Newspaper Page Text
| PART 3.
ESTABLISHED 1887.
PICTURED FROM EVERY POINT OF VIEW.
Like a Shining Star Looms up Old
Floyd County.
RICH IN VARIED RESOURCES.
Mountains Filled With Mines of Coal, Teeming
With Valuable Ores.
FERTILE VALLEYS, FOREST OF TIMBER.
The Unsurpassed Climate Adds to The Attractiveness of This
Great Wonderland.
Overhead a sky whose blue lustre
seems to fall, mellowed through an
intervening veil of luminous vapor!
No words can describe the fire and
force of the coloring, the daring con
trast which the difference of halt a
tint changed from discord into har
mony make. Here in Floyd county
the Great Artist seems to have taken
a new pallette and painted is •'crea
tion” with lines unknown elsewhen.
Here in the valley of the mounta’ns,
' reveling in the wild magnificence of na
ture, are dotted prosperous homes of a
people rich in the wealth of simplicity
and hospitality, culture, plenty, peace
and happiness everywhere, I see a
beautiful race in possession of this par
adise, a race in which t-he best symetrv
and grace of the Greek is partially re
stored; milder manners, better regulated
impulses, and a ke.en appreciation of the
arts, which enrich and embellish life.
These are the characteristics of the de
mocracy of Floyd county.
A splendid country, this broad, beau
tiful and fertile county of Floyd, with
its matchless landscapes, clear streams,
generous soils, magnificent forests, lofty
mountain peaks, genial climate and
grand agricultural possibilities; a re
gion that embraces more of the elements
of cheap, independent and enjoyable
human living, and offering m <re to the
investor and enterprising settler than
any other county in Georgia. The
wealth of soil aud capabilities of pro
duction have long since characterized it
as the ‘ ‘garden spot’ ’ of the great state.
I Floyd's Location,
The banner county of Ge orgia is situ
ated in Northwest Georgia, on the Ala
bama line. The soil is verv productive,
and the country abounds in rich valleys
of large area and mountains of great
beauty, well adapted for vineyards and
grasses. In price there is a w.de range,
depending upon location in regard to
the city of Rome and the character of
the soil. River bottoms command the
highest price, with creek bottoms, up
lands and highlands fo'lo wing in the or
der named. Mountain lands are very
cheap, bntcan be made remunerative
and valuable in the hands of experi
enced men. Cotton, corn, wheat, oats,
■ ■ —> ; rw.. T-. ■■■ ■■■
■ ■ ■■ ■ ■ ■■ ■
a
’ ; -i
■—> ' • '«l
■ J
RURAL SCENES IN FLOYD COUNTY
THE ROHE TRIBUNE.
rye, barley, clover • and grasses grow
luxuriantly. Apples, peaches pears,
grapes, nuts, etc , and all fruits of the
temperate zine grow with but little
care, and flourish in the greatest pro
fusion. .
Ores and Minerals.
The extent, variety and value of the
resources of Floyd county are simpiy
inestimable. There is enough hidden
wealth lying undevelop-.d within our
native hills to supply the manufactories
with the raw material to keep them
going on full time for many years to
come.
For a long time Floyd county has
taken the premium for the best display
of minerals of all kinds at the various
expositions and state fairs held in
Georgia.
No less than twenty varieties have
been found, aud so far only a few of
these have been uriliz id or the deposits
proper y prospected aud opened up.
Comparatively few people recognize
ttie fact that no section of the state aud
for that matter none in the United
States, can boast of a greater variety of
useful mineral deposits contained within
its borders.
Time aloue with capital and skilled
labor combined w 11 unfold to a wonder
ing world its millions in hidden wealth
and resources.
Within tbe limits of the county have
been found three varieties of iron ores
iu abundantly payiug quantities, large
beds of maganese ore, both red and
white, bauxite ores, so useful in th
new metal, aluminum, extensive de
posits of ochre, bituminous shale, iron
pyrites, gold, silver and lead.
