Newspaper Page Text
| PRRT2.
ESTABLISHED 1887.
MATTERS ABOUT
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Though a Volunteer Department It Has Reached
• A State of Perfection, and Without a
Superior in the State.
Doty First, Last and Always,
Its Motto.
It Has Made Much Progress During
the Past Thirty Years of Its
Existence—History of Its
Organization.
CONSISTS OF FOUR COMPANIES.
With Sufficient Hose, Excellent
Pressure. Plenty of Fire Hy
drants and Well Trained ,
Men-
No city in the great common wealth
of Georgia can boast of a more ef
ficient or better fire department, es
pecially is this so when compairing the
department of Rome with volunteer
companies of other cities. This state
ment is not made as an idle boast; no,
deeds are what the Rome fire depart
ment performs. The city at large
takes great pride in the department,
it being composed of men who are
-ever ready to respond to the call oi
duty, whether at night or day. That
their work in the past has been ef
ficient is amply evidenced by the
record of the years gone by. The city
has never suffer loss by any large
conflagration althoughzm a number of
occasions a large fire seemed more
than a possibility. It is due to theef
ficency of the fire department that
the cost of insurance has been kept at
-7~1
: - tw|jß|ft „ ' '
CHIEF J. B. OWENS.
a minimum, and it is essential that
the city gives this department every
encouragement in the way of money
and pharapbanalia.
The Rome fire department is a
volunteer one, but this fact does not
in any way stand as a barrier to its
efficacy. Indeed, the men who con
stitute it are in many ways the equal
to trained men who follow no other
vocation eave that of studing how
best to fight a fire.
The department consist of four com
panies, of able bodied men, seven
horses, one truck, four hose wagon",
two engines and 5,200 feet ot hose.
There are 96 fire plugs distributed
over the city and 29 alarm boxes.
The Gaynor fire alarm system is in
vogue and is in excellent working order
With the exception of two drivers to
each company, no member receives any
pay whatsoever, not even the chief. It
would seem to the uninitiated that such
being the case, the department wonld
lack supporters and workers. But this
is not so here in Rome. The men recog
nize that any good done the city or any
service rendered it, is as much a protec
tion to themselves as to others. Upon
this broad principle the department was
organized some thirty years ago.
The first company to enlist its services
to the city, was the Rainbow company
No,l. Next came Citizens’Hook and
Ladder No. 1; then Mountain City No.
THE ROHE TRIBUNE.
2. Shortly afterwards a company was
formed but existed only about two
years. It was followed by fire company
No. 4. Os these companies No. 1 has
1800 feet of hose, one wagon and an en-
I gine; No. 2, two hose wagons, one en
gine and 1900 feet of hose; No. 4, one
wagon and 1500 feet of hose. The Book
and Ladder company has one of the
atest improved fire trucks, equipped
with a full set of ladders, a hich are so
-
R B. M’ARVER.
arranged as to be hoisted one over the
' other, until the height of the highest
' building in the city is reached.
I A noteworthy feature of these com
panies is that each individual company
has, through its own effort, raised the
money for the parapharnalia, and con
sequently own everything pertaining to
the department—the horses, wagons,
hose and other devises used at fires—
even the repairing of damaged wagons
fall upon the individual companies. All
this gives strength to the fact stated in
the foregoing part of this article, that
the department is an efficient one,
and deserving of ail praise bestowed
upon it.
Is it, then, any wonder that the peo
ple are proUd of the gallant and athlet
ic fire laddies, for a better, trained or
more exemplary set of men than the
Rome fire department, under the lead
ership of Chief Owens, do not exist in
the state. Duty first, last and all the
time is the motto.
With a well equipped and ably man
aged and trained and trusted set of
men than Rome fire department will
ever stand forth the leader of all simi
lar departments in the South.
J, B Owens,
The present chief of the fire depart
ment, J. B Owens of the firm of Can
trell & Owens, leading shoe dealers, was
born in Bartow county, Georgia, May
18th, 1853. He received a common
school education at Cass Station and
Stilesboro. His early life was spent at
hard work upon a farm, which vocat on
he pursued until 1879. That year Mr.
Hr " W
r-a' Ira?'
GEORGE W. TRAMMELL.
Owens removed to Rome and entered
the employ of E. H. Cololough & Co.,
with which firm be was connected lor
three years. Subsequently he was con
nected with the firms of Shannon &
SOUVENIR AND TRADE EDITION.
Co., for two years, and R. H. West &
Soo, for six years.
In 1891, in co-partnership with A.
F. Cantrell be entered the shoe busi
ness under the present firm named,
and in which business he has been
eminently tpicessful.
Chief Owens has been a member of
the fire department for the past four
teen years and has been one of its
live and progress members.
He seryed as second assistant chief
in 1896, and in the middle of January,
1897 was elected chief of the depart
ment Mr. Owens has taken a deep
interest in the department and is one
of its staunchest supporters. He is
very popular among the boys and has
made one of the best chiefs that has
ever served. As long as the department
is governed by such men, this feature
of the city’s government will be ably
administered.
