Newspaper Page Text
L. 7. NlMBER IS.
BAINBRIDGE, DECATUR COUNTY, OEOROIA FRIDAY JANUARY 9 1903.
$1.00 YEAR IN ADVANCE
Official Organ of Decatur County ant tbe City of DainbriOge.
PROSPECTS FOR BAINBRl POE.
Prominent Business Men Discuss Outlook
For 1903.
/V representative ot this paper
proacheci a few of the live busi
es men of the the town recently
e-pressions as to the outloov
Bainbridge during 1903 and
thont exception they declared
at the town never had brighter
jspects. We take the liberty of
alishing a few extracts from
:se interviews in order to con-
ce other people that.our citizens
ti an a aiding faith in the future
owth of the town.
G. Hartsfield:
•1 consider Bainbridge one of
: most active and progressive
wns in South Georgia and I am
re that her natural advantages
not suppassed anywhere. Her
mre is more promising than
y other town of which I now
row. One of our greatest needs
an active and ever ready Board
Trade to advertise and develope
ur resources and to guard oijr
mmercial interests.”
* *
*
C. Wainman:
"When Northern people become
little more familiar with the ad-
intages of this town, I pre-
tt that we will be flooded with
jurists during the winter months,
irthere is no town for which na-
jrehas done more in the way of
ild winters and beautiful land*
apes to say nothing of the at-
actions of the rolling Throna-
eska as her waters seek the sea.
have every confidence in the
ntmued growth and develop-
ent of the town. In my opinion
e sugar cane industry will be de-
loped extensively, and this will
ti millions of wealth to the
uhty, and should make Bain-
idge the center of it all. Just
y for me that I am in Bainbridge
stay.”
* *
Berry:
“Just at this time the secret or-
rs of the town are in a more
wishing condition than at any
me in a great while. I am Mas-
of Finance in the K of P and
affords me pleasure to say that
have on hand a neat sum to
ok after the needs of the lodge
'd worthy brethren. E. A.
imberly is our new Chancellor
ommander. The Masonic breth-
n are taking in a large nUmbet
the best young men of the
wn i and I might add that we are
om every standpoint working
Satisfactorily. Brother E, J. Mor-
lan is our newly elected and en
tailed Worshipful Master of the
S asonic Lodge. He will make
. n efficient officer and will be as-
isted by a corps of fi .e officers in
e other stations of the lodge
„ aj'i S s i ron £ ta 'k of instituting
I; 1 Fellows lodge here, as
are already a number of
here
0embers of that Order in the city,
a great many more are desir-
j S °t joining the order. Yes
if’., he new year finds the lodges
is town in fine working shape,
^ Lhrlich:
-hrlH a * m <; rnber of the firm of
m, I ^ Co., of this city, it is
pleasure to state that we begin
‘ectsVh ' ear W ‘ tb br >ghter pros-
ny ra an ln former years. At
> rate w e are preparing to great-
Ve car CaSe ° Ur vo ' ume °f business;
r cater c spcc ia, lyt ° th# CQUn .
r . unnin S a >arge farmers
olL “ Slness and are Preparing
[ ^ amount of business. I
cannot say more than to express
my highest confidence in the fu
ture outlook for Bainbridge.
believe that my convictions are
shared by every progressive citi
zen of the town. Let us increase
our number of manufacturing es
tablishments at every opportuni
ty.”
* *
A. B. Belcher:
; “The hindering cause in BaiQ-
bridge is a lack ot proper depot
facilities. Bainbridge business
men should take concerted action
to secure this, and I may be count
ed on to do mV part. A friendly
feeling exists between the mer
chants of the town and the offic
ials of the railroads, but friendly
relations seem to be unequal to
the task of securing a new depot.
I think a proper site for the new
structure would be at the foot of
Broad street north, and I am sure
this property could be secured at
a reasonable figure, The business
the railroads receive out of tbe
town is enormous, and quite justi
fies the expenditure of enough to
get us a new passenger station.
It is up to us, but are we up to
the depot?”
■’> 0 m
J. S. McRee:
"The Wholesale Grocery Busi
ness of Bainbridge was larger last
year than at any previous year,
and the indications point to a
large increase in the volume of
business for the new year. It
seems to be an understood con
clusion among retailers of adja
cent towns and territory, that bet
ter prices can- be obtained from
here than from competing markets
in larger towns; and this is true.
Our facilities for shipping have
been greatly bettered by the open-
fng up of the territory both north
and south of Bainbridge by the
extension of the G. F. & A. Ry.,
and. by the placing of additional
boats on the Flint and Chatta
hoochee rivers, I feel fully justi
fied in the statement that Bain
bridge will within a few years de
velope into one of the largest dis
tributing points in this or adjoin
ing states.” .
