Newspaper Page Text
(Bafftt Countjj Progress,
Volume XI—No. 40.
DOUGLAS ENDS THIRD DAYS SALE
LEADINC THE ENTIRE STATE
. Not unexpected Tuesday, the
opening date of the Georgia to
bacco market, Douglas led the
state in sales, disposing of 165,-
000 pounds by about 1 o’clock.
The offerings were poor as well
as light and the average price
was below eighteen cents- Not
over ten per cent of the growlers
Jn the Douglas territory had any
*hing to offer at all.
What once appeared to be one
of the earliest crops in maturing
has developed into one of the
Attest in the history of the state,
while a great percentage of the
crop has been cured, the tobacco
has not long been taken from
the barns, and is not seasoned,
or “in order” as it takes from
two to four weeks storing for
the finished product to properly
cure and color-up. Ofttimes a
barn of tobacco will appear a
rich green color upon being re
moved from the barn and if
properly stored, soon assumes a
golden hue, which is much more
desired by the buyers, as well as
the farmer.
There was a total of 1,633.298
pounds of tobacco sold on open
ing day. Following is the
amounts and price paid accord
ing to reports sent out by the
press despatches:
Pounds Average
Station Sold Price
Alma 75,000 .18
Blackshear . 107,000 .17.8
Baxley 125,000 .17
Camilla 35,000 .22
Cairo 22,000 .17.2
Douglas 165,000 .16.45
Dublin 100,000 .20.6
Fitzgerald 30,000 .25
Hazlehurst 83,638 * .18,8
Hahira 43,276 .15.9
Lyons 60,000 .17
Metter 150,000 .13
Moultrie 100,000 ,17.
Nashville 140,000 ' .18
Pelham - 107,000 .21
Quitman 103,000 .16.5
Tifton 67,880 .18
Thomasville 75,000 .26.6
Waycross .... 40,000 .16
Valdosta 97,000 .21.3
Vidalia 93,212 .20.5
Following reporcs sent out last
season:
Valdosta 225,000 23
Hazlehurst 350,000 22
iNashville 960,000 25
Vidalia 300,000 25
Hahira . 40,000 22
Tifton 125,000 25
Fitzgerald . 82,176 17
Blackshear 750,000 23
Camilla 200,000 20
Douglas 400,000 22
Many of these reports were found
to be errors when the final check up
came, some of the markets selling
less than a third of what was report
ed in the daily press last year.
All the markets reported light sales
Wednesday, some of them making no
reports of sales on that date.
The sales at Douglas Wednesday
were about 30,000 pounds and*it ap
pears as though Thursday and Fri
day will find a good deal more on
the floors. Ten days to two weeks
will be required to get the market
under headway.
G. & F. TO OPERATE TRAIN
THROUGH TOBACCO BELT
Augusta, Ga., July 27.—Announce
ment was made today that the eGor
gia and Florida railroad will operate
a new train to south Georgia in or
der to assist in the marketing ofone
of the biggest tobacco crops in the
history of that section. The train will
be known as “The Tobacco Special”.
The train will leave Valdosta each
night and pick up shipments of to
bacco from the following towns:
Nashville, Adel, Douglas, Hazlehurst
and Vidalia, and will receive ship‘-
ments at their junction points. The
train will reach Augusta early in the
morning, so as to make connections
with trains going to Virginia and the
Carolinas.
The acquisition of this train gives
the growers of south Georgia two
fast trains with which to market
their products. The Georgia and
Florida’s regular fast Florida freight
No. 58 will maintain its present
schedule, operating about two hours
ahead of the “Tobacco Special.”
REAL ESTATE LOAN
COMPANY HEAD ATTENDS
TOBACCO OPENING
Mr. A. G. Smith, of Atlanta, presi
dent of the Real Estate Loan Com
pany was in Douglas Tuesday to at
tend the opening of the tobacco mar
ket. Mr. Smith is very much inter
ested in this crop, and on a farm own
ed by his company three miles east of
the city has 150 acres planted to to
bacco this season, besides other crops
planted on an equally large scale.
From the 150 acres of tobacco it
is probable that 150,000 pounds will
be produced this season. The farm
has been under the management of
Mr. Robert Day, of Douglas, who is
general supervisor of farqj develop
ment of this company.