Capt- Charles N- Featherston
The bar of Rome has long been char
acterizedas one of the most noted in the
state; some of the members have gained
more than a local reputation and their
names are household words. Among
this class will be found the name of the
above.
Coming of distinguished ancestry, he
is a worthy successor of his house. His
father Lucius H. Featherston was a
lawyer of distinction and at one time a
judge of the superior court.
Capt. Charles N. Featherston first
saw the light in Heard county, Ga.,
October 25th 1839, and was also reared
and educated in tha< county receiving
the best education the schools afforded.
Subsequently, he entered Emory college,
Oxford. Ga , from which he was grad
uated.
During the late war Capt. Featherston
enlisted as a private in the Seventh
Georgia* regiment, but after the first
year of service was on staff duty. He
served faithfully the cause of the Con
federacy until the close of the war, and
came to Rome-in 1866 For twelve years
thereafter, he was associated with Judge
A. R Wright in the practice of law and
since the latter’s decease has remained
in the practice by himself.
———— - -—-1
mmp aft
v.rifc-
< -'Aw ■ ■■
s - Hp~
JUDGE JOHN P. DAVIS.
As an attorney Capt. Featherston
ranks with the best; as a man be is pos
sessed of general sound judgment, un
swerving integrity, firmness of purpose
and character, and high sense of honor
in the matter of personal and public
obligation. As a member and chair
man Os the board of roads and revenue,
he has rendeied much valuable service
to the county. Under the present admin
istration of the board of which he is the
guiding hand, the expenses of running
the county’s affairs have been materi
ally decreased. As long as such men are
chosen-for office, the administration of
the county’s affairs will be ably man
aged.
Capt. Featherston’s term of office has
hardly begun and the next three years
will show not only a master hand at
the helm but a much better and health
ier condition of county finance and a
greatly reduced indebtedness.
R, B, McArver,
“A public office is a public trust.’’
In Floyd county th s truism is indeed
applicable, inasmuch as the present
Board of Commissioners of Roads and
Revenues, seem to have adopted the
saying by practically applying it.
Among those who consider public office
as such is Mr. R B. McArver of that
body. His record as such has been an
excellent one and deserves much com
mendation.
Mr. R B. McArver was born, and
reared and educated in Floyd county,
and with the exception of a period of
several yeais -pent in the service of the
Confederacy, has lived here all his life.
He was educated by private tutors and
w
CAPT. C. N. FEATHERSTON.
at schools at Cave Sprinv. He left
school to serve his country, enlisting
as a private in the Sixth Georgia cav
alry. His comrades in arms often
urged him to serve as an officer, but be
declined, prefering rather to remain in
the ranks. He was, however, for a
short time color bearer of the major
generals colors of the First Georgia
brigade. His regiment was attached to
the western army. He saw much active
service in Tennessee, Georgia and the
Carolinas, and surrendered with his
command at Charlotte, N. C.
At .the close of the war Mr. McArver
returned to Floyd county, and shortly
.afterwards engaged in merchandising,
which he has pursued with marked suc
cess. He is proprietor of a large mer
cantile house at Coosa, and also post
master and a&ent of the Southern raii-
way at that point. In addition to these
duties, he also finds time to personally
conduct his farming interest. Besides
owning a number of small farms, he is
part owner and trustee of a large landed
estate.
Mr. McArver is a thorough business
man of years of experience, as can be
readily conceived by the above state
ment of his c mmercial interests. This
experience renders him a most valuable
man upon the board of commissioners.
As a citizen he is one of the wide
awake and progressive men of the
county, doing all in his power to for
ward the interests of this section. It is
more such men that Floyd county needs
for officers.
D. W. Simmons
The board of commissioners of roads
and revenues, or as it is more commonly
known county commissioners, is one of
the most important in the county for it
is through the executive ability and
sound business judgment of its members
that the development, improvement
and general welfare of the county de
pends.
Among those who constitute this
board, none have taken a more active
part in its transactions that 'the subject
under notice. No wiser or better seleo.
tion could have been made, for who
could be more closely identified with
the growth and welfare of the county
than one born, reared and educated
within its domains.
Mr. D. W. Simmons was born in
Floyd county in 18*2; grew up and was
I educated here, and has lived here nearly
all his life.
The early experience of Mr. Simmons
has particularly adopted him for hi 8
present work upon the board, and ren
ders him a most valuable and experi
enced man.
Quite a number of years back, as an
employe of the Texas Pacific in the
bridge and construction department,
Mr. Simmons acquired a most thorough
knowledge of bridge and construction
work, all of which he has brought to
bear in the manifold duties of the office
intrusted to him.
Aside from his knowledge upon mat
ters above stated, he is a man of sound
business judgment acquired through
practicable business experience. For
more than a decade he has filled the
duties of secretary and treasurer of the
board of trustees of the state school for
the Deaf at Cave Spring, his*present
home.
Mr. Simmons served as mayor of Cave
Spring for about six years, and for
eleven years, was postmaster. Through
all the changes of administration, he
was retained in office, filling that re
sponsible position in a manner highly
satisfactory to the government and the
public.
