Newspaper Page Text
VOL. XIX.
T H v—: ID STORY
Of Beautiful Toccoa Con¬
tinued From Last Year.
HER GROWTH. HER
PROSPERITY,
THE ENTERPRISE AND PUSH OF HER
BUSINESS MEN,
We herewith issue the third trade
edition of the News, giving informa¬
tion about Toccoa, its location, cli¬
mate, health, schools, churches, the
business men and the advantages for
investment in the city and country
around.
Toccoa is yet in her teens.
In 1873 where the city now stands
Was a wild forest.
About that time the Richmond &
Danville railroad reached here from
Atlanta, •
Dr. (). M. Doyle, B. Y. Sage and
Thomas Alexander bought of Archer
Whitehead the lands or which the
city now stands; they subdivided it
into lots, streets and parks; the rail¬
way company established the depot
here; people came and bought lots,
built houses, hotels, schools and
churches, and soon the wild woods
gave place to an attractive, busy
city of about 1,500 people.
Since the last trade edition of the
News, Toccoa has made considerable
advancement on the high road of
progress and prosperity.
A hank has been established on a
solid, substantial basis, greatly in¬
creasing the facilities for tlie business,
not only of all our citizens but also
fur a wide country around.
A lar^e tannery has been fully ea-
tablished; also a furniture factory,
g virg e m 1 o ni 'Mt to a large number
of operatives ami adding many thou-
Bands of dollars to the business.
A large number c.t residences have
been erected, indicating an increase
in population and general business
prosperity.
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METHODIST CHURCH.
Last, but not least* action has been
taken to establish graded city schools
ra a king them free to the children of
every citizen.
Toccoa is in the Northeastern part
of Georgia, the empire state of the
South.
It is in Habersham county,of which
oflieial records show a lower death
THE TOCCOA NEWS
AND PIEDMONT INDUSTRIAL JOURNAL.
TOCCOA, HABERSHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA, AUGUST
ratio than any other county in the
United States.
It is in the heart of the Piedmont
region, «* region containing a *'ider
range of valuable resources than any
other territory of equal extent in the
United States, and is destined to be
the richest country on the globe.
It is on the Richmond & Danville
railroad, which extends from Wash*
ington, D. C. to New Orleans, La.
Anot her road starts from this City
and runs southeast 50 miles to Elber¬
ton, where it connects with the Geor¬
gia, Carolina and Northern; so 'that
Toccoa has close lailroad connections
with all the great railway systems of
the whole country.
Toccoa is 3 hours hy railroad from
Atlanta, 19 from Washington, D. C.
22 from Philadelphia, 20 from Now
York, 34 from Boston, 9 from Chat¬
tanooga, 15 from Nashville, 23 from
New Orleans, 15 from Savannah, 10
from Jacksonville, and 10 from Pu-
latka, Fla.
Toccoa is therefore within a few
hours of the great market centers for
manufactured and farm products.
Toccoa contains three churches for
the white population, Baptist, Meth¬
odist and Presbyterian, each having
comfortable edifices; two colored,
Methodist and Baptist. There are
ten churches in the country round
within a radii of seven miles from the
city ; strangers coming here will find
a church going community.
The following description of Toc¬
coa was written by a talented young
lady of this eitv.
“This beautiful and enterprising
little , town . was founded - , , in . August , .
1873, I think, under the entices of
the Richmond & Danville R. R. It
lies on this railroad 93 miles from
Atlanta. It occupies the locality near
the 35th parallel of the North Lati-
tude.and about the 83d of West Lon-
gitude; It has an elevation of about
eleven hundred feet above the
| free level* from The the climate enervating is mill. influences It of is
I
I the lower sections, and escapes the
rigorous winters of more northern
latitudes.
The summers are never oppressive¬
ly warm, and at night there is a mos*
delightful and refreshing breeze cons
stantly blowing. The winters are
neither long nor severe.
As a proof of tlie healthfulness of
this elimate, I will state that only one
" hite adult was interred in the city
cemetery during a period of fourteen
months, and perhaps not more than
two infant 0 .
The principal portion of the city
lies in a litt'e vale, for in each direc¬
tion rise considerable hills. On
each of these eminences* are magnifi¬
cent building sites. So rapid was the
growth of the town, that, for a few
years it was called the “Magic City of
the Woods.”
The citizens are a sober, energetic
law-abiding class of people. The
pulpit, the law and the medical pro¬
fessions are ably represented.
New industries are constantly
springing up, and attract many work
ing people, who, being well paid, are
prosperous and happy.
