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IVATT & HRO.
JAMES GRIHBKN.
MEIGS===THE BEAUTIFUL «
“OEM” OF NORTH THOMAS
A Charming South Georgia Town Which Has Blossom
ed in the Last Few Years From a Rural Hamlet to
a Prosperous and Wide Awake Community.
Situated lu the northern part ot
Thomas county on thp dividing line
between Thomas and Mitchell coun
ties Is located the thriving and grow
ing town ot Meigs. Eighteen miles
from Thomasvllle, 40 miles trom Al
bany, on the Atlantic Coast Line
Railway and Is the most progressive
town on the Une between these two
stations. The town Is one ot the
most up-to-date In South Georgia.
Geographically It is the highest
point In the county. One of the high
est In southwest'Georgia. It Is a very
healthy place, the death rate Is less
than one-half of one per cent and Is
one of the most healthful places In
out any Isuance ot bonds. A nine Bank of Meigs, the Planters’ Cotton
months' school term Is provided rtr
and competent and careful teachers
are employed. There Is also a city
hall. There are two handsome
churches occupied by the Baptists
snd Methodist denominations, the
Masonic, I. O. O. F.,and Woodmen ot
the World orders are represented.
The post office shows heavy In
crease of receipts this year over for
mer years. There are three ruraf
routes radiating from this office and
more to he shortly established. Here
Is a heavy shipping point on the At
lantic Coast Line Railway. There
Is a heavy Increase both In the re-
MEIGS GRADED SCHOOL AND AUDITORIUM.
the state. It Is situated on an ele- celpts and. forwarding freight. The
vatlon 341 feet above sea level, which express receipts shows g substan-
givcs a natural drainage, yet It la tlal Increase and Is very large. This
Is not surrounded by low lands, the Is a decided cotton market, for both
country around being at the proper
elevation and rolling enough to give
natural drainage. The climatic con
ditions are superb. No extreme heat
or extreme cold and Is agreeable all
the year round. The town has every
advantage for both residents or per
sons seeking Industrial openings.
The Atlantic and Gulf Railway,
Sea Island and Upland cotton, also
cotton seed and Georgia Cane syrup,
and'thls Is the heaviest shipping
point on line between Thomasvllle
and Albany for turpentine and rosin
and also ship Urge quantity of lum
ber and Intelor finish.
This Is one ot the leading points
of the grape Industry of Southwest
and Syrup Warehouse, a substantial
brick building SOxIIO feet, one of
the best in the country, a wholesale
grocery, owned by T. J. Wltlls.
The Meigs Variety Works, where
Is made Interior flnlsb, sash, doors
mantles, cabinet work etc. Two cot
ton ginneries, one having connected
with it the round bale system. Two
carriage and wagon building and re
pair shops, one making a specialty
of heavy timber carts, a planing
mill and general - wood and Iron
works operated by T. F. Dyson, a
flrst-clnss grist mill.
Two turpentine distilleries ship
ping about 3(0,000 worth of turpen
tine splriu and rosin annually. Sev
eral saw mills In the vicinity, ship
ping products from this point. The
Meigs Lumber ft Manufacturing
Company, having an annual output
ot about three million feet of lum
ber. A full complement of mercan
tile esUbllshments, representing the
various classes of trade, all thriving
and many of them conducting stores
that would be a credit to many
cities. To show how up-to-date
they are It la enough to say that
some of them are equipped with
cash carrier systems, elevators and
other modern methods.
There are telephone and tele
graph stations, a local telephone
system having long distance connec
tion. with all points; two hotels ca
ter to the traveling public. Two
livery, feed and sales stables and
many other Interests.
THE SOUTH LAND AND
INVESTMENT COMPANY.
What will from now on be a
chief factor In the development of
the town and section Is the SoutH
Land and Investment Company.
This company will make a specialty
of locating home-seekers and Inter
esting foreign capital as well as desl-
J. N. Carter Company.
The J. N. Carter Company Is the
successor to J. N. ft T. W. Carter,
the pioneer merchants of the town.
