Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-05-27
11,4s7 1905

44S4Ot 4oSVS0
His detailed statement of the more
outstanding facts Of Georgia's pro-
gress presented to The Week for
circulation throughout the State, fol-
lows:
"In 1910, the value of the chick
ems and eggs produced in Georgia was
$4,794,696, in 1920, $12,42O,973, IN
1925, $25,OOO,00O. It is now at
least $3O,OOO,OOO. This represents
more than six hundred per cent in
crease in total volume during a fif-
nNteen-year period and of an actual
: monetary increase Of $1,600,000 q
year. Can our industries point to
any finer achievement during the
same period of time? In 1920, the
number of birds on our farms was
1921, 788. In 1925, we had 100000
OOO.. In 1922, the incubator capaci-
ty Of our state was 10000 eggs. It
is now over 100000. Today ninety
five per cent of the chickens pur-
chased in Georgia are pure breds. In
1920, eighty-five per cent of them
were mongrels. In 1909, the value
of each fowl sold was twenty-nine
cents. In 1925, it had risen to one
dollar. Surely, these facts evidence
a phenomenal growth and develop
ment of the poultry industry. Surely,
the people of Georgia have reason
to rejoice with reference to this mat
ter. Certainly, it evidences the de-
velopment of an initiative and
power of achievement that are high
ly commendable. To the initiated
who may be surprised to learn what
has already been achieved in his
highly specialized field, it is proper
to say that the poultry industry is
destined to become a $50,000,0O0 a
year enterprise in Georgia within the
next fifteen to twenty years.
Gust about as remarkable trans
formation has happened in the case
of hogs as has been portrayed about
poultry. In 1910, there was hardly
a pure bred. hog in Georgia. Fifteen
years later, pure bred hobs could be
found in every section of the state.
In 1910, we had no packing plants.
Now, we have two large and efficient
ones, and South Georgia has devel-
oped the swine industry to the point
where it practically furnishes enough
hogs to operate them during the win
ter months. In 1910, the only place
to cure meat was at home, and the
losses to farmers aggregated thous-
ands upon thousands of dollars a
year. In 1925, we had community
plants for curing meat scattered
about all through the state, but more
particularly in the southern part Of
Georgia. In 1910, we were not grow
ing any considerable number of hogs
for sale. In 1925, hogs formed a
part of the farm cash crop. program
on thousands Of Georgia plantations.
In 1910, we had no pig clubs. In
1925, we had 5000 members of such
organizations. 1t is through the
agency of these young folks that
demonstrations have been made
throughout the length and breadth of
the state, calculated to emphasize the
Importance of using pure bred hogs,
feeding the animals out quickly on
grazing crops and developing ton-lit-
tiers. We are certainly going to make
very substantial progress along the
line fhog production in Georgia in
the immediate future. To. do this,
we must materially increase the vol
ume of our own corn crop. Steps to
this end have already been set in
motion.
"The dairy industry has also I'M
dergone a fair share of development
during the last five years. In 1920,
for instance, we manufactured about
10000 pounds of creamery butter.
In 1925, this had risen to 100000.
We have more and better dairy cows
in the state than ever before. Dairy |
calf clubs are being developed rapid
by in many progressive sections. /
There is a greater interest evidenced
in the dairy business now than ever
before in our history. We are pro-
ducing more milk for the use of our
towns and cities, laying more land
down to pastures, and improving the
status and conditions of the dairy in
dustry generally. The progress made !
during the last five years is most en- :
couraging and should move the heart
of the most dismal pessimist to peni-
tence. We are certainly on our way
to larger and finer things in so farl