As a business man of Cave Spring he
has demonstrated his ability to success
fully manage and conduct a large mer
cantile business and as manager of the
Alliance store achieved success through
his diligence and correct business
methods.
It superfluous to extoll the careful and
paintaking manner in which he has ful
filled the duties of the office. He seems
to be the right man in the right place,
and as long as such offices are in charge
of like men, their duties will be per
formed in a manner highly commenda
ble and satisfactory to the people.
George W. Trammell.
Mr. George W. Trammell, commis
sioner of Floyd county is a young man
far and widely known for bis -general
excellence and business ability. He is
one of the successful business men of
North Georgia, and for many years has
been cosely identified with the growth
of Rome and general advancement of
Floyd connty.
M”. Trammell for a number of years
has been engaged in the manufacture of
bricks in this city and has made a suc
cess of which he may justly be proud.
Under the firm name of the Morrison—
Trammell Brick company a large busi
ness is transacted, and a superior brick
man ufaotured.
But his business relations do not stop
at the manufacture of brick. Under the
firm name of Broach & Trammell, con
tractors, a large and succossfnl business
is conducted. This latter firm has con
structed a large number of the business
blocks erected here during the past few
years and at present are engaged in work
on the new N. C. & St. L. railway
depot.
Mr. Trammell was elected commis
sioner in 1896, and has made a most ex
cellent one.
Dr W, C. Nixon,
The citizenship of Floyd county is
among the best in the South, inasmuch
as it ranks in its midst men of brain,
energy and talent. This is especially
the case with those who constitute the
Board of County Commissioners. This
board represents the highest type of
modern, progressive citizenship, and
among its representatives is Dr. W.
C. Nixon of thefßidge Valley district.
He is a man far and widely known for
his good citizenship and thorough
business qualifications.
Dr. W. C. Nixon is a Virginian by
birth and was born upon his father’s
plantation, Buckinham county, Sep
tember 22nd, 1849. He was educated
at private schools and the university
of Virginia, at Charlottesville. At
the latter institution he took a literary
and medical course and was graduated
in 1870 in both departments. Three
years previous to entering the uni
versity, Dr. Nixon studied medicine
under Dr. E. P. Taliaferro a promi
nent physician of Orange court house
Va., and under his directions received
a good training in the science of medi
cine.
In 1871, Dr. Nixon cast bis lot with
the good people of Floyd county and
entered into the active practice of his
profession, meeting with much suc
cess.
The doctor heretofore has never
held any public office prefering rather
to devote himself to his pro
fession. It was upon the urgent re-
paces h|
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
quest of his many friends that he con
sented to make the race for commis
sioner,to which office be was elected in
October, 1896. As a member of that
body, he has made a most excellent
and earnest worker, carefully watch
ing every item of interest purtaining
to the financial and other interests of
the county. It has been his constant
endeavor to promote the welfare of the
county, and at the same time to cur
tail the useless expenditure of the
people’s money.
In politics Dr. Nixon is a democrat
of the staunchest type, believing that
upon that faith depends the preserva
tion of a truly democratic government
the protection of the rights, liberties
and happiness of the people; hence he
has always remained true to his prin
ciples. Plain and unassuming, he is
of and for the people, whose aims,
sentiments and aspirations he repre
sents.
Judge John P< Davis,
Judge John P. Davis, ordinary of
Floyd county is one of the most popu
lar officials of the county. He is a
Floyd county products, and was born
near John’s Creek, January 18th 1862.
He was educated at private 'Schools,
G. W. SIMMONS.
He has spent most of his life on a farm
and short time taught school in the
country. He was married to Effie T.
Camp of Gordon county Ga., Novem
ber 9, 1884. Judge Davis became
prominent in politics while serving as
assistant in the clerk’s office of superi
orcourt under Mr. BeysiegeJ.in which
capacity he served for two terms. In
1893, be was elected to the unexpired
term of Judge H. J. Johnson and in
1896 was re-elected to a full term.
This office be has filled in a most ex
cellent manner, his ever present cour
tesy never failing to leave a most
formable impression upon the most
casual visitor. In his administration
of the affairs of the office he has also
shown great ability, and his pleasing
personality, good humor and uniform
courtesy,have established him among
the people of the county.
CARROLLTON PAPERS,
Four Live Journals That Bespeak
That City's Enterprise and Prosperity,
A town is very often judged by the
newspapers, and such being the case
Carrollton may well be counted one
of the best little cities in the state.
People's Advocate,
The People’s Advocate is the only
populist journal in Carrollton, and
though established only about one
year ago, has a large and growing
subscription list.
It is edited by J. T. Russell, with
the Advocate Publishing company as
proprietors. The Advocate is issued on
■ '"r ——,
■ X
■
Ojllfef ■
DR. W. C. NIXON.
Wednesdays and consists of four
pages, 17x24. ‘ '
The Carroll County Times,
The Carroll County Times is one of
(Continued on Page 16.)