This company has a paid In capital-
ot 140,000 and Is probably the larg
est mercantile concern in Thomas
county doing an annual business of
about 380,000. They handle a'gen
eral merchandise and plantation sup
ply line and deal In wagons, buggies,
and rarm Implements, also fertili
ser, cotton and syrup. They hare a
large double brick store devoted to
general merchandise; also separate
building exclusively for furniture
undertaking goods, stores and
bouse furnishings, a warehouse for
buggies, wagons, fertilisers and
heavy merchandise.
Mr. J. N. Carter, the president
of this company, and pioneer mer
chant, was practically the founder of
this town. He has made a remarka
ble success, his Interests being par
ticularly large, and he Is probably
the wealthiest man of this town and
one of the wealthiest of the oounty,
and attributes no 'small portion of
hts success to the strong support ho
has had from such men as Mr. M.
H. Atkinson, Mr. W. H. Hurst, Mr.
O. L. Duren, Mayor B. E. Wilkes, Mr.
E. E. Wilkes, Mr. T. J. WIUIs,Mr.
T. J. Willis, Mr. W. H. Boswell and
many other men who are now en
gaged In successful business penults
here. These men are all alive and
hustling business men who are ever
ready to do their share In'develop
ing Meigs.
T Dr. James N .Isler.
Dr. James N. Isler is a practicing
physician and proprietor of Isler's
Pharmacy and owner of Molgs’ Tele
phone system, giving phone servied
throughout the town and surround
ing community. The Doctor has
practiced here about three yean and'
enjoys an exceedingly lucrative
practice and has the confidence ot
the community. Hts drug store Is
up-to-date and thriving, and Is un
der the management of W. J. Cam
eron, a competent druggist Dr. Is-
progresslve and energetic men who
MEIGS LUMBER & M’F'G CO.
Meigs Lumber and Manufacturing
Company is the corporation owning
the large saw mill three miles south
of Meigs on the A. C. L. Railway
and Meigs Variety Works located at
Meigs. This is the leading Indus
trial enterprise and one which gives
employment to over 100 people and
ono which Is nn Important factor In
the community. This company at
thotr saw mill manufacture ull kinds
of rough and dressed yellow pine
lumber, making a specialty of floor-
ler Is without doubt one of the tnoaf Ing, celling and siding; at the variety
Works they manufacture doors
RESIDENCE STREET SCENE IN -MEIGS,
The Atkinson Mercantile Co,
The Atkinson Mercantile Compa
ny Is a strong concern, doing a gen
eral mercantile and supply business,
and through the principal member
of the firm, M. H. Atkinson, operate
the Sea Island and Upland cotton
ginnery here. Tbit firm Is composed
of M. H. Atkinson, J. M. Simpson,
now Atlantic Coast Line Railway, Georgia, large quantities being
went^through this section In 1867. shipped, and the peach, pecan and
In the late 70'e there waa a saw milt other fruit growing Industries are
put In, hnt the town was not thought
of until about 1888, when there was
a post office eatablisbed and the
point given the name of Meigs. Bnf
U did not amount to anything until
1888 when J. N. and T. W. Carter
opened a small merchandise store,
from that the town haa grown to Its
present proportions ot nearly 1,000
law abiding industrious and self sus
taining people and.each year Is show
ing a decided growth and alnce the
cenaus of 1900 has shown an In
creased of over 38 per cent The
town was chartered October 33,
1880, and during the last session of
the state Legislature a new charter
was granted broad and liberal In 116
provisions and Is calculated to meet
the needs of a growing town for
many years to come. The town Is
governed under a mayor and board
of aldermen and Its municipal gov
ernment Is'of the best
It Is well laid ont and covert three-
being Introduced end successfully 1
carried on.
The town It surrounded by a an
perb farming land of dark sandy
loam with red clay aubsoll, suitable
for growing all kinds of farm pro
duct common to the Southern states,
such as cotton, (both Sea Island and
upland), corn sugar cane, potatoes,
sweet potatoes, oats, all kinds of
vegetables and fruits and la an ex
cellent dairy section; the land Is wa
tered >y constantly flowing streams
of the purest water; has no mala
rial district;.- never-falling fresh
flowing springs \ are numerous
throughout this eutlro section. It
Is Impossible for malaria to exist In
this section.
