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THE AMERICUS WEEKLY TIMES-RECORDER. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 31. 1908.
GREAT PROGRESS IN 1908
Americus Has a Record It Can
Well Be Proud Of
ONWARD MARCH IN EVERY DIRECTION MADE BY
THE CITY.
OFFICERS ARE SLOW IN
MAKING THEIR BONDS
Elections May Be Required
Shortly.
Sumter county officials have all
made their bonds and received com
missions for the new year beginning
If the year 1900 brings as many improvements, investments, enter
prises, and new homes, to Americus as the year that will close tomorrow nt
midnight, it will be another memorable year in the history of the cltv's
progress,
This year has seen many forward steps taken by Americus. It has
been marked by activity in many lines. It Is only when we come to sum
marizing them that we really appreciate how far forward we have gon.
during the twelve months now within a few hours of their close. Other
years have seen Americus progress, but few, If any, have seen the progress
quite as marked, or quite as varied, as that of 1908.
What 1909 will bring forth no one can tell. Many believe that It will
exceed the record of 1908. One thing at least is certain. There will be
no cessation of the spirit of enterprise, of hopefulness, of determination to
push Americus to the front. The Improvements may be of a different
character, but they will come. The enterprises that are to be inaugurated
during the next fifty-two weeks may be, probably will be, entirely different
from those that have marked the history of 1908, but they will all represent
the vitality of a pushing and ambitious city, they will all be factors in the
future development of Americus, Just as those inaugurated during 1908 will
continue to promote the city’s welfare hereafter.
Men who have lived in Americus for many years and who have been
close students of its progress, state with emphasis, based on accurate
knowledge, that there was more accomplished of a definite, positive char
acter during 1908 than during the live preceding years. Americus shook
off any traces of despondency, of lethargy, that may have been clinging to
It and made 1908 the banner year of a decade. If the Bame spirit is dis
played during 1909 the record to be written at its close maylexceed that of
1908 to as great an extent as that of 1908 exceeds that of any recent year.
It would be a long story to tell in detail of alljhe forward steps taken
here during 1908. If only the improvement&Jm'flwellings, the erections of
new homes, and the minor public improvements were dealt with, it would
he a story of a column or-two—^n business and residence sections im
provements came during the year that were of material benefit to the ap
pearance of the city. Many thousands of dollars were expended in this
,way. Outside of these classes of betterments there were the following Im-
portant enterprises of a public character, a list well calculated to drive the
pessimist to his cave and to enthuse those who are laboring zealously for
a greater Americus to renewed and redohbled exertions during 1909:
(1) The Americus Hallway and light Company, capitalized nt *250,000,
erected its large power house, Installed some of the machinery, took ore?
1he old gas ond Pleclrlc plants, and arranged for the completion of Its
lighting and power plant and the construction of a street railway in 1909.
Its expenditures on new power bouse and equipment daring 1908 aggregut
<>d $50,000.
(2) The Americus Young Men's Ckristlad Association Building on
-which $35,000 was expended, was completed. It awaits furnishing and open
Ing In 1909.
(8) A movement for a Carnegie library was instituted by the ladies,
token up by the Americus Board of Trade, the co-operation of the City
seemed, an appropriation obtained from Mr. Carnegie of $20,000, and a
handsome two-story library bnlldlng Is now In construction. It will be
completed, furnished, and opened In the spring or early summer of 1909,
(4) Thto Home Mixture Guano Company was organized, with a capital
«f $25,000, established a plant and entered actively Into the field here, giving
Americas flvo plants devoted to the manufacture of fertilisers, making this
-one of the most Important mixing and distributing points for fertilizers in
the State.
(6) The Americus Driving Club was organized, capitalized nt $5,000,
* fine half-mile track constructed, the stands, etc., erected, and the Hrstj
races held. This affords Americas an opportunity to have good, clean
sport, and serves to advertise the city to a large section.
(0) Through the efforts of the Americas Board of Trade the
Xoberts, of Maryland came to Americus and established n canning factor
Daring the pcacb season It gave employment to a large forrts of bonds,
turned out hundreds of thousands of cans of peaches, all bearing an Ameri
cus label, which hove been shipped all over the South, advertising the city
to a great extent. This cannery insisted the local growers In disposing
of their crop, gave employment to many, and turned loose large sums In
wages during the summer months.
