located until the
morning of the 9th. Their arrival in
Fitzgerald was at 4:30 on Thursday
afternoon where they stopped to pay
visit to the Leader. They stayed con-
siderable time at the offices after
which they headed on their way to
Macon where they spent a few days.
Following their visit in that city they
expect to motor to- San Francisco for
an extended sojourn.
In regard to Fitzgerald, both of
these men praised our city to the high
est hoping without hesitation that in
few Years, with steady boosting, that
it would rank among the topnotchers
of the Southern country. 1T has the
facilities so why not the backbone?"
quoted Van Epps in regard to the abil-
ity of Fitzgerald to become great like
many of its sister cities.
There was also considerable men
ton made of the coming presidential
election at which time the people of
our great country are going to choose
leader for the next four years. Re-
garding New York state, Van Epps
stated that ct is doubtful whether
Charles Murphy would regard McAdoo
serious contender; that is to say
strong enough to receive the support
of Tammany Hall" His pleasure is
more concerned in the prospects of
Alfred E. Smith, Governor; Geo. E.
Lunn, Lieutenant-Go Governor and Roy
al S. Copeland, United States Senator
from New York, these three men con-
stitute the favorite sons of the 'Em-
pire State
"In my opinion, to say the strongest
the most eligible man in the State OF
New York is Lieutenant Governor
George R. Lunn, whJ is everything
that our people want to make
worthy President of the United Stat
es and good people of the South
search out the value of this man and
find out.
In conclusion Mr.. Lilly took his
turn to be interviewed and praised the
condition of the Central Dixie High
way, as he found it on this trip, as
on a former occasion, practically no
roads were in evidence below Way
cross, where now regular boulevard
stretches for thirty-eight miles to
Georgia's boundary line. We noticed
the names of Mr.. Bowen and Mr..
Gelders on bronze tablet at Folks
ton and decided to look you up on ar
rival here as an appreciation OF the
good roads along this route. With the
exception of detours where new work
is being done, and the detours are all
right. the roads to Jacksonville are
certainly praise worthy and being so
much shorter than the other FLORIDA
bound highways, will get the bulk OF
the travel.
Keep your section and the Central
Dixie Highway before the public eye
and YOU will not only get tourist trav-
Ell but secure many northern settlers
on these lands of yours, who would
make veritable Garden of Eden OF