A particular feature on this farm
is 200 acres of sweet potatoes planted
by Sidney Stubbs for the Douglas Oil
& Fertilizer Company. This is per
haps the largest crop of sweet pota
toes ever grown in Georgia, especial
ly in this section -of the state. The
potatoes are planted for market, and
are of very fine quality. Already
there is thousands of bushels almost
ready to gather, and they will be
brought to the plant in this city
where they will be seasoned at the
large potato curing house of the
Douglas Oil & Fertilizer Company
and prepared for shipment to East
ern and Western markets. They are
packed in crates and bear attractive
labels.
Mr. Smith has expended more than
$40,000 in improvments on this
farm this year, which is ideally locat
ed o.n the Dixie Highway. Nice farm
houses, tobacco barns, clearing new
land and removing stumps have been
the main items, and today it is in
appearance one of the show places of
the section. In developing and farm
ing the lands, Mr. Smith states that
ti% Ur ash uteri "*>f tr -much better re
turn with normal conditions expects
to make farming profitable in future,
years.
FIRST BALE OF COTTON
BRINGS TWENTY-FIVE CTS.
The first bale of cotton to reach
the gins at Douglas was grown by
Lonnie A. Pope, and was ready for
ginning on Wednesday. The bale
weighs over 500 pounds and will
grade strict middling. It is being
ginned at the ginnery of the Douglas
Oil & Fertilizer Company.
Mr. Pope has a large acreage in
cotton, and is using “Dofco” brand
fertilizers, manufactured by the
Oil & Fertilizer Company.
The particular field of cotton is being
grown with 9-2-3- and is very fine
indeed. Mr. Pope has been first with
a bale at Douglas for three years. It
has not been sold as yet.
The first bale to be ginned at Am
brose was that of Mr. Henry Vickers
a leading farmer of that section, who
has an acreage of about four hundred
acres in cotton. The bale was ginned
at the George Paulk ginnery and was
bought by Ralph W. Griffin, of Doug
las for 25 cents per pound. It grad
ed strict middling and is soon to be
followed by other bales. Cotton is
now opening rapidly, and in the Am
brose-Broxton section will be found
by far the larger percentage of the
crop growing in Coffee County.
Various estimate make the yield
for 1925 in this county at 7,000 to
10 000 bales. 5,700 was produced
last season. The drought in recent
weeks has materially lessened the
crop prospects here, but indications
are that it will far surpass that of
last year.
J. M. DENT RETURNS
FROM B. P. O. E. MEET
Mr. J, M. Dent, past exalted Ruler
of Douglas 1286 B. P. O. Elks return
ed this week from Portland, Oregan
where he attended the national con
vention as a representative of the
local lodge. Mr. Dent has been away
from the city for a month, making
a number of side trips on his way
to the far western city, and upon his
return trip. He visited points on the
Pacific coast and in Canada while
away. Mr. Dent is president of the (
Douglas Telephone Company, and has 1
served the same lodge as its presid-j
ing officer on two different occasions.
OFFICIAL ORGAN COFFEE COUNTY. CITY OF DOUGLAS. AND THE CITY OF NICHOLLS
DOUGLAS, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1925.
AUTOISTS KILLED WHEN
COLLIDES WITH TRAIN
W. H. Carroll, of Atlanta, auditor
and assistant treasurer of the At
lantic Ice and Coal corporation, met
instant death when the Hudson closed
car in which he was traveling alone
collided with an A., B. & A. freight
train at Guysie, four miles west of
Alma last Friday night.
It was stated that a severe wind
and rain storm was in progress and
probably accounts for the acci
dent, as the crossing is open to veiw
for a long distance each way. Mr.
Carroll was traveling east and the
freight train traveling west.
The body was mangled beyond
recognition, and the automobile al
most totally demolished. The engine
pulled the freight train was derailed
and it was necessary to build a track
around to enable traffic to be resum
ed. C. B. Coleman, engineer and T.
E. Erwin were both injured when the
engine overturned, but not seriously.
Carroll was a native of Tennessee,
and his remains were shipped to
Nashville.
The following statement concern
ing the accident was issued Saturday
by B. L. Bugg receiver of the rail
road:
“Yesterday afternoon, when A., B.
