Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-08-07

KNOCKS-If all the arrange
ments for the construction of State-owned termin-
ais at the seashore, as planned, which would in
clude two million cubic feet of space for cold stor-
age PURPOSES were made and work should COM
mence today, by the time these terminal facilities
could be completed their use by the pecan growers
of Georgia would put into the pockets of pecan
growers more money in the shape oil better prices
for pecans for the first year than the entire cost of
the terminals, II that cost should reach fifteen mil
lion dollars.
1t would take two three years to do this work,
and within three years, Georgia will have three mil
lion bearing pecan trees These trees will produce
100 pounds each, or three hundred million pounds.
Within five years Georgias pecan crop will be
worth more money than her cotton crop. State
owned terminals as planned il constructed, will
enable pecan growers of Georgia to obtain better
prices to such an extent that they will every year,
be able to put in their pockets an increase in the
value of pecans that will be larger in amoant than
the total cost of Statc-owned terminals.
Already Georgia pecan growers are realizing the
of cold-storage facilities. considerable
portion of the crop of 1923 placed in the various
plants at Columbus, Atlanta, Albany, and other
points, and the growers who placed their pecans in
cold storage are now selling their pecans at from
is cents to 20 cents per pound than they could
have gotten at the time they placed in cold
storage If the State-owned terminals should be cal
led upon to take of one hundred million pounds
OLA three-hundred-n pound crop, and the
growers should obtain IS cents per pound increase
in price, this direct visible saving to the grower
would equal the States investment.
If we shut out of view the saving that may be
made to peach growers, apple growers, the owners
of daries the owners OF poultry farms, the produc-
ers of meat, the growers of peanuts, and all other
commodities in the preservation of which modern
cold storage facilities essential, and look at
Stateowned terminals merely from the standpoint
of pecan growers, it would be the best use of its
credit that the State could possibly make The issu-
ance OF bonds for State-owned terminals would be
an Investment in property that would always bring
the amount of bonds issued therefor The only in
vestment of the State would be loan of its credit
and the money realized would go into properties
with earning capacity that would take care OF
the maintenance, interest and sinking fund.
Secretary of State S. G. McLendon, who has
made profound study Of the merits of the ques-
ton of State-owned terminals IN communication
to The Telegraph, declares:
"As Georgian; make a most earnest appeal to- the
that be to give the people of Georgia the oppor
tuny decide for themselves whether they wish to
this great plant established at seaboard make this
appeal from selfnterest but feel impeed to make
it in gratitude the people of Georgia Calamity,
teacher rough rider but he teaches his lesson horoy
Calamity has already invaded the peach industry of Geor
ga and unless move forward in order to meet the
dons which know will soon exist Georgia must pay
the price of ignorance and delay"
The Legislature not put any debt upon the
consent to the use of their credit in the construc-
ton of facilities for the preservation and handling
of perishable products, which will be worth
millions and millions of dollars each and every year
after those facilities are in shape for use.
In New York there cold storage facilities of
over two hundred million feet of cubic space. The
first unit of the Georgia plan would provide two
million cubic feet and this would have to be dou-
bled by the time of the completion of the first unit
This is the greatest economic problem which pre-
sents itself to the people of Georgia Private capt.
tai would not furnish such facilities, but the State
can and should, furnish these facilities as means
of restoring prosperity to those who produce
The producing classes in agriculture and IN AMI
NAL husbandry, growing faintrhearted from re-
peated adversites Only the State is strong enough
to give them heart and hope. Louisiana has over
thirty million dollars invested in shipping and stor
age facilities at New Orleans. These are State-own
ed New Orleans is 1900 miles, by sea- from Liver
pool The coast of Georgia is 5000 miles from Liv-
erpoo Georgia, therefore, has the advantage of
/ 900 miles over New Orleans. This means saving
of eight days the round voyage OF each ship The
opportunities of Georgia amazing in their mag
nitude They of ncalcuable commercial and
agricultural value, and they free from all fnan
cial hazards.
Mr.. McLendon says to the point:
AS Georgian l appeal to the representatives OF
Georgia give the people of Georgia opportunity
to save Georgia. and make Georgia the greatest and
most prosperous region of the earths surface He who
does preventable calamity foolish, and the
anathema of those who follow him. and who will suffer
will be his reward God Georgia from the leadership
and control of ignorance and neficency!-The Macon
Daily Telegraph. Saturday, August g.