(7) Tho Americas Compress Company’s new and rnlargcd plant was
completed and put Into operation. The plant represents an outlay of $100,-
4100 and Is one of the finest fn this section.
(8) The Commercial City Bank was organized, with a capital of $50,-
000, and took Its place among the staunch financial Institutions of Americus
and of Southwest Georgia. This gave Americus five banks, in addition to
cite savings bank, with special savings departments In three of the other
banks.
(9) The Americas Oil Company was chartered, a new company with
n capital of $100,000, and Is doing a highly successful business.
(10) Largely through the efforts of the Americus Board of Trade the
Americas Creamery was testabllshcd, with $0,000 capital. It has the promise
«f developing Into un important Industry and of materially promoting the
welfare of Americas and of Sumter county.
(11) The cultivation of tobacco was begun at the Ware Orchard Co.’s
farm, below Americus, ten ncres being successfully devoted to the cultiva
tion of the plant. A cannery was also built there for the packing of the
surplus output of the orchard.
(12) The Interest of the U. 8. Agricultural Department was awakened
in Sumter County and through the efforts of Congressman Lewis two ex
perts were sent to Americas to make a complete soil survey of Sumter
county. They completed the work and the coming year wUl si<e the soil
snap and accompanying report of Samter county published by the govern-
andht.
(15) —A new artesian well was added to the city’s water equipment ut
■t cost of $1,000.
(14) Tho Crystal lee Company was organized and the plant put in
prime condition.
1l5) The development of-the automobile business, resulting from tire
purchase and nse of a number of machines here, and the outlook for
continued Increase In their number, resulted in the building of n two-story
brick garage by Mr. John \Y. Sheffield. . Americus Is now one of the few
smaller cities having adequate facilities for the storing and handling of
autos.
(16) An exact census of life city wns /aken in June, showing a popu
lation of 11,372, against 7J100 In 1900, or $n Increase of practically fifty*
w|fh Friday, but officials of other
counties have been negligent in this
regard, it seems. Unless the bonds
of 68 tax collectors and 67 tax receiv
ers who have not been heard from
by the oomptroller general are on file
at the state capitol by Jan. 1st, that
number of county offices may be de
clared vacant and new elections or
dered by the governor. Some claim
that It Is mandatory on the governor's
part to order those offices vacated
in case those regularly elected have
not supplied the proper bonds by the
time the terms begin, which is the
first of the year:
s
Easy Buying Here, When You Can Find Nearly
Everything You Want for
ALMOST HALF PRICE
ALL JUMPED ON JOHN.
THEN GUN WENT OIF
Statham Was Released on
Bond.
verized his beloved mother-in-law
with a shotgun out on the Godwin
Messrs.
place during a little family reunion,
has been released from Jail on bond,
According to Statham's story the re
united family mounted him as onu
man, with that renowned family ag
itator, the mother-in-law, on top of
the heap, as usual. It was a free fight,
Statham states, with his wife's rela
tives bunched against him and the
mother-in-law leading the martial
host to the slaughter of the docile
eon-tn-law. As the seething mass of
struggling humanity fell out of the
door Statham’s shotgun went off, he
says, and the mother-in-law was so
unfortunate as to catch the whole
load. So states Statham, It is stated,
and the clouds enveloping the fracas
will not be lifted until court <
There are too many items to particularize. We
have already told you that this stock must and will be
sold REGARDLESS OF ALL FORMER PRICES,
and we can only reiterate our former statements re
garding same.
During this week particularly we WANT TO
CONVERT EVERY ARTICLE of Merchandise pos
sible INTO THE CASH, and cost and former prices
shall be no criterion to go by. This applies to nearly
every department.