& A. local freight train No. 41 was
passing Guisie, a small station be
tween Brunswick and Nicholls, near
Alma, at 6:30 p. m., eastern time, a
Hudson closed automobile occupied by
Mr. W. H. Carroll, drove upon the
track immediately in front of the en
-gine, near the depot, resulting in the
instant death of Mr. Carroll, who was
the only occupant of the automobile,
and the total destruction of the auto
mobile. The locomotive and tender
were derailed and turned over. En
gineer C. B. Coleman and Fireman T.
E. Irwin, of train No. 41, were injur
ed, the detailed report of which has
not been received.
“The engine rested in such shape
after the accident that the main line
was blocked, and it was necessary to
build a track around the wreck, which
was af fflrfWWf
and trains passed. The country
around the crossing at the depot is
flat open country and the track
straight and approaching trains vis
ible for at least a half mile.”
J. S. BERNARD, OF
GREENVILLE, TO HANDLE
RED WAREHOUSE SALES
Mr. J. S. Bernard, of Greenville,
Tennessee, has joined the Red Ware
house organization, operated by
Knott & Sikes, and is in charge of
sales. He arrived in the city this
week and is already “on the job”.
Mr. Bernard is a warehouseman in
Greenville, Tenn., owning and operat
ing sixty per cent of the floor space in
that city, which is one of the leading
markets of Tennessee. He was for
merly a circuit rider for the Amer
ican Tobacco Company, and has had
long experience in the game. He is
almost universally known among the
fraternity and is popular with buyers,
warehousemen alike.
Versatile as he is with the tobac
co game, Mr. Bernard has already
made many friends with patrons of
this popular firm.
A. B„ & A. OFFICIALS
AGAIN VISIT DOUGLAS
A party composed of Vice-Presi
dent J. L. Edwards, General Super
intendent C. E. Brower, Treasurer
W. E. Paschal and Freight Traffic
Manager, C. B. Kealhofer, of the At
lanta, Birmingham & Atlantic rail
road follower their usual custom of
spending the day in Douglas on the
occasion cf the tobacco opening. For
several years these gentlemen have
been interested spectators on the
Douglas tobacco market on opening
date.
The A., B. & A. traverses the heart
of the Georgia tobacco belt, and the
official body look with pride upon
the achievements won in production
of this crop. The development de
partment of this road was very large
ly instrumental in establishing tobac
co culture in • Coffee county, where
the crop was grown in commercial
quantities for the first time, and later
taken up by practically every South
east Georgia county. The party was
driven over the territory surrounding
Douglas, and during the late after
noon departed for Fitzgerald from
whence they returned to Atlanta.
NAN YANG BROS. SEND
CHINESE INVESTIGATOR
Messrs. K. C. Lee, Y. C. Pun and
Ki Chun, representing the Nanyang
Bros., Tobacco Co., of Shanghi, China
were visitors on the Douglas Tobac
co Market Thursday. They were in
company with Mr. W. C. Gravely,
President of the China-American To
bacco & Trading Company, who have
a stemming and redrying plant in
Douglas and who is represented on
all the Georgia markets.
Mr. Lee is purchasing agent for
this corporation, which is one of the
largest concerns in the world. Mr.
Pun is an expert judge of grades and
has charge of blending, and other
features connected with the manufac
ture of tobacco, while Mr. Chun is
chief engineer for his company.
Each of these gentlemen are in Am.
erica making a study, each of the de
partment represented by them. In
addition to visiting the markets,
they will also visit manufacturing
plants and make a thorough study of
methods used in this country, such as
the process of blending, methods of
marketing and Mr. Chun will make a
thorough study of latest American
machinery used in the manufacture of
cigarettes.
The Latter in discussing the report
ed boycott by the Chinese of British
goods, stated that it was true. But
added, “America must not misunder
stand the Chinese, as we want their
goods and their methods. We want
to direct trade with Amer
ica, and while the existing boycott on
British manufactured goods may af
fect America, we want to establish a
still greater trade.”
He said * that the manufacturers
were unable to keep pace with the
rapid increase in the consumption of
.cigarettes jn that country. They hope
to have installed adequate machinery
within a year to keep pace with the
increased demand.
The party of gentlemen were travel
ing via automobile, ar.ji expressed
themselves as delighted to be in Am-
lik 4 this country very much.
One of the partysaul tEat~{Ke
pie of their country were very friend
ly to this country, and predicted a
great industry in the tobacco busi
ness between the two.