Not a pauper lives within the city's
limits. In fact, Habersham eonnty,
in which Toccoa is sitnati d, has no
par ah house. A few, and very few,
objects of charity ae amply provided
for by the e’tiz ms.
Toccoa has three churches* Presby¬
terian, Methodist and Baptist; the
church buildings are very pretty,nice¬
ly and comfortably furnished. The
churches and Sabbath Schools are
well attended by orderly, and well
dresse 1 congregations.
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TOCCOA FURNITURE FACTORY.
The cemetery is a half mile distant
and there, m the “Silent City of the
Dead,” lie ihe fathers, mothers, and
loved ones who once walked in and
out before us.
The Toccoa High School, and also
the private schools are under the
management of very efficient teach¬
ers, aud are well patronized.-
The streets are wide, aud cleanly
Kep'; Doyle street runs through
the city directly east and west, and
forms a lovely drive or promenade
for the young people.
The Rail Road Park* near the de¬
pot is a large, fine lot, and may, in
the near future, be the location of a
fine hotel.
Almost every cottage yard has its
vines and flowers. The taste of the
ladies is evinced by their lovely flow¬
er gardens.
One and three quarter tniles dis¬
tant is Toccoa Fs»lls, considered by
many tourists the most beautiful cas¬
cade in the world.
Far to the North lies the Blue
Ridge. In fine weather, it is a beau¬
tiful line, stretching away* clear and
blue, and when that line is covered
with snow, it seems that the Divine
Artist had just laid by His brush, and
left uncovered the canvas for our be¬
wildered eyes.
Over there, four miles away, stands
Mt. Currahee, grand and solitary.
Six miles distant runs Tugalo riv¬
er, the boundary line line between
J s Georgia and South Carolina, It
i ri,es * wa r “P ,he
S on as Tu -'“ lo l f,rther dow, ’' A nn,t “
w,th the Broad,and finally these little
mounta i n streams merge into the Sa-
vannah, and on the waters rush to
tUe Atlantic.
To say Toccoa is a beautiful city
is superfluous. Its very name' sig-
nifies “The Beautiful ” and then it is
“mv ' own, my native lan 1.”
‘‘Hove my mountain home.
\> here wild winds Jove to roam,
Where the skies are blue
And hearts are true—
i love my mountain home.”
Pinkie II.vums.
TOCCOA FURNITURE AND LUMREli CO.
This is an incorporated company
with an authorized capital of $50,000.
It was organized ui 1890 an l started
business with $15,000; which has been
increased to $20 000 paid in.
7 he following are tlie officers and
superintendents of the ditferent de¬
partments :
J. B. Simmoiis, President and Gen¬
eral Manager.
W . R. Ware Vice-President.
E. P. Simpson; Secretary ami
Treasurer,
J . A, Burgess, Book Keeper,
B. C Moore, Foreman of machinery
ind Cabinet Department.
C. B. Mitcham, Foreman of Finish¬
ing department;
IP. J. Suttles J/anager of Lumber
department.
The Company owns ten and one
half acres of land inside the city
limits. It Is situated between the
Richmond and Danville railroad and
the Elberton Air Line road : a side
track extends in front of tlie build¬
ings so that the facilities for ship¬
ments are all that can be desired.
There are three large buildings
covering 40,000 square feet of floor¬
ing, besides engine house and other
small buildings,also several dwellings
for emp’oves.
The plant includes all the latest
improved machinery for turning out
the finest an 1 best wo'-k, the whole is
run by a 60 horse power e >'inn.
They manufacture tlie cheap and
medium grades of furniture such as
bureaus, bed steads, full bed room
suits, kitchen safes and coffins* and
they likewise furnish to order dressed
flooring,ceiling and weather boarding.
This factory lias been funning
about a year* and from the start it has
been a grand success. The demands
for their goods were such that they
had to put in a larger engine and en-
large their capacity.
Already their trade extends over
Georgia, South Carolina, North Car¬
olina, and into Virginia; a $2,000 or¬
der has recently been received from
Lynchburg.
One reason for this unprecedented
demand is, they turn out first class
goods* and tliev also possess
important advantages over compet¬
ing cities*. They obtained their land
at a trifle, compared to what it costs
in large cities ;lwmber costs here from
$2 to $3 per thou sail 1 less ; labor, on
account of low rents and low expense
of living, costs from 10 lo 20 percent,
less than m larger cities ; then tiie£
have obtained a reduction in freight
rates, thus enabling them to seil ele¬
gantly finished goods at largely re¬
duced prices.