* »
A. J. Mcdonald:
“Speaking of the prospects of
the town, I feei that much de
pends on the support of the sur
rounding farming interests, and
the proper inducements to the
farmers to do their trading in
Bainbridge. Every one knows
that Bainbridge is in the center of
the best county of the state, and
it ought to be a large trading cen
ter for the farmers who now go to
Quincy Fla , and Pelham Ga., to
get their supplies. We need to
create a better market tor farm
produce of every description and
we should begin the new year
with that full determination.”
* *
H. C. Allen:
Withont a doubt, Bainbridge,
has witnessed a marvelous impetus
in real estate values during the
past three years, and we do not
expect a reaction. The future of
this town depends upon no tran
sient source of prosperity. Its
location in the most prosperous
section of the South’s greatest
commonwealth, assures a bright
future. A large sum was spent
here last year in permanent im
provements, and we may expect
more for tne new year. Our lo
cation iupon a large river together
with our railroad facilities, are
bound to bring us industries, pro
viding we give them the proper
encouragement. They will not
force their way in. Other places
are too anxious to have new indus
tries to let them go begging. The
other towns are after them, and
we will have to get in the fight.
We have everything to offer man
ufacturers that nature and out
ward circumstances could provide,
let us add to that our hearty good
will and steady co-operation;
working together for the common
good of all, and the individual may
feel satisfied he will reap his re
ward. The dawn o( the new year,
shines with bright promise, Will
we make the little effort neccess-
ary to bring it to a happy fruit
ion?”
E. J. Perry:
"Banks are usually accepted as
proper indices to the financial con
dition of the communities in which
they are located, and very proper
ly so. The banks of Bainbridge
are today in such shape as to offer
the highest evidences of the town
judging from the standard just
suggested. In the Iasi ten years
the business of the banks has
been increased a thousand fold
and while our business is all that
could be asked, yet We feel that
we are able to handle 1 it satisfac
torily. I consider the conditions
of the town as regards finances
most favorable, our risks are hot
ter, and we have loss trouble in
making collections.
qothing ahead for Bainbridge.
but prosperity during the year
that is now upon us. We need to
pull together, and to pull contin-
uosly. If we do this, our reward
will come in the way of marvelous
increase in business, and conse
quently in happiness and content
ment.”
J. I. Subers:
•In this article of’criticisms and
suggestions for the good Ot our
city, its present needs and future
prosperity etc., the etfitor has. seen
fit to ask me to contribute my
opinion of the society and the
amusement for Bainbridge. This
may not seem a difficult subject
upon which to write and yet I fear
my pen incapable of expressing
my full appreciation of the many
splendid people who form tne so
ciety and who afford the amuse-
ment. Bainbridge to my mind is
the “Garden Spot” of the universe,
more good, hospitable, intelligent,
talented and elegant people in its
corporate limits than can be found
in any place ot the same size on
earth. ' T*he amusements are of a
high order and sufficient for the
size of the town. Every few ey-
ienings the dooas of some elegant
home are thrown open for the en
tertainment of friends. This, I
think should be the chief enter
tainment as it ( is the most refining
and cultivating way in which our
young people can spend an even
ing. Our theatre is a dean, neat,
cozy little place and the new man
agers, Prevatte and Tonge will see
to it that the enterteioments are
frequent enough and of a high or
der. Our roads both in and out
of the city are good tgr riding or
driving and certainly we have
more elegant rubber tired car
riages than can be found in many
cities several times the size of
Bainbridge. The hunting and
fishing opportunities are unex-
haustablc. Our beautiful river,
though absent the naptha and row
boars, affords much pleasure dur
ing the hot days of summer as is
evidenced by the excursion parties
picnicing on its banks or on the
well appointed steamers. Indeed
I think we can justly feel proud of
our town, its location, its natural
A (antic Coast Line Buys
Georgia Northern Ry.
The Georgia Northern Railroad
is to become the property of the
Atlantic Coast Line. The trans
fer was made this week.
, The sale has created considers
t>!e interest in Moultrie and all
along the line of the Georgia
Northern, as the road has been
closely identified with the develo-
ment of this section and the peo
pie generally feel a personal inter
cst in it.
It has been rumored for some
time that the Atlantic Coast Line
had an option on the Georgia
Northern, but these rumors have
never taken the form of facts until
this week.
Mr. Gyte McLendon, a coast
Line representative, was in Moul
trie last weebfor a day or two and
was here again Monday arranging
the details of the sale. While
there has been no official state
ment made as to the sale from
either one ot the.roads, it is gen
erally known here that the deal
has been closed. The price has
been agreed upon and the formal
transfer awaits the payment of the
money.
