Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-06-19

projects, making them feel that
his company is concerned in
their and their families welfare
as we'll as in its own, has enabled
Mr.. Croker to bring to Geor-
gia upwards of 100 selected fam
lilies from outside the state, each
family either having leased or
purchased the land it occupies
or being employed at wages by
an occupant with a view to pur-
chasing later on.
The Atlanta Trust Company
is the only ,and-owning concern
that has put this policy into ac-
tual practice on an extensive
scale. 1t is a new departure in
Georgia, but results even to- date
from the standpoint of personal
financial returns to the company,
to say nothing of the welfare of
its clients and of the community
development have abundantly
proven its wisdom.
Recently Mr.. Crocker's depart
ment gave barbecue ON one of
its projects near Ambrose, which
was participated in by upwards
of 200 men and women from var
ious parts O. the State. Among.
the speakers, guests at the bare
becue, were E. R. Black, presI-
dent of the Atlanta Trust Com
pany; B. L. Bugg, receiver of
the A. B. & A. railroad; R. A.
Moore, Mayor of Douglas, Ga;
M. Hugh Westberry and F. H,
Abbott, president and secretary,
respectively of the Georgia As
ISOLATION; ]. N. Mcdonald,
Douglas attorney, who has been
instrumental in the encourage
ment of the tobacco industry in
his county, and Prof. J. M.
Thrash, principal of the Elev-
enth District A. & M. School.
In his address, Mr.. Black said
that this was his first visit to
South Georgia, an he expressed
his agreeable surprise at the de-
ve1opment that had been made
there under Mr.. Crocker's sup
ervision. He said that his COM
pany would like for each one of
its farm projects to become "a
show-place" and a physical de-
monstration of the possibilities
of the soil of South Georgia.
1--WE want" he said, "by thu.
means to teach the people VA
this and other states just Whit
can be done here" He drew
contrast between the actual val
ues of Georgia land today and
those in his earlier memories,
when" he said, "land was sell
ing for 50 cents per acre in
South Georgia-when fellow
would have to give his land way
at that price and then later on,
in all probability, have to take
it back"
Mr.. Bugg stressed the fact
that the time has come when the
farmers shave got to raise other
crops than cotton" and cited the
surrounding farms as convincing
proof that that can proftably
be done; and he predicted that
the day soon would come when
we will wonder why we ever
were down-hearted here in South
Georgia"
Mr.. Abbott briefly reviewed
the part that the A. B. & A.
railroad and the Atlanta Trust
Company have taken in the ex-
tension, application and the vim
dication of the Georgia Asso&ia-
TONS Investigation and land
settlement plans; and Mr.. West
berry, after facilitating those
two commercial and industrial
organizations upon the progress
that had been made with their
assistance, said that "the Geor-
gia Association claims a part
in what has been done hereto
the extent, at least, of having
helped these others, and
men and organizations in
various parts of Georgia, to
catch the vision that is now be-
ing crystalized into perform
ance.' He showed how the state
at large has been and is being
benefited thru the work of the
organization of which he is pres
ident-"work," he said, that is
made possible only by the finan-
cial support of Atlanta business
men and of member countiese-
and he said that it is his hope
that "the other counties will
catch the vision, come in and
help the organization that has
helped and is helping them"
He declared that every Geor-
gian should be proud of what
this association has helped to
accomplish, and should be glad
to help an organization that is
maintained on an absolutely nom
profit basis, and is devoted ex-
clusively to the development of
the state and trying to get peo-
pie here and everywhere to real
lze the states unlimited posi-
bilities." .