The Meigs district proper Is com
posed of 88,3(0 acre lot*. In point
of taxable value per acre ranks noxt
to tha district In which TbomasvIIIe
Is located. There Is not exceddlng!
fourths of a mile each, way from a!one-fourth of cultivatable portion
central point. It ban broad and of the district now under cnltlva-
well kept streets, beautiful «hndo tlon. The balance awaits tbe corn-
trees, good walks and provision la Ing of tbe Immigrants and has the
made In tbe new charter for hand- most flattering - opportunities to ot-
ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILWAY DEPOT AT MEIGS.
ling the paving of streets, putting In | fer the home-seeker or settler and
sidewalks, for lighting plant and Is destined to make ono of the gar-
water works, the latter t4ro projects' den spots and most thriving sections
will shortly be undertaken. ' of tbe great state of Georgia. The
The education of tbe children Is j opportunities here for the small far-
looked after in a particularly careful < mer Is the best to be found anywhere
manner. A graded school of brick, j | n the great United States. The land
two story, having tonrlargo ■* around hero has passed under the
rooms and a special feature in the
wav of a spacious auditorium, fitted bands of turpentlner and mill man,
with opera chairs, stage and fall com- and now awaits development by the
nlement of scenery, the building cost farmer and home-aecker.
Over 38,009 and was pstd for with- Here there Is A slate hank, the tha state:
MR. J. N. CARTER'S RESIDENCE.
Ing la Southern fkrm lands.
They have property and facilities
for acquiring the most desirable
lands for farming purposes and hold
out special Inducements to those
seeking a home In the country, or
In the town or to the manufacturer
seeking a desirable location, this
tlon being particularly adapted for
cotton mill, furniture factories, car
riage and wagon factories, oil mills
and fertiliser works, syrup and su
gar plants, canning factories, etc.
There Is abundant opportunity here
for the Investor. . .
L. T. Vick and J. A. Sasser, all well
known and prominent men In the
town who have been Identified with
Its growth and prosperity.
Tho Bank of Meigs.
The Bank of Meigs was organised
under a state charier In 1003 with
an authorised capital of 830,000.
It Is doing a thriving business, IU
deposlu running from' 830.000 to
330,000 and Its loans and discounU
from 840,000 to 300,000; It has
paid three semi-annual dividends of
4 per cent each since It surted
and now haa a surplus and undivided
proflts of 38,000. It doe* a gen
eral banking business and accords
to IU customers the most liberal
treatment consUtent with sound
junking "rindDles. .It ocenplea IU
own bulldipg, a well arranged brick
structure, fitted with Are and bur
glar proof safe and vault. The
bank has to uep^sltora Insurance
which absolutely guarantees deposi
tors against loss.
The ofllccrs are Jos. A. Sasser,
president; J. N. Carter, V. P.; W.
H. VanLandtngham, cashier. These
gentlemen, with J. M. Simpson and
O. L. Duren, constitute- the board
of directors. This bank U ono of
of a chain of banka backed by W.
S. WItham, and the Bankers Financ
ing Company,.of Atlanta.
As an institution Ot safety It will
rank wltli the strongest banks In
G. L. Dunn.
O. L. Duren conducts n large dry
goods and general mercantile bust
ness, occupying Meigs’ finest store
building recently erected It Is of
brick of two stories with plats
front, 00x00 feet. The entire build
Ing Is occupied by him and Is flllec’
with a first-class stock. Every mod
ern method Is used In this store, In
eluding elevators, cash carrier ays-
tem and other labor saving devices.
He operates In connection with thh
esUblishment a first-class milliner}
department, under the management
of expert milliners.
Mr. Duren Is Interested In farm
lands near Meigs and Is a large prop
erty owner and one of the main
spokes In the bub around which
Molgs revolves.