Mr, Simmons has been traveling for
60 days and lie finds dealers every¬
where pleased with the goods and the
prices. Tliev have two salesmen on
the road, and they evidently will soon
have to enlarge their capacity for
manufacturing in order to meet the
increasing demands. They are work¬
ing from 40 to 50 hands; the full ca¬
pacity of the present plant is about
§100,000 worth of furniture annually.
TOCCOA TANNERY.
This is one of the best equipped tan-
n(jries of its aize in tl , e South .
The property embraces 23 acres of
land* seven buildings for tanning pur-
poses, and five tenant houses; the best
and latest improved machinery, and
j modern appliances for a first class
! tannery.
The owners of this fine property
are A. * T II. r IcAHister and \\ A.
. .
Mathcson, who have taken in as part-
n er. W. C. Allen a skilled and expe-
riciteed tanner.
W. A. Mathcson is the general
manager, attending to all the business
of buying and selling.
S A.McAllister is the hook
W. d. Allen is superintendent of
tanning in all departments.
They turn out various kinds of
leather of superior quality} including
harness and sole leather which finds
realy sale in Georgia nn 1 South Car¬
olina. They itsd principal!}' ebv
slaughter hides which makes their
leather a high average of excellence.
They get their bark near home sav¬
ing large expense in freight, giving
them deci led advantages over those
who have to ship bark long distances.
The output of tins tannery is about
10,000 pieces annually , or 120,000
pounds of leather worth about
$35,000,
Planing mill .
T. S. Davis has a plaining mill sup¬
plied with all kinds of machinery for
house finishing work of every de¬
scription, such as mouldings, brack¬
ets, mantles, stair work, sash, doors
and blinds, anything needed for the
exterior or interior finishing or orna¬
mentation of a house can be manu¬
factured here. This mill has a ca-
pacitv to give steady employment 'to
20 men. There is in connection a
mill for grinding corn meal, also a
cob mill capable of turning out 40
bushels an hour.
MEltO IANDISE,
The* aggregate of merchandise
sold in Toccoa is large, this being the
center of tra le over a wide territory
embracing portions of Habersham,
Franklin, Banks and Rabun counties,
Ga. an 1 Oconee Co. S, C.
Prominent among the merchants
doing business here are the following:
T. A. CAPPS
Carries a large stock of general
Merchandise, he handles furniture,
stoves and sewing machines. The
sales reached tlie past 12 months
about $15,000.
Mr. (Japps has a branch store in
Mb Airy under the firm name of
Capps and Kimsey.A.L.Kimsey being
manager of the store there ; the annu¬
al sales are about $8,000.
W. A. MATIIESON.
This gentleman does a very sub¬
stantia!, safe business. In addition
to general merchandise, he makes a
specialty of hardware of all kinds in¬
cluding cooking stoves; also carriage
and wagon materials, spokes, rims
and hubs; also sash, doors* blinds,
coffins, and lie carries large lines of
auction fancy and dress goods, which
he sells much below the regular prices.
His sales are something over $15,000
a year.
J. I?_ SIMMONS & CO.
Tlie gentlemen composing this firm
are J. B. Simmons, B. P. Brown jr.
and W. R. Bur.oughs. Last year
Mr. Simmons fan the business him*'
self;the first of the year the other gen-
tlcra became members of tlie firm.
They deal in general merchandise
of all kinds and make a specialty
of rurn ; tur0 am | co ffi„ sl including
mattresses and stoves which they sell
at low figures, and on the installment
plan to any desiring to purchase that
way.
They also handle fertilizers, hay
and cotton.
Last year Mr. Simmons sold$40,00t
worth of general merchandise; HO
tons of fertilizers worth $3,000; 5 car
loads of hay for $2,500. He bought
$5,000 worth of cotton, m ik ng a to¬
tal of his business for the year
$50*500.
In addition, his time was largely
occupied with the Furniture Factory.
This year the firm has added the shin¬
gle trade to their business,and bought
thus far 2,270.000 worth about $4,500-
HARNESS AND SADDLERY.
I\. Bryant and W. C. Simpson, un-
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E. P. SIMPSON’S STORE.
dor the firm name of Bryant & Simp¬
son manufacture harness and saddles
from the heavy draft, up to tlie finest
carnage harness. They also deal in
saddles , collars, whips, and all kin Is
of harness and saddlery goods. They
keep in their employ R. Green, well
known as a superior workman, and
they turn out only first class goods.
Their work is chiefly custom, and
their business amount? to about
$5,000 a year.
C. W. NOWELL.
Since the last trade issue of the
News Mr. Nowell dissolved partner¬
ship with lus brother and has been
doing business by liintself. In his
.stock of general merchandise he in-
dudes almost everything needed in
'lie family, in dry goods, groceries
provisions. lie handies hay ami
has sold about, 30 tons or $7o0
worth. His sales during the year
amounted to’ about $15,000.
