Newspaper Page Text
Volume XI—No. 23.
EXTENSION FROM GREENWOOD
TO TAMPA PLANS OF GEORGIA
AND FLORIDA RAILWAY GO.
RECEIVERSHIP MAY SOON
BE LIFTED. RAILROAD
IS SHOWING STEADY
INCREASE IN VOL
UME OF BUSINESS
' The ambition of the Georgia &
Florida railroad to become a trunk
line railroad, linking the cast with
Florida by the shortest route and
which several hours in time may
be saved from New York and other
eastern points to Jacksonville is
about to be realized.
The following news dispatch gives
a comprehensive idea of the plans of
Mr. John Skelton Williams, who is
promoting the extensions from Green
wood, South Carolina to Tampa,
Florida:
New York, March 30. —The plan of
John Skelton Williams, receiver of
the Georgia and Florida railroad, to
make that road an important link
in a new nort-hern and souihern rail
route is being watched with keen in
terest in New York, where it is ex
pected that the financial arrange
ments incidental to the release of j
the property from the present receiv-
IJ-. . ship will be worked out.
Mr. Williams,' who has recently
spent much time in Georgia and Flor
ida inspecting the road and survey
ing tentative routes for the proposed
extensions, i 3 said to be convinced
that the program of development
which he has in mind will put the
Georgia and Florida on a profitable
basis and enable it to share the ever
increasing traffic between the North
and Florida.
It is Mr. Williams’ plan to rehabil
iate the road by means of a northern
extension to Greenwood, S. C., and a
( southern one bo Tampa, Fla. The
distance between Augusta, the pres
ent northen terminus of the line, and
Greenwood is 55 miles. This e-ten
sion would give the Georgia & Flor
ida a connection at Greenwood, with
the Piedmont & Northern, Duke’s
electric line from Greenwood to
Spartanburg, where it meets the
Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio. This
latter road, recently acquired under
a lease by the Atlantic Coast Line
and the Louisville & Nashville, is ob
ligated under conditions imposed by
interstate commerce commission
to divide its traffic indiscriminately
with other roads.
The idea of Mr. Williams is said
to be that this extension will make
it possible for the Georgia & Florida
to obtain a sizeable volume of busi
ness from middle-western points to
Florida and Georgia points. Fur
thermore, it would shorten the South
ern's passenger haul to Florida and
draw from other traffic sources. Sur
veys have already been made and
permission obtained to cross the Sa
vannah river at Augusta over the
Southern’s bridge.
Tentative Plan of Route
While the proposed extension into
Florida has not been mapped out, a
tentative route has been chosen from j
Madison, Fla. The extension is ex-j
pected to be 200 miles long. The
Georgia and Florida main line now
runs to Madison. The extension pro-
Jl'am, which Mr. Williams is work
ing on, would give the Georgia and
Florida a mileage of approximately
700 miles.
The obligation of the Georgia and
Florida consist of $6,220,000 of first
mortgage bonds and $2,000,000 ol
second mortgage, in addition to $2,-
194,000 of receivers’ certificates an
old divisional bonds. No interest ha
been paid on the bonds since May 1
1913, but the road is able to meet a.
receiver’s obligations and old divis
ional bond interest out of earnings.
Receiver Optomistic.
Thu gross earnings of the Georgio
end Florida m 1913 amounted to sl,-
785,326, with a net railway operat
ing income of $428,738. In 1924 the
gross was $1,780,888, but the net op
erating income increased to $455,196.
In his last report to the court, the
receiver expressed the belief that ‘ it
will be possible before the maturity
jjf the receiver’3 certificates to re:r
genize the road on a be sis w.iieh wi.l
pay in full all obligations of the re
ceivership and restore in large part
the original value of the first mort
gage bonds upon which no hi teres t
BIG TOBACCO WAREHOUSE
SOLD TO KENTUCKIANS
A real estate transaction was han
dled in Douglas this week, which is of
interest to the tobacco growers of
South Georgia. The Union Banking
Company and Pegram &, Hester sold
the Big Tobacco Warehouse in Doug
las to Oettinger and King, composed
of Leon Oettinger and F. S. King of
Lexington, Ky., the consideration be
ing understood as around $35,000.
The purchasers are experienced to
bacco warehousemen, having spent
practically all of their lives in this
business. It is the plan of the new
owners to remodel and make some
extensions on this warehouse, and
have it ready for operation by the
opening day of the tobacco season.