There are also extensive deposits of
variegated and black marble, elate,
cement rock, lithographic srone, brown
stone, kaolin, brick clay, and an inex
haustible ledge of limestone extending
from Cave Spring entirely across the
county All these useful ores and stones
are easy access, the cost of mining and
quarrying being reduced to a minimum,
aud on account of our splendid facilities
for transportation, little ditliculty is
found in transporting rhem to the dis
tant marts of the world
For road budding and macadamizing
SOUVENIR AND TRADE EDITION.
material there-is nothing equal to the |
native cnert and rei shale which are I
f<>u d or, the surface in inexhaustible i
quantities. I,
In addition to this there are ore beds
.from which rhe finest min ial water is i
ilita n d in numerous combinations J
which, as shown by ample analysis, are
the equal of any to be found in the ,i
country. j
W’th limited capital and the crude
methods heretof -re in vogue, thousands
of tons have beetj shipped to di-ta"t i
points, and men are making money now ■
haul ng the output of > x'ensive bauxite :
deposits which are sold for remunera- I
tive prices in Pittsburg and other i
markets. Furnaces have already been
erected for working these ores, and at
no distant day they will prove a source
of great wealth to the ptople of Floyd
county.
There arp a number of other minerals
that exist wlrch have not been touched
by the prospectors, and the develop
ment of which will prove exceedingly
profitable when the proper amount of
capital and energy are put to work to
bring out these wonderful resources.
These mineral lands can now be
bought at merely nominal figures and
those in search of inve-tment can find
■no better investment can find no better
paying property anywhere on this con
tiuent than within the limits of Floyd
county.
Navigable Rivers,
The county is blessed with navigable
streams, in addition to railroad facilities.
The Oostasaula and E’owah join at
Rome and form the Coosa.
The Oostanrula is navigable for
over 100 miles above the city, and the
Coosa for 250 miles below, with large
yearly appropriations by the general
government to open it to the gulf. The
F-owah river, which is not navigable,
is a swift flowing mountain stream,
with immense power, which can be util
ized at a comparaively small expense
for factory purposes.
Railroads. (
The railroads running through Floyd j
county are the Southern Railway com- ,
piny, formerly the East Tennessee, (
Virginia and Georgia, with lines to j
Chattanooga, Atlanta, Selma and De
catur; the Chattanooga, Rome and J
Southern,and the W. & A Rv. a branch ]
of tbeN. C. & S'. L., connecting with (
the Louisville a d Nashville Railway (
system furnish abundant railway facil- ,
ities, aud give direct out’ets to the (
Northwest and Atlantic and Gulf ports. f
County Schools, <
Floyd county is justly proud of its i
public schools, and they are an honor to ;
the county. Able and experienced <
teachers are in charge, and no effort is r
spared to keep abreast with the pro- I
gress in all matte-s pertaining to public
education. An opportunity is offered to
every child in the county to receive a ;
common school education free of all <■
cost. 5
One of the first questions asked by a c
a man expecting to move to a new lo- f
cality is: “\Vhat kind of schools are j
there?” In fact, a man of family who f
does not feel an interest in the educa
tional facilities of his prospective home,
is no’- the kind of man to assist indevel
oping the resourcesofa country; that
will be a desirable addition to a com- „
muuity, or that will make a live, pro- £
gressive. public spirited citizen. There g
fore, in this special issue of The Tri-
bune, which <xp c'ed to reach tbe
best cla-ses <-f pe >ple .-eeking oppirtun
ities of m iking piling investments or
desiring to make prmiuent homes in
Floyd county, it is very important that
som-.-thi ig shoal I be said of the public
scnools.