Tbe Georgia Northern road is
about seventy miles long, from
Pidcock to Albahy, and is one of
the best paying rai’roads in the
state. We understand that tbe
price paid was something over a
half nillion dollars. The entire
K veshefdby three J’idcack
ers, who now heme splendid
fortunes and hive it, in c*sh.
Unless there lias been some recent
deal among the members of the
family, 45 shares of the stock were
held by J; N.- Pidcock, 35 were
held by Mr. C. W. Pidcock, and
20 shares were held by, Mr., Frank
R. Pidcock. ' The stock sold fo{
$5,000 a share, and there was nd
indebtedness hanging over the
road.'
The Observer understands that
there will be no change in the
management of the road. It will
still be operated as an independent
line, and the Pidcocks have been
asked to remain in their present
officia’ positions.
The Atlantic Coast Line has no
further purpose in ^buying the
Georgia Northern than to control
the territory and keep it out of
the hands of any other line. It is
probable, therefore, that not in
the near future, if ever, will there
be a change in the nianage/ment
of the Georgia Northern. .The
officers and employees will con
tinue in their present position. It
is probable, however, that, there
will be some improvements in the
equipments of tbe road. The
Southern division of the road will
be ciit down to a standard grade,
and heavy steel rails will take the
place of those now in use.
Just what effect the transferring
of this property from the hands ot
individuals, whose homes are now
in Moultrie, to a corpoiation with
headquarters in Wilmington, will
have on Moultrie remains to be
seen.—Moultrie Observer.
Brooks and Thomas Couu-
tles Go Dry.
Brooks nn<l Thomas counties
both voted on the liquor question
Tuesd ly iknd both went dry, al
though a lot campaign was waged
bv both suJvs. The registration
in ei 1 ot the comities was large
arid a full no<r« vote was polled
by the w*ts. The results were no
very gre it surprise as both of
these comities have been dry for
the past 1 >ur years. The election
was 10 have been held in Decerns
her out owing to the election of
the constables over the state it
could not be held as the laws for
bid a prohibition election in any
month in which any other election
is held. For this reason it was
postponed until Janua-y 6th,
In Brooks county there was ah
unusually bitter fight over the
question; while the county is dry
by a large majority so far as the
white vote goes, yet there are lots
of. negroes in Brooks county, and
a fight was made for this vote.
The returns were close in that
county on that account, there be
ing less than a hundred votes dif
ference. The leading business
men of Quitmaq were understood
to favor the sale as they claimed
that their business had been cut
off on account of tbe prohibition
regulation.
In Thomas, the vote was alt no
time in dagger, and the county
went dry by a vote of foo The
returns from the city of Thomts-
wle was *--surprise as it was
thought the city would go wet by
a large majority. On the ’ other,
hand it went dry bv a majority of
J8 votes. In the former election
the city went wet by a vote of two.
It is not thought that there will be
another contest ip Thomas county
for quite a while as it is generally
conceded that the wets polled
their full vote, at least for the
next four years Thomasville will
have to drop over to Bainhridge
when she wants to wet her
throat.
The elections in these two
counties were of mueh interest to
the citizens of this coiihty and
town.
Election at Iron City.
The thriving town of Iron City
held a hot, election last Tuesday
and the following officers were
elected over opposition. I. Strick*
'and, mayor, Jbo. T, Lane, W. D.
Acker, E. S. Perry, and H. R.
Strickland aldermen.
advantages and its inhabitants.
We are forging to the front, and
with our growth will come new
and more amusement.”
The great Northwest is snowed
under, but it is pretty wann in
Colorado.
At The Opera House To
night.
Unless someihing ti.ufop'seen
happens, the long expecmil Z inie
will be presented at the opera
house tonight. The opera is an
old faitorite but the presentation
tonight will be much mote brilliant
than the libretto of the gypsy op
era would of it self allow. Many
ot the most popular airs will be in
troduced-with great effect. The
costumes Will be richer than those
of any previous local talent theat
rical hitherto presented in this
place.
A member of sextette * ill de
light the audience. Among the
most prominent of the cast are
Mrs. Bowen Belcher, Mrs. Albert
Russell, Misses Allie Golden Cli-
ette, May Russell, 'Rosalie Kwi-
lecki, Evelyn McTyer, Minnie
Hinds, Gladys Monger, Bessee
Crawford, Merrill McTyer, Alber
ta O’Donnell, Myrtle Harrell and
Joan O’Donell; Messrs Erie Don-
alson, Arthur Little, L. E. Folds
and Oliver Fleming.
The play is for the benefit of
some charetable cause and "Stand
ing Room only” should be at a
premium, for much hard work has
been spent in getting the play
ready. No matter what material
a person may have at hand, it is
a herculean task to train the cho
ruses. We are sure that the op
era will be * triumph from an ar
tistic poiet of view. It rests with
the people of the community to
make it a ftaencial success.