The available floor space in tobacc
warehouses in Douglas for this year,
after the Farmer’s Tobacco Ware
house completes its building, and the
Growers warehouse and the Knott
and Sykes warehouses are enlarged,
according to plans, will give the
Douglas market 170.000 square feet
for floor pace, and is estimated that
this will ake c re of ten to. twelve
million p . inds o.C tobacco this year.
ooyo! m fmpiM?,
i i CuLLA SGH62I
The article be; w clipped from the
Ocilla Star of last week indicates
the high esteem in which Prof. Em
mett V. Whelchel, whose father and
mother, Dr. and Mrs. H. C. Whelchel,
have lived for many years in Douglas.
Mr. Whelchel was educated in the
ilougla3 school*. a«AL.ai._ih,e Univer
sity of eGorgia:
“It will be a matter of considerable
interest to the patrons of the Ocilla
Public School to know that Prof. E.
V. Whelchel has been re-elected to
the position of Superintendent of
schools for another year by the City
Board of Education.
“Mr. Whelchel has made a good
record this year and it is no sur
prise that his efforts have been ap
preciated by the board and that he
has been tendered the place again.
“Mr. Whelchel has the school well
in hand and there has been almost
no trouble in the school this year.
His high school boys and girls are
thoroughly loyal to him and he is
getting fine results not only in the
school room but in the wider activi
ties of the student body.”
DOUGLAS METHODIST CHURCH
SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday morning at the 11:30 ser
vice, the membership of the church
will vote on the pending plan of
union between the Methodist Episco
pal church (North) and the Metho
dist Episcopal church, (South). This
is in compliance with resolutions pas'
ed by the last session of the Sen h
Georgia Annual Conference held las!
November in Bainbridge.
After the vote is taken, delegates
will be elected to the District Confer
ence to be held May 11th at F Ikston
Georgia. The Methodist pastor, Mr
Christian urges each and every
church member to be present funday
morning, as each member sheu'd ex
press her and his desire in this vita
matter.
Mr. J. A.. 8 rnizer has spent th
'ast week in Washington and vi ini j
n business.
Quite a number of thu Bapti
workers attended the all-day Rally a
'est Green Tuesday. Rev. Carl V
J inor carried Mrs. Bronson and M s
7 ikes, Mrs. I. G. Cook carried M
■"apa, Mrs. Pent, M-s. R. C. Wor*’
carried Mrs. Breni'"?”, Mrs. Ilok
Davis and Miss Carelock.
has been paid since Mcy 1, 1913.
Flans are said to be under consid
eration now for a formal application
to the in'erstate commerce commis
sion looking to the prosecution of the
plans fur extending the road. It is
believed that the necessary capital
can be raised without serious diffi
culty. About $8,000,000 will be need
ed, it-has been estimated
OFFICIAL ORGAN COFFEE COUNTY, CITY OF DOUGLAS, AND THE CITY OF NICHOLLB
DOUGLAS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1925.
BUBAL SCHOOLS CLOSE
SIX MONTHS TERM
The close of the school term of the
thirty-five white rural schools of
Coffee county came, last week, with
one or two exceptions, yvhich are
closing this week. The West Green
school, one of the largest and besi
in the county is having its closing
exercises today. A program will be
put on and an address will be deliver
ed by Hon. Dave M. Parker, of Way
cross. A number of other schools
prepared programs for the closing.
In many respects the rural schools
have enjoyed a successful year. They
have been operated in every instance
for six months and a few for seven
They have received their'
pay regularly except for the last
month and will receive checks for J
this in a few days.
In addition to payment of all cur
rent bills, the administration will |
pay about May Ist 25 per cent of the
existing indebtedness of the school!
board, or about $7,000. The cut- j
sending indebtedness is appro xi-i
mately $23,000. It is planned to
liquidate this amount in three years
by a special levy of taxes made for
the purpose last year and which i;
being collected in the form of taxe \
In addition to paying bills as due
and retiiring its debt, the board of
education will have sufficient funds
to start the schools thi3 fall on a
cash basis. There is an agitation to
start the schools earlier in this coun
ty and it is p-obafcle. that patrons
througfyeut the A county will ask that
the term begin’ September Ist in
stead of Octobe • Ist as heretofore.
The work of. the county farm dem
onstrator has been carried on all the
time and with a brief interruption
the county home agent has been em
ployed and it i 3 the purpose of the
board and. Superintendent Melvin
Tann.er to maintain this work.
Mr, Tanner expects to spend much
time during the summer rrftmths ob
taining data concerning the schools
and familiarize himself more thor
oughly with the school situation with
a view to building them a still great
er degree of efficiency.
In some localities there is agita
tion going on for the consolidation
of a number of schools, and Mr. Tan
ner will furnish detailed information
relative to the advantages or disad
vantages of such moves.
He states that a school built to the
standard of a junior high can obtain
SI,OOO more funds from the state
and will receive other benefits thal
are not now available to them.
Weekly Broxton News Letter
By Mrs. B. M. Poer
Mrs. E. C. Perking, Miss Lillian
Perkins, Miss Davis and Mrs. Carter
of Alma, were calling on Mr. and
Mrs. B. R. Leggett and Mr. and Mrs.
King last Sunday afternoon.
Miss Willie Rogers, returned Sat
urday from Barnesville, having at
tended the State Music Convention.
Miss Flolrrle Poer of Arlington,
spent the week end with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Peer.
Mr. J. H. Milhollin and Mr. Luther
Roberts left Sunday for North Caro
lina.
Miss Lillian Moody, Mis 3 Sudie
Williams, J. L. Sapp, Jr., Ruth Sapp
ar.d Mildred Sapp spent the week
end with relatives in Baxley.
Miss Miami Paulk of Douglas,
was a Sunday guest of Miss Leman
Tyler, also Miss Marguaritte John
son took dinner with Miss Tyler.
Mrs. Jasper Connell of Massee, is
visiting her son, Mr. J. C. E. Con
nell.
Mrs. D. D. Newbern, Mrs. Jesse
Newbern, end Mrs. M. E. Vickers,
•’ere visiting Mr. and Mrs. W. T.
'’ottingham of Douglas Sunday af
emecn.
Mr. Weyman Cook made a business
rip to Atlanta last Wednesday night.
Mr. and Mr 3. B. S. Stalvy, Jr., of
Veldoßta, were the week end guests
of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. S.
McDaniel.
Mr- B. R. Wooten and Mr. Walter
Wooten are en a week’s visit through
Florida. Mr. B. B. Wooten will visit
his parents in Miami before return
ing.
Mrs. Mary Moore, Mrs. W. M.
Cook, and Bdlto and Mary ixm are
AGGIES HIT STRIDE
AND WIN TWO
(By GERALD LOTT)
The local Aggie nine disiplayed
their abili y ft playing ball on last
Thursday and Friday by trouncing
Coach Tink Gillarn’s Mercer Univer
sity Bears in two pxciling games.
The score was 3 to 0 and 6 tw 4 re
spectively.
The local team played fine base
bell making but three bobbles in two
games while the Macon lads booted
eight chances.
The features of the Ist game was
Brown Mule pitching, Demery’s
double in the fourth scoring waters
while the whole Aggie team played
brilliantly.
Brown Mule ,on the Mound for
Douglas was invincible giving up one
scratch hit end striking out eighteen
batters. Joiner the opposing pitch
er, also pitched well giving up 5 hits
and striking out 5 men.
The defeats handed to Coach Gill
ana s outfit was a surprise to them
for they .had won every game pray
ed this season by heclthy margins,
but whefi they crossed bats wnh the
local boys they came out holding on
to the short had of two contests.
The epesnd game proved to be
about as.ebcaiUng as tne first one had
been. J-|ie Aggies made two runs in
the seednd and took the lead, but
Mercer tied tne sc .re ir th; .conn.
The Agfe'ies scored cue in the fifth
■and a gain took the lead,while Mercer
oeprad a - run in the seventh on a
home run by Lafilte tying the score
for the se:opd Lima. In th ir half of
the seventh the local beys scored two
runs cni one more in Lhe eighlh,
while: Metreer was never able to over
come this lpqd, the final score being
(3 to 4. |
Jones bitched the second game for
the lociJ nine and pitched hints.lf
into tlva Tail of fame striking out
seven bagi’rs and gave up but three
..uat’tic re* is Last d-voKping in
to a star. He has a curve ball that
would do credit to a number -of major
league pitchers. The Aggie 3 have
gone on a rampage and it will take
a mighty good team to beat them.
First Game.
R H E
Douglas 3 5 1
Mercer 0 13
Second Game.
R II E
Douglas , 6 5 2
Mercer 4 3 5
WANTED —Boarders —will take shop
or business men. Reasonable rates.
Phone 356. 2-9 d
all better after a serious sickness of
flu.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Wright of Cor
dele, also Mr. and Mrs. W. F. W’right
of Cordele, and baby, were Sunday
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wall.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Daniel of
Brooker, weres Sunday guests of Mr.
and Mrs. Goss, also Mr. and Mrs.
Lonnie Daniel of JBrookelr, visited
Mr. and Mrs. H. W’illiams Sunday.
Mr. W. D. Turner and son, W. H.
Turner have set out to the present
twenty-two to twenty-five acres of
tobacco.
Dr. C. C. Giddcns was in Valdosta
last Thursday night and Friday.
Mr. I. C. Register and Mr. J. M.
Jordan spent the week end with home
folks, leaving Monday for Washing
ton, Ga.
The many friends of Mrs. R. A.
Davis are so glad to learn her in
juries from a fall last week are not
so serious and she is able bo go
around on crutches. We hope for
her a speedy recovery.
Mr. I*ey Dykes spent last Thurs
day in Waycross with his aunt, Mrs.
B. A. Dykes.
Little Gladys Dykes is on the sick
list.
Mrs. Norman McCollum is still
confined to her bed.
Mr. Charlie Webster, Mr. and Mrs.
T. 11. Brown of Ambrose, attended
the revival at the Methodist church
Sunday and were dinner guests of
Mr. and Mrs( J. E. Lott.
Mrs. Dave Ricke’son of Douglas is
visiting her daughter, Mrs. Norman
McCollum.
Mr. Eimost Dykes Waycross,
CONFIDENCE SHOWN IN COFFEE
COUNTY BY HALF MILLION
, !■ . BUILDING EXPENDITURE
BILLIKIN BOUND OVER
ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE
t
" (
A commitment hearing was held
in the case of Hazzie Billikin, charg
ed with the murder of Huge Harrell,
Wednesday afternoon. The case was
tried before Justice John S. Gibson,
who bound the defendant over on a
charge of manslaughter and assessed
a bond at $3,000.; The tiond has not
been made to date, but it is under
stood can be furnished.
Attorneys Dickerspm & Kelly: ap
peared for the'defPnke / a l nd ‘Attorney
R. B. Chastain represented the
prosecution. Aboikt : hdlf i a 1 dozed
witnesses werb examined in the' tria 1 )
of the case, including the wife of
Harrell, two daughters and a sog of
the deceased. {
AGGIES SHOW OP
OUT LOSE TO
WAYCISS U
Three straight victories for the
Coast Liners were stacked up when
lhe Railroaders sent the jDouglas
Agtoos under the yoke here Monday
afterpoon, 8-3.
Thq college boys from the Eleventh
District school gave Joe Jackson
their .best game of the season, Brown
Mu’o Smith showing, the h eals their
first teal taste of scientific pitching.
Konneman was effective, on ; the
mound for Waycross holding his hjU.
ters £ t his mercy, and stacking, up a
respectable number of strikeouts.
The above account taken from the
\Vaycross f Joiu-naLrlLerald pay# a (iis-f
tinct tribute to the Aggips, which lias
one of the neatest playing 'plucky
little teams we have ever seen. Full
of zip and ppp from the jump, making
sensational catches, hitting the ball
when a hit is needed is some of the
proclivities that wins laurels for
them. Every member of the team
plays their part exceedingly well,
end Jones, catching is superb at all
times.
The score with the Jackson team
at Waycross Monday was 4 and 3
until the eighth inning. A team of
mature men, several of whom have
played professional ball, and heavy
weights, the Waycross team is, we
believe, unmatched in amateur ball
in this state. Their fort is slugging,
and it is at this point that the light
team of Vibbert’s was outclassed.
Pretty fielding and good judgement
dominated for the Aggies. A good
ly nnmber of fans went to Waycross
to witness the game, and let them
selves be heard.
It is no reflection to be defeated by
such a team.
was the week end guests of rela
tives.
Quite a number from here attend
ed the movies in Douglas last Sat
urday p. m.
Mr. J. W. Miller of Douglas was a
business visitor in town Monday a. m.
Mr. end Mrs. Bob Walls, Mr. and
Mrs. J. R. Lewis and Mrs. R. L. Kite,
attended preaching at Brushy Creek
1
last Sunday. I
Rev. R. O. Martin attended church
at Big Creek in Bacon county, last
Saturday and Sunday.
Mrs. Lawson Knott, Mrs. Beasley
and Mrs. Elmer Rigsby of Ambrose
were visitors last Sunday of Mrs. W.
D. Turner.
Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Poer sperv
Tuesday night in Cordele.
A Sunbeam Roe*al.
Quite a number of little folks en
joyed a social at their leader's kmc,
Mrs. R. O. Martin last Saturday af
ternoon. Games, cream and cake,
made it a very pleasant afternoon
for them.
Rev. .!. C. G. BrOnks is
Preaching Wonderful Sermons.
The revival in progress at the
Methodist church is increasing in in
terest. Some powerful sermons are
preached, the wonder is how any one
resists yielding after listening to
such appealing, togical and loving
$1.50 Per Annum in Advance
a “come-back" is possible is
in reality beinyj demonstrated in Cof
fee IcCunty by the ! expenditure of
large sums of*money in building de
velopment such as has not been equal
ed here in many years.
The building activities includes
both city and county, and there is
tremendous activity in clearing of
lands and preparation for the crop
Hundreds of acres of tobac
co have already been planted, this
being the earliest planting cf this
crap known here, seme having
set out plants two weeks ago. There
is abounteous supply of plants for
,the greatly increased acreage, esti
mated conservatively at 2000 acres
above last year’s crop. This will
make a total acreage of more than
5,000 acres in this county alone,
which should place on the markets
here locilly j grown around eight mil
lion pounds.
There. are under construction and
already built approximately 400 to
bacco barns, at a cost of about $l2O,
000.
Other projects include:
Improvements cn farms, new resi
dences, etc., $50,000.
Farmers’ Tobacco Warehouse in
Douglfijq $35,000.
imp: . dements on other w T arehouse3
including Growers, Knott & Sikes,
and Big Warehouse, $15,000.
,i ' S-uaet, Raving,. $50,000.
K t cw Hotel*Building, $50,000.
Post Office building in Douglas,
$55,000.’ !
’ B’h'ptist -PaStoHum, $6,000.
• Df .1/. riloL jjan, brick building, SB,-
000.
;; Mike! Nalusra, brick building, $6,-
"owk-H :
GepXgia & Florida Station, SIO,OOO.
A number <of attractive residences
are under construction including that
oif .Afi;. ii. £l. Sapp, Mr. G. H. Pegram
and Mr. R. N. McEachren which rep
resents investments of several • thous
and dollars.
The Georgia & Florida and A. B.
& A. railroads are carrying on ex
tensive improvements in placing side
‘tracks and other improvements to
adequately meet the increased de
mand for this service by the 1 ocal
warehouses.
There are a number of other build
ing projects that are yet unannounc
ed, but which will most likely be
under way in a short time. All the
investments represents an -outlay of
at least half a million dollars.
Among the most important things
that the people here are working up
on it that of consolidated rural
schools throughout the county and
the paving of , the Dixie Highway
through Coffefe county and the con
struction of a north and south high
way which would cross the Ocmuigee
river at Jacksonville, Georgia and ex
tend through Broxton and Douglas,
crossing Seventeen Mile Creek at
Bell Lake, thus creating a short
route to the section of Fairfax and
Vvaycross. This road will prove «f
great convenience to farmers living
beyond these streams, end who are
practically isolaied from this city.
An air of cp.imi m prevades the
entire county and with the produe
tion of a successful crop this season,
the most optimistic decline to put a
limitation on the future progress of
this section.
COLORED LABORERS WANTeTT
at Hastings, F nda, to harvest
the pota o crop. Work for the whole
family; Good pay. Come any time
after March 25 h. 25-A2-9
messEges.
Miss Ivcl’a ie of the A. & M.
Drn it 1 e week end with her
mother / *>, . .
./. i ;
Rev. T. M ' ,: nn of Douglas,
attended the rc a! here last Thurs
day. i ?
* l l # t '
tlnrdjjm r ~"'ng.
rf \s announ-e '--grtofore Miss .hr
dn of Sou ,v Georgia College, Mc-
Fae. with of I ''"- nssistcr.ee will be
heard in a song recital at the audi
torium next Monday night, April »sh.
Sponsored by music chib.