Doubtless Floyd county has one of tbe
best arranged systems of uublic schools
in the state, famous as Georgia is for its
most excellent school syste n. The his
tory of the county schools has been
one of continu »us improvement aud
very flittering success. A large m j >r
ity of the schoolhouses are commodi
ous and comfortable, seated with pat
ent Seeks, and supplied with charts,
; ’ •
RURAL SCENES IN FLOYD COUNTY,
globes and other school apparatus. The
districts are so laid off that every parent
in the connty has a schoolhouse at con
venient distance from his home. Thus
every child has an opportunity of seen -
ing a good common school educa'io >,
As Rome is so well supplied with rail
road facilities, Floyd county has always
had as good teachers as can be found in
the state. Teachers from other states
and other parts of Georgia seem anxious
to secure schools in Floyd county be
cause of the excellent reputation of its
schools, which send forth teachers ev
ery year that are doing excellent work
in this and adjoining countie*. In short,
parents thinking of moving to Floyd
county may feel assured that their chd
dren will have the advantages of the
best school facilities.
Farming.
Either on a large or small scale, can
be prosecuted under the most favorable
Conditions The soil and climate are
well adapted to the growth of cotton,
cereals, grasses, sugar, vegetables,
fruits, indigenous to temperate and semi
tropical climates, also stock raising and
fattening and poultry raising.
Vegetables,
It will be admitted by all who are
familiar with this subject that the best
possible soil for the production of nearly
all garden vegetables is a sandy loam,
and where this soil is underlaid with a
sufficiently retentive subsoil, it can, by
proper cultivation, fertilizing and rota
tion of crops, be not only heavily cropp
ed, but during such process gradually
built up to a state of fertility and pro
ductiveness not surpassed by any other
class of soil, and the ease with which it
can be cultivated during all seasons of
the year, and its freedom from excess
ive moisture during the wet season, as
well as its ability to withstand any de
ficiency of rainfall better than heavier
lands are all arguments in its favor.
A Royal Fruit Country.
Floyd county has the soils, elevation,
equable temperature, climatic condi
tions and humidity and other requisites
for the perfection of all the fruits of the
middle latitudes. Wild fruits grow in
profusion along the streams, in wood
lands and upon the hillsides. The local
orchards, gardens and vineyards are a
genuine surprise to the eastern and
northern visitor. No calling is surer of
adequate returns on the investment of
the needed capital, labor and experience,
than this delightful, inviting and satis
fying industry.
The philosopher who said, ‘‘the gar
den is the first step toward civilization”
was a wise man in his generation,
Equally 'wise and more a benefactor,
is he who plants a garden in Flojd
county for himself and his family, “sir
under his own vine and fig tree,” and
p ..cs frpiis riom bis own planting. No
■ re,i uin Georgia offeis a more p-omis
lin aud invir ng field for the smail fruit
larmer ti-au F oyd county. Tbe market
for the p oduc s are i limiiable.
The Peach,
The Georgia peach is second to none
in qua iy nd flavor, and whenever it
has tome in competitio i either with the
nor’hern or California fruit, it has born
I off the palm. Peach growing is one of
the greatest of tbe undeveloped p ssibil
itie of F oyd county and the transporta ■
j tion facili i- s already conneotiug Rome
,wi h the larger cities of the east and
n .-rih, etc , insuie the p omps delivery
of fresh fruit in o those marie s diiec;
from Flo d's fields inside of from twen
ty-four to so ty-eight hours.
Grapes,
Can be gtown to the best advantages.
Every condition of the soil and climate
having proved by test of actual experi
ence to be equal in all respects to France
or Ita ; y. to which Georgia is more
nearly a like in these respects than any
o’her part of the United States. Intelli
gence and experience applied to grape
culture in Floyd county cannot fail of
the most gratifying results.
Melons,
The mention of the name melon is
sufficient to tell the story of another
great, p oduct, and Floyd county has
already taken a leading rank in grow
ing aud shippin i of melons and can a
loupes, aud housands of acres cju yet
be p:ofitably panted. The Georgia
melon takes first rank aud has always
commanded the highest price. The soi
and climatic conditions are just suita
ble for their ptoduction; the expense of
produc iou is nominal.
’Grasses,
Cultivated Grasses are among the lead
ing resources of Floyd county. There
area number of varieties, embracing
many of the more valuable species of
herbage known to the middle and west'
ern portions of the country. Most of
these grasses are valuable grazing herb
age, and many of them equal to the
famous “bluegrass” of Kentucky.