FOUNTAIN IS GOING TO
BE MOVED OFF PARK
John Statham the negro who pul- ^ W00 l e n d^SS gOOdS, - - Half PtH*
Black and colored silks ------ Half Price
Cotton dress goods Almost Half Price
Outings and fleeces - - - - - - - - Half Price
White goods ------- Almost Half Price
Table damasks Almost Half Price
Napkins, towels, etc., - - Fraction Over Half Price
Hosier, gloves, ribbons, - Fraction Over Half Price
Ladies’ and children’s underwear, “ Over Half Price
China and Japanese mattings, ■ Little Over Half Price
Wool ingrain carpets - - -
Lace and tapestry curtains -
Window shades - - - -
Rugs and art squares - - -
Blankets and comfortables, - - Little Over Half Price
Ladies’ tailor-made suits at - - - Great Reductions
Ladies’ tailor-made skirts Two-thirds Regular Price
Ladies’ rain coats, not much more than Half Price
Few ladies’ wool skirts much less than Half Price
Children’s bearskin coats - - - Exactly Half Priee
Children’s cloth coats not much over Half Price
Ladies’ broadcloth and kersey coats - - Half Price
Silk and heatherbloom petticoats little over Half Price
Silk and other waists, - - fraction over Half Price
All furs for just a little over the Half Former Price
The heavy concrete basin surround;
ing the long-abandoned spray foun
tain in the old hotel park is being
broken up and the fountain will be
removed as an obstruction from the
Government building site. Years ago,
when the hotel park was maintained
as a public pleasure ground, the foun
tain was a source of pleasure to hun
dreds who frequented the pretty little
park. As the fountain Is still in good
repair It is possible that It may be
set up again in Borne other part of
the city.
MR. PASGHAL IS GOING
SOON TO GREENVILLE
Mr. W. R. Paschal will leave Am
ericus this week for Greenville, Mer
iwether county, where he will be
superintendent of county roads. For
several years Mr. Paschal was sup
erintendent of county roads In Sum
ter, and it is due to his labors and ex
cellent ability as an experienced
road builder that our county now
has such splendid roads—the equal
of those of any county In southern
Georgia. .While in charge of the road
gang here Mr. PaBchal wrought
wonderful change In conditions and
gave to the county a fine system' of
public highways. Meriwether county
is fortunate in securing his servifes
Little Over Half Price
- - About Half Price
About Half Price
- Almost Half Price
GOtS TO BIRMINGHAM
TO ENTER BUSINESS
per cent in eight years. As a result of the' effort* of the Board of Trade
ihc population of Americas is now given by Bradstnfet’s Agency, an<|
other official sonrees, as 11,500. By 1910, when the United States Censnd
Is taken, the population will be between 12,000 and 13,000.
(17) And last, but far from being least, tbe Federal government adver
tised for bids for a new postolfice bnUdlng, to cost not less than $75,000,
that amount having been appropriated. The bids were opened on Dee.
ember 20, the lot has been ordered cleared, and the spring of 1909 will find
the new Federal building In conrse of erection.
Is there anything In this record to discourage Amerltfus? Is there not
much to embolden the people of Americas to further efforts to secure ad
ditional Industries, to promote movements having the welfare of the city
la view. If as fine a showing can be made at the end of December next os
this, how much farther Americus will be ahead of what It is today. Just as
ktoday It la so far ahead of what It was at the close ot December, 1907.
Mr. T. E. Mitchell leaves this morn
ing for Birmingham, where he wilt
make headquarters In future, being
collected with tt^ Liquid Carbonic
Co. Mr. Mitchell has resided several
vears in Americus, am! his many
friends here will wish him success In
his new field. Mrs. Mitchell and
children, who are still In Massachu
setts, will join him In Birmingham
early In the new year.
CATARRH
Ely's Cream Bata
is quickly abtc
Gives Relief at
ft cleanses,
heals and protects
tbe diseased mem.
brace resulting from Catarrh and drives
away aUold in the Head quickly. Restores
the Senses of Taste and SmelL Fall size
SO cts. at Drnggbta or by mail. Liquid
Cream Balm for visa in atomizers 75 cts.
Hv Brothers, 66 Warren Street, New York.
Men’s Department
Almost entire stock men’s suits for exactly half price
Entire stock Paragon trousers for exactly half price
Entire stock finest rain coats for exactly half price
Entire stock overcoats - - - - exactly half price
Entire stock boys’ straight pant knee suits half price
All boys’ overcoats, - - - - exactly half price
All boys’ straight knee trousers for exactly half price
All heavy and fine gloves for little over half price
All hats for men and boys not much over half price
All collars, neckwear, sox, suspenders greatly reduced
All Crawford shoes for men not much over half price
All Eclipse, commercial and Princely shirts, reduced
CHAS. L ANSLEY