T. J. Willis.
T. J. Willis carries on an exten
sive wholesale grocery business and
operates The Planters Warehouse,
One of tho features of which Melgp
Is Justly proud Is this up-to-date
wholesale grocery house, which was
started January, 1904, being the
only ono of Its kind between Albany
and Thomasvllle. This houso car-
a complete line of fancy and
heavy groceries and feed stuffs.
It enjoys a largo trade throughout
this section and would do credit
to a town of many times tho slid
of Meigs.
Mr. WIUIs Is n man of capable
business ability and conducts hts
enterprise on broad principles and
Is always ready to meet competition.
ever came to this community, and, sash, mantles, mouldings, and all
with a few such men as ho In
town failure would bo Impossible.
W. H. Hurst.
W. H. Hurst Is engagod In tho
merchandise, hotel and livery stablo
business and In farming He Is ono of
Meigs’ successful business men who
has been Identified with the upbuild
Ing of Meigs and has been a proml-
inent factor from tho early days of
the town and has accumulated a com
petency. He opened the first hotel
here and enjoys a liberal patronago
from tho traveling public In both ho
tel and livery. Tbe store Is well pat
ronized and the stock Is large and
varied. It also has a millinery de
partment under the management of
Mrs. Hurst.
Drs. Altman and Kriddell.
MelgH has three progressive nnd
and popular doctors two of whom
composo the firm of Dra. Aultmnn ft
Friddcll. ..Thoso gentlemen bavo the
kinds of turned band sawed nnd fin
ishing work of the highest class.
The product of these plants are
much in demand nnd the company
has all the business they can handle
throughout this territory. Tl)e
heavy product is shipped principally
to the north and west, where It Is
used In the making of railway can.
Tho company owns Its own timber
lands, operates Us own railroads Ir.-
to the timber, runs commissaries, pro
vldes Its laborers with comfortable
quarters and the plant wittily Itself
Is very much like a little clty^
Tho Industry represents an lnv»u
ment of .some 350,000 and is Im-m
porated under the state laws.
Tho president, J. N. Carter Is the
financial head of tho concern and ii
principal stockholder. W. M. Difvy
vice president Is manager of tn
variety Works; R. E. Davis Is gen
eral manager of tho company and
operates the saw mill. The latter
lun gi-mli-iui-u are prartlea! men anti
confidence of tho community and cn- £7®'“" thelp Ume to the affairs o(
Joy a largo practice throughout this ~
section. They are nlways alive to
tho Interests of the town and take
prominent parts in all matters per
talning to her growth and develop
ment.
J. II. PULLEN & Co.
The Arm of J. H. Pullen & Co la
composed of J. H. Pullen nnd W. H.
VanLandinghnm, two progressive
young men who do a general mer-
ihandlse business and enjoy a fast
Increasing trade.. %
this mammoth Industry.
A writo up of Meigs would not be
complete without a mention of her
excellent municipal government,
which Is under the direction of E.
E. Wilkes, mayor and a council com
posed of J. N. Carter, T. J. WIUIs,
J. H. Pullen and J. L. Johnson. Mr.
Wilkes has filled this ofllco for sev
eral years and Is a practical mayor
In every sense of the word.
Tho evidence of his ability Is seen
on every side In the advance that the
town has made. He Is always to the
front In any movement to better the
G. L. DUREN’8 GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORK.
Carter & Maynard. | condition or promote the welfare of
Carter and Maynard arc dealer* 11,0 P«>Ple and of the town.
In dry good*, clothing, shoe*, grocer- 1 He ha8 ' rn,,or,ant bu " ln «“ “ BB “-
tions in and around Meigs.
les and general merchandise and as , . ,
a new firm is rapidly gaming a foot- The greBtc “ t evidence of Meigs’
hold In a commercial way In thl* Prosperity Is that every man engaged
district. This firm Is composed of in business enterprises here Is anc-
T. W. Carter, one of Meigs’ oldest ceeding wonderfully In a financial
and most prominent citizens and one way and there Is an abundance of
who helped found the town and J. prosperity in and about the town.
B. Maynard, a young man of fine It can be truthfully said that thl
business qualities who recently came is an Ideal spot In this
from Winder. Oe HouthUnd,