Crops Seldom Fail,
Crops are sure to the thrifty farmer
in Floyd county, if they are sure any
where in the world. From the date of
the organization of the county up to the
present time, in this beautiful and mag
nificent section, the years have recorded
only rare partial failures, and only
such as are witnessed in all parts of the
world.
If there is anywhere on earth a farm
er’s paradise, where soils, seasons,
grains, grasses, fruits, vegetables, and
everything planted, are under tribute
to the provident and thrifty farmer, it
is in Floyd county. It is essentially
and emphatically God’s country.
Genial skies are overhead, productive
soils are under foot; clear, swift run
ning streams flow through the land,
fields and woodlands, valleys and inter
vals are decked with the richest herb
age; wild fruits grow in the woods and
by the wayside; a soft blue haze—the
dreamy influence of the semi tropical
—hallows this goldened and fruitful
land from January to December, and
its God’s country, for His manifest
s mile is on everything.
Cotton is King,
Cotton has led all other crops five to
one since the settlement of the county.
It has fashioned and led commerce, and
its production is measured by the mil
lions annually.
To cultivate cotton, to pick, gin and
PAGES 17-241
PRICE FHE CENTS.
deliver it io the compress companies
and to ship it to the great markets and
m innr'acturing centers is the one ab
sorbing occupation of the day. That it
has euric ted the c untry a large there
can be no doubt, an i that the capabili
ties of its production in Floyd county
are ton times greiter than the present
production is t quailv plain. It is,how
ever, pitent to the dullest observer that
the greates, need of tbe country is
Variety in Farming,
To grow one great staple at the ex
pense of all ocher products of an agri
cultural region is in the end an un
profitable and unsatisfactory calling. It
may build up princely fottunes for the
few, but it is at the expense of the
many. The want of this whole region
is the cultivation of more vegetables,
fruits, corn, wheat, oit', rye, the rais
ing of beef, pork, mutton, wool and
dairy products; less large landed es
tates and more small farmers with title
deeds to their homes.
To ship cotto .i to the northern mar
kets and buy flour, bacon, lard, cheese,
etc , from the states of the north and
east is an uphill business at least, a
process that has impoverished the rich
est regions of the world.
It is a violation of the simplest laws
of political economy, and not until a
more liberal system of variety farming
is introduced by a race of small farmers
with titled deeds to their farms, and
well cultivated grain fields, orchards,
vineyards, dairies, poultry yards, etc.,
will Floyd county arrive at the highest
degree of prosperity and self-sustaining
independence. This is the manifest
destiny of a region which the Eternal
God has endowed with resources for the
sustenance of a dense, prosperous and
contented population. Floyd county
has probably more small farmers than
any other county in the state, but needs
a still greater supply of them.
Dairy Products,
Floyd county is unsurpassed as a dairy
section. It is watered by three rivers
that rise in the heart of the Blue Ridge
and Alleghany ranges of mountains.
Here are numerous creeks and ever-flow
ing springs, any number of indigenous
grasses, and lime enough in the soil to
grow to perfection the cultivated grasses
of the more northern states. There is
an aroma in the butter made here that
equals that of the celebrated Genesee
Valley, of New York. The cheese is
equal to the best whole creams 'made at
Elgin or elsewhere. The possibilities of
successful dairying are commensurate
with the amount of energy and enter
prise put forth in the business.
Stock Raising
When the great and good God made
this county, He made it a paradise for
the poor man and the dumb brute. Ow
ing to the mildness of the winters the
farmers can hve comfortably in cheap
houses, while cattle can survive abund
antly on nature’s provisions.
To those who are devoted to stock
raising, and to those who desire to fol
low the stock business, they will find
not only a good clime and cheap lands,
bnt a very remunerative market for fine
blooded and good grades of stock.
In Floyd county, where so many nu
tritious grasses grow to such perfection,
an impetus has been given lately to
stock raising by a few of the mere en
terprising and aggressive farmers, who
have made several highly creditable ex
hibits of home raised cattle and mules.
Tne popular breeds of dairy cows
are: Jerseys and their grades, Ayer
(Continned on Page 34)