J. r, VICKERY;
'I his gentleman! is the successor of
l). \Y. Edwards. He carries a gener¬
al assortment of fancy groceries, in¬
cluding canned goods, confectioner¬
ies, tobacco arid cigars. His store is
also headquarters for cooling drinks,
and is general resort for young
people and nearly all citizens during
the sultry summer days. Ho has
been in business here only 2 months,
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SCHAEFER’S COUION WAREHOUSE.
judging from this experience he es-
mates his annual sales will he from
$4*000 to $5,000.
u. payne
deals in dry goods, clothing, boots
and shoes, groceries cf all kinds,fruit,
butter, eggs, poultry arid garden veg-
enables; he also handles lumber and
furnishes ties and timber for railroads.
Durinw the past year he has added
... brick making - . i*i- lus business, * l having •
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superior clay, which makes excellent
■
r brick. , __ He | has already , . .
ma e ->o ,
brick and will soon burn a kiln can-
tabling 175,090 more. This is an
important enterprise for this city and
surrounding country, which he can
supply with first class brick without
having heavy freight bills to pay .Mr,
Payne’s business the past year is a
large increase over former years,
reaching the large sum of $50,000.
ALLIANCE STORE.
This is a Joint Stock Co. composed
of AlPancemen. The price of each
share is $5; the amount of stock paid
■" _ is 111 llle neighborhood of §_,<XHh n/\i
On this capital they have been doing
business for some timej when they
first 1,9 b ran h«s»ness the capital was
not so large. Last year the store was
ably and carefully managed by G. P
Fuller. Ibis year under the a <
management of J. \\ . Mott, assisted
NUMBER
by I'). N. Edmonds, the business hag
steadily increased. By taking the
sales of January, March and July of
this voar as samples Mr. Stott esti¬
mates that the sales for the year will
be not less tnan $15,000. The offic
of the compatiy'are:
G. F. Fuller, President.
\V. A. Landrum, Vice-President.
S. J. Busha, Secretary and Treas*
urer.
e. F. SIMPSON
deals in machinery of many kinds,in¬
cluding portable and traction engines,
saw mills, shingle mills, syrup mills
and evaporators, rakes, mowers and
reapers; lie furnishes machinery sup¬
plies. and repairs all kinds of ma¬
chinery,he also sells sewing machines
and organs. In addition he does gen¬
eral insurance business, being agent
for some ot the best life and fire iii-
surance companies.
His sales the past year were larger
than those of any previous year since
he began business.
II is business extends over a large
territory in Georgia, North and South
Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, lie
sold last year more than twenty mill¬
ions of shingles aggregating some¬
thing over $40,000. His] other sales,
including repairing, amounted In
$50,600, making a grand total during
the year of $90,600, winch places Mr.
Simpson in the front ran s of the
business men of North East Georgia;
except cotton buyers, the annual bus¬
iness of but few merchants reaches
the above figures, lie has admitted
his brother, D. J. Simpson, as part¬
ner, and the firm now is E. U. Simp¬
son c}- Co.
SCHOOLS.
At the present time there is apuh-
fic high school in which the elemeu-
tary and and higher English branch-
es and Languages are taught,and stu¬
dents are fitted for college. In addi¬
tion there are several private schools
affording good facilities for education,
There is also a music school where
thorough instruction in vocal and in„
Yii: icii.al music is given. A bill is
new before the Le-i-latuie to iueor-
a ^«tcm of free city schools,
which it is expected will be put in
‘/pci 1 titioii by J tliG 1st of January J 1802*
HOTELS,
There are two hotels ^ , where ,
travelers find good accommodations
a i 1( j good fare; the
SIMPSON HOUSE
lias been enlarg d and fitted up in
first class style. It contains a largo
number of rooms hand omely fur¬
nished; it is one of tlie most aomfort-
able and attractive hotels in the state.
THE MAULDIN IlOUSE
is exceedingly popular with farmers;
the low prices with abundant sub¬
stantial fare, and the genial hospital¬
ity of‘Uncle Alec” and lus kind
hearted lady, give to this hotel wide'
popularity and large patronage.
r TOCCOA HOUSE.
Mrs. Henderson keeps this hotel
mainlv for permanent boarders.
Hotels and boarding houses for
summer tourists and visitors ar«T
greatly needed; many people every
year desire to spend the summer hertf
j but are unable ahons. to do so for want ot
(continued on 2nd PAGE*)