They will visit other Georgia mar
kets before going to the Carolinas
and Virginia.
POLICE UPSET FOUR~
GALLONS OF CORN
Chief Ben Barrineau and Police
man D. W. Lott captured four gal
lons of corn whiskey Tuesday after
noon in a raid made on a home in
the western part of the city. Albert
Stevens is the occupant of the house
wfiere the contraband was found, and
later poured out before a large crowd
of bemoaning spectators, as well as
enthusiastic prohibitionists.
Stevens was placed under arrest
and bound over to City Court and
was later released on bond.
Another raid by the same officers
netted about half a gallon. Stacy
Redding, of ebony hue, and who lives
in the “slide” was accused of having
possession and was placed under
bond. Police say that Stacy is an
old offender, and has had similar
charges lodged against her before.
DAN C, ASHLEY
DIES OF INJURIES
Mr. Dan C. Ashley, of Valdosta,
one of the most prominent young
men of that city died Tuesday of in
juries sustained in an automcb'le
vvreck which occurred Sunday on the
Valdosta-Lake City road- Goode
Guerry, of Florida was kill i i out
richt and Miss Anna Belle Converse
ba'Ty injured when the driver of the
Lincoln automobile in which they
were riding lost control possibly from
a blow-out, and turned over several
times.
Mr. Ashley was related to the Ash
ley family of this city, also to Mayo-
John R. Slater, and a life-long and
very intimate friend of Mr. Slater.
The funeral services of Mr. Ash
ley were attended by a number of
friends from this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Castle of Dub
lin, are guests at the New Douglas
Hotel this week.
THIS FARMER FINDS WAY TO
MAKE THE FARM PROFITARLE
Symbolical of what transpires in
Coffee county oftimes is the process
of intesified fa rming developed by
Mr. Leon Vickers, who owns a large
farm 10-miles south of Douglas, near
Mora.
A few years ago Mr. Vickers was
the possessor of a large tract of farm
land, which embodied a fortune. The
outstanding asset, so believed Mr.
Vickers, was the timber possibilities,
of which naval stores was the out
standing, and most promising road to
fortune. Thousands upon thousands
of dollars provided by nature stood
awaiting only the touch of skilled
workmen to develop into a for
tune for the owner. Mr. Vickers en
tered spiritedly into the development
of the timber, and at the same time,
farming on a haphazard scale. Cot
ton was the main product, -and suc
cessively for three or four years,
through adverse seasons and boll
weevils, was destroyed.
The manufacture of naval stores,
though profitable at times, was in
sufficient to maintain the farm, and
as a consequence, Mr. Vickers went
“broke.” It is illuminating to relate
a story such as this, and while the
subject we are writing about may not
approve of having personal affairs
delved into publicly, the writer will
explain by saying that the indomit
able will and determination exhibit
ed by Mr. Vickers, together with the
business judgement used, has set an
example that should be emulated by
many others. He is now one of the
county’s most prosperous citizens —
and he made his fortune largely by
farming.
It would be a delight to any Geor
gian to visit the farm and see the
development there. Five hundred
acres of finely developed acreage so
diversified as to insure a profit is to
be found.
One of the foremost attractions is
j OL JIL .that,. was
planted with a view to a 100 bushels
pe racre production, and the promise
of such a yield is most convincing.
A finer‘product cannot be found in
America. Standing fifteen to eigh
teen feet in height, fruited with two
to four ears of corn to the stalk, well
formed, the average man would have
to elevate his arms lenght to touch
the topmost ear. A continued drought
will, seemingly, be the only upset in
Mr. Vickers’ plans fo rfive hundred
bushels of corn on five acres—and
maybe more.
A visit to this farm will reveal 300
sheep, the revenue from which will
net $5.00 each. This crop is well
pastured, and the annoying “sheep
killing dog” is prevented from doing
his work of devastation to this, one
of the most profitable industries on
the fram. The herd is increasing
rapidly, and ordinary stock is used.
A further glance about this farm
and 250 hear of Hampshire hogs will
furnish an attraction that is without
doubt, one of the most highly prized
projects on the farm. They are also
pastured, having ample range and
pasture grasses are available practi
clly all the year round, thus creat
ing a vast saving. It is easy to se
lect a lot for market any time the
demand for ready cash arises. The
stock is being improved steadily and
registered stock may be obtained
there.
Fifty acres of sweet potatoes, of a
very fine quality are growing on the
Vickers farm. A neat profit has come
to sweet potato growers in this coun
ty in recent years, and with the stand
ardization of grades, proper curing
and packing under standard methods,
and attractive labeling, sweet pota
toes will be a source of revenue for
Mr. Vickers this season.
Two hundred acres of as fine corn,
fifty acres of which was selected
seed, will also be found growing. The
fifty acres, for which selected seed
were used in planting, is a source of
much pride to this fanner. It is
proving the theory that seed selection
pays, though the entire acreage is far
above the average, this due largely
to intelligent cultivation, more than
to fertilization.
There are many other crops, not
grown foy market, yet providing neces
sities as well as luxuries for the
home being grown on the Vickers
fa rm.
The chicken farm, the vegetable
garden, the crop of sugar cane,
$1.50 Per Annum in Advance
BODY OF BRYAN
LEAVES DAYTON
FOR WASHINGTON
Remains of Commander Leave In
Special Pullman for Capital Where
He will be Laid to Rest in Arling.
ton Cemetery.
Dayton, Tenn., July 26.—William
Jennings Bryan was discovered dead
in bed here this afternoon by a ser
vant. He had retired to his room in
the early afternoon for a nap, and
was found dead at 4:30 o’clock. Heart
disease was given as the cause of
death.
William Jennings Bryan, notable
American, and three times a candi
date for President, died in Dayton,
Tenn., this afternoon about 4:15 while
taking a nap, at his temporary home.
He was in the best of spirits and
expressed himself as “feeling fine”
when he retired shortly after lunch
eon, about 1:30 o’clock. He had at
tended services at the Southern Meth
odist Episcopal church before lunch
and had partaken of a hearty meal
before retiring to his room. The
companion of Mrs. Bryan passed
through the room and noticed him
breathing heavily and rushed for the
nearest neighbor, A. B. Andrews, who
on reaching the scene summoned a
doctor.
Shortly before William Jennings
Bryan died today he remarked that he
had never felt better in his life and
was ready to go bofore the country
to stage his battle against modern
ism.
The great Commoner had returned
to Dayton this morning after com
pleting arguments for the publication
of the address he had prepared to de
liver in closing the trial of John T.
Scopes, who recently was convicted
■mf—WThrttng Tennessee's anti-6g»lu»
tron law.
Publication of this speech at an
early date was to mark the opening
of the crusade in behalf of funda
mentalism Mr. Bryan planned to 'Car
ry before the entire country.
Despite the fact, Mr. Bryan had
spoken yesterday in Jasper and Win
chester, Tenn., and had traveled over
(Continued to Editorial Pa;*)
bounteous to extreme, the splendid
herd of cattle, providing milk and
butter a plenty, besides the stock
cattle, which provides an additional
revenue from the markets—when the
price is right—rounds out a system
of farming that is proving not only
self-sustaining, but profitable to a
satisfying degree. No tobacco has
been planted on this farm this year,
and very little cotton.
Mr. Vickers still continues his
naval stores operations, conserving
his timber, and allowing the young
pines to develop before they are touch
ed. He is proving a conservationisr,
and thinks mightily of the future of
the idea of preserving the pine forests
of eGorgia.
Not content to share alone .he se
crets he has learned about the virile
soil of Coffee county, Mr. Vickers is
rounding out a “Corn Club” of which
shall consist of fifty-one members.
The member producing the largest
yield of corn on one acre will win a
prize of SSOO, the fifty ansucccssful
contestants contributing $lO in money
or ten bushels of corn. Most of the
membership has already been selec
ted, and is shall be the purpose to
meet on one, two, three, or more oc
casions and discuss intricate methods
of improving farming during the
year. Topics will not be confined to
any one object, to problems of the
farm in general and especially meth
ods in seed selection, cultivating, fer
tilization, etc. This will be an or
ganization whose only purpose will be
for the mutual welfare of the Coffee
county farmer.
Mr. Vickers is a staunch believer
in providing pastures for live stock,
and frankly states that no other
system can prove profitable.
His is a show place, and should be
visited by every person who wishes
to make a study of most commonplace
•of all farming in South Georgia—
make the land produce the wealth by
